Exiled

De'Vaugh 18

I came from a very spiritual family.... spiritual not religious, yeah I believed in God but religion wasn't forced down my throat; as it was my Big Mama was extremely religious everywhere in her house were crosses, Black Jesus, and bible scriptures. I also came from a very large, very close family so of course when me and Nazeer arrived the place was packed; my aunts were cooking and singing all my Big Mama's favorite dishes and songs, my uncles were drinking and watching something on the t.v. if someone had walked in they assumed that we were celebrating and in a way we were.... we were celebrating a very long, shady life. My Big Mama was notorious for dragging any and everybody that stepped through her door, I remember my prom date spent the entire ride to prom crying because of the way my Big Mama dragged her and looking back on it I was extremely grateful because that bitch was shady as fuck. Everyone seemed to be in high spirits, with the exception of two people my Uncle Neji and my big brother Dex; I nodded to my dad before walking over to my brother while Nazeer went to check on his dad.

"It doesn't feel the same.... when I walked in here I was expecting to her that old voice asking which one of her 'asshole ugly' grandchildren had shown up to her house unannounced and the being forced to eat like six plates of food because she thought I was getting skinny." Dex said wiping a tear.

"I know what you mean, the last time I was here she told me I was all skin and bones, then forced me to eat until I literally passed out at the table. Even the smell in here is different, Big Mama had a way of cooking that just..... it smells like they're trying but they can't match the love that she put into everything she cooked." I said looking around the room.

"Look at Lil' Naz.... damn that little dude got tall, I remember when we all used to stay over here and build forts in the basement. Good times. But look I'm about to head to the liquor store, I feel like it's going to be a long emotional night and I'm going to need an excuse as to why I'm crying so much, you need anything." Dex asked and I went to grab my wallet but got punched in chest. "What did I tell you about that shyt De'Vaugh? If I ask you if you want something that means I'm buying... the fuck I look like taking money from my little brother?"

"Yeah get me a bottle of Don Julio Real Extra Anejo Tequila." I said smirking a little, Dex pulled out his phone and looked at me like I was stupid. "What you said that you were buying and I have expensive taste."

"Yeah well that's a five hundred dollar bottle and I'm a just barely getting by college student so you'll get what my budget allows." Dex said walking out. After Dex left I walked out into the backyard and saw my younger self running around with all my cousins having a good time..... damn that seemed like a long time ago; being here gave me a chance to think and my thoughts drifted to Lucci.... there was no way he didn't know that Nazeer was gay, them niggas lived together. I pulled out my phone and decided to give him a call.

"Luciano..... I need you to be honest with me, why did you lie about Naz being homophobic when you clearly knew he was gay?" I asked sitting on the old tire swing that had been here since my dad was a kid.

"De'Vaugh..... it really wasn't your business and whenever you'd ask me about how Naz was doing I knew he'd be upset if I told you he was gay..... or that we were even talking so I lied to protect my brother and our secret and for that I'm sorry." Lucci said, his voice dripping with remorse.

"I understand that Lucci but you could've just said that he was good and left it at that.... but we can talk about that when I see you and I plan on seeing you real soon, but right now I wanna chill with my fam but I'll hit you up in a bit." I said hanging up.

"Who were you talking too?" Nazeer said walking outside and looking at me, his eyes were slightly red but I knew it was because his dad's sadness was weighing on him, I remember how close Nazeer was to his dad so of course, seeing his dad upset would affect him.