Redemption

Chapter 1- Yvette

   The 11 o'clock news hummed away in the background, drowned out by heavy snoring, as I tiptoed into the living room. As I maneuvered past the toys scattered on the floor, I heard a grunt come from the couch causing me to jerk my head in its direction and tense up. I waited cautiously until I heard the mangled breathing begin again and I let out a sigh of relief. I made my way into the small hallway just past the kitchen  and allowed my curls to return to their wild and free form by ridding them of the black ponytail holder that I used to contain them in a puff for the day.

   I walked to the cracked door on the left side of the hall and peeped in. I watched my daughter as she lay peacefully on her little mattress by the window, the moonlight adorning her little face. I smiled and walked in, just before accidentally stepping on her black Mia doll in the process. I got on the floor by her mattress and smoothed out her hair that danced away from the rest. I kissed her on the forehead and adjusted her blanker before leaving the room and quietly shutting the door behind me.

   After I removed my make-up in the poorly lit bathroom, I sulked my way into the bedroom at the end of the hall.

   "How was work, Eva?" The source of the snores asked as he trudged away from the dresser's smudged mirror.

   I tensed up again, "Cartier? I thought you were sleeping."

   Cartier made his way over to me as I removed my uniform by the dirty clothes hamper, "I heard you in the bathroom and I thought I'd surprise you."

   His skin and breath oozed of the smell of alcohol and cigarettes, making me gag slightly as he placed his arms around my waist from behind me.

   "Have you been smoking around Naami again?" I asked, frustration building in my voice.

   "No, she's been in her room all day," Cartier responded nonchalantly.

   "Really Carti? Then why are her toys scattered around the living room?"

   Cartier stepped back and brushed his waves with his hands, "Well I might've smoked a couple squares while she was running around here but it ain't nothin' major."

   I sighed and placed my forehead in my hands, "You know her little lungs can't handle that. Especially with her asthma," I said through gritted teeth.

   "I know, bae. I've been trying to stop, you know I have," Cartier sighed as he placed his forehead in the crook of my neck.

   I shy'd away from his affection and began to get in the bed. I'd grown tired of hearing his sorry excuses and false promises. Cartier climbed into bed with me and wrapped his arm around me before giving me a kiss on the back of my neck and then drifting off to sleep. I couldn't sleep because the smell of alcohol and smoke filled the room, giving me a headache. After getting up to crack open a window in the small bedroom, I got back in the full-sized bed and went to sleep.

   "Mama, Mama! Get up!" A tiny voice yelled, jolting me out of my sleep.

   "You scared me Aami!," I giggled as I picked Naami up and placed her in the bed next to me, "Where's your daddy?"

   Naami began to hum and play in my now frizzy afro that I forgot to put a bonnet on the night before, "He's in the kitchen making waffles and teeny little sausages!" She said scrunching up her face and condensing her fingers to show me their size.

   "Alright little bug, go see if daddy is done with breakfast, I'll be in there soon." I said, picking up Naami and placing her back on the carpeted floor. I followed her out of the room, before making a right to head into the bathroom. As I sat on the toilet to relieve myself I noticed my pregnancy test sticking straight up out of the small waste bin.