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Chapter 5 // Lost with Hope

Sajada POV

The weight of the past few days had me feeling like I was drowning in a sea of emotions I couldn't control. But as I sat there next to Hustle spaces away, I realized something—he was the one person who always had my back. He'd been there for me when no one else was, and after everything I'd been through, I knew I needed him now more than ever.

Hustle sat across the room, his eyes focused on me, like he was trying to find the words he needed to say. It was as if the room went silent, and everything else faded into the background.

"Look, Ma," he began, his voice low but full of intensity. "I gotta get something off my chest. I thought I lost you. For a minute there, I didn't think I'd ever get the chance to talk you like this again." He paused, licking his lips , his thumb brushing over his nose. "But now that I've got you back... I ain't letting you go. I need you to know that. I've always needed you, and I'm not gonna lose you again."

My heart raced at his words, but I couldn't deny the warmth that spread through me. Hustle had been a part of my life for so long, and hearing him say that made me feel like I wasn't alone anymore.

"I'm here, Hustle," I whispered, my voice trembling as I fought the tears that were threatening to fall. "I'm right here."

Hustle's eyes softened, and walked towards me, lifting my chin so I had no choice but to look at him. "I know what you've been through, Ma," he said, his voice full of empathy. "What your mother did to you... that shit ain't right. You don't deserve any of that. No one does."

His words hit me hard, and I felt a lump in my throat. The pain of what had happened—of what my mother had let happen—still felt like a fresh wound. But hearing Hustle speak about it made me feel like I wasn't just another victim. I wasn't alone in this.

"Sometimes... I don't even know who I am anymore, Hustle," I admitted, my voice barely a whisper. "How can someone do that to their own flesh and blood? How could she let him hurt me like that?" I paused, my breath hitching. "I just... I can't understand it."

Hustle's expression hardened, anger flashing in his eyes. "You don't need to understand that, Ma. That's her issue, not yours. You've been through enough. Don't let her drag you down with her. You're stronger than that."

His words felt like a balm to the wounds I hadn't even realized were still bleeding. I nodded slowly, trying to believe him.

Before I could say anything else, the sound of a knock at the door interrupted our moment. Hustle's gaze flickered toward it, but he didn't move right away. "You good?" he asked softly.

I gave him a small smile, trying to hide how much I was still hurting inside. "Yeah, I'm good. Go see who it is."

He leaned in to kiss my forehead before standing up and walking toward the door. I could hear him talking to someone on the other side, but my thoughts were still clouded with the pain and confusion I'd been carrying for so long.

Just as I was starting to lose myself in my thoughts, the door swung open and in walked Hustle with Danielle right behind him. I smiled weakly as I saw my best friend, but I couldn't shake the feeling of everything that had happened weighing on me.

"Yo, what's good?" Hustle greeted, ushering them into the living room. "This is my main man Reef, and ya dusty ass best friend here too."

Reef walked in with a grin on his face, his presence immediately commanding attention. He was a towering figure, 6'4", light skin with dreads and tattoos covering his arms and neck. He looked like trouble, but there was something about him that felt... real. He extended his hand, and I politely nodded and , gave him a polite smile.

"Hey," I said, feeling the tension in the room start to shift as we exchanged greetings. "Nice to meet you, Reef."

"Yeah, same here. I can already tell we're gonna be cool," Reef said with a grin, eyeing Danielle playfully as she walked past him.

Danielle, always the one to bring energy into the room, grinned at me. "Well, well, I see you got yourself a new man, huh?"

I let out a small laugh, feeling the heaviness in my chest start to lift just a little. "Yeah, I do," I said with a smile. "It's complicated, but... yeah, I do."

Danielle pulled me into a tight hug, and I could feel the warmth of her love for me. "I'm so happy for you, bestie. I just want you to be happy. Whatever you need, you know I got you."

"Thanks, Dani," I whispered, squeezing her back.

Just then, I saw Hustle and Reef talking in the corner of the room. Hustle was casually leaning against the wall while Reef stood with his arms crossed, looking relaxed but serious at the same time.

"You're looking good, Ma," Reef said, giving me a slow once-over. "Hustle really got his hands full with you, huh?"

"She's my everything," Hustle said, his voice firm and full of pride. "Ain't nobody messing with her, not now, not ever."

As the conversation moved on, I couldn't help but think about what Hustle had said to me earlier. His words echoed in my mind, and for the first time in a long time, I felt like maybe, just maybe, things could be different.

"So, guys," I said, trying to change the subject as I glanced around at everyone, "let's watch some movies. I'll order pizza. What do y'all think?"

"Yeah, I'm down," Hustle said with a smile, clearly ready to relax after everything that had happened.

"It's whatever," Reef added with a shrug. "Let's eat, chill, and get to know each other better."

"Alright, sounds good," Danielle said, grinning. "Just no scary movies, okay? I'm not about that life."

We all laughed, and for the first time in days, I felt a little bit of normalcy return to my life. We settled in, the pizza arrived, and the movie began, but I couldn't shake the feeling that something was shifting—in me, in us, in everything. Whatever happened from here on out, I knew I wasn't myself anymore.

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