Love Don't Change • Chris Brown

Forgiving Yourself

"Alright I'll see you later, okay Lil Mama?" Riley kneeled down one knee and ruffled Royalty's wild hair.

"Where you going?"

"Uh... I'm gonna go be with Auntie Indy for a little bit."

"Can I come?"

Riley glanced at me then back at Ro. "I wish you could, but I think daddy would rather you stay here with him."

"Okay." She pouted. "But you told me you'd never leave me for a long time again."

"I know I did Princess, but when I come back I promise I won't leave you again, okay? How 'bout this, I'll try to get Auntie Indy to come back with me, you like that idea?"

Royalty nodded with a bright smile.

"Good. Wanna do me a favor? Go in your room and pick out one small toy that I could bring with me so I can think about you the whole time I'm gone, okay?"

"Okay!" Ro enthused, her small but loud feet speeding toward her room.

Riley hiked her book bag up her shoulder and stood back up, meeting her face with mine. It broke my heart all over again seeing the dark purple bruise under her right eye, her busted lip and bruised shoulder. I could barely even look at her. "I'm not moving out, I'm not about to go tell my dad about what happened, and I'm not about to go all on social media telling our business. I just feel like we need some time apart. All we ever do is argue nowadays and it isn't healthy for me nor Noah and Nayeli. I'm not putting all the blame on you, because I did and said some fucked up shit today too, but that's why I feel it's best we separate ourselves for the time being; give each other some space because lately our relationship has been built on nothing but lies... that's all we ever do to each other in order to avoid an argument, not knowing that's it's just gonna cause a bigger one once we find out the truth. Sex or gifts won't always fix our problems. I'm just going back to Atlanta for a few, I don't want you blowing my phone up, just know I'm okay. I'll text you to let you know I've made it safely and give you updates on Noah and Nayeli if need be. Okay?"

All I could do was nod. I felt my eyes tearing up, but I didn't even give a fuck. I couldn't even look her in her eyes... even her tone of voice with me was different.

Riley lifted my face with her finger and I winced at the pain. My face was pretty fucked up too; a bruised chin and forehead, swollen eyelid, and a nosebleed that I cleaned up earlier. I didn't even know her little ass could hurt me like that; she must've been pissed.

She kissed me on my lips and pulled away staring at me.

"Baby I'm so s—"

"Enough Chris." She interrupted. "I'm sorry too, you know I am, but just a sorry from neither of us won't heal either of our wounds. I'm about to go, like I said I'll keep you updated on the babies, other than that this is well needed time apart."

I once again nodded. She was just about to kiss me again until Ro butted in between us.

"This one! She looks like you!" Royalty handed Riley her stuffed Tip doll, the character Rihanna voiced on Home. "Oh wow she does look like me, huh? I'm gonna make sure I carry her everywhere I go."

"Okay!"

Riley kissed Royalty on her forehead and kneeled down for a hug. "I'm about to go Princess Ro, okay? I'll see you soon. I love you."

"I love you too! Bye!"

After grabbing her small suitcase and putting on a pair of glasses she was gone.

I went to go sit on the couch while Royalty ran back to the rug in front of the tv, watching Brave.

I was stuck, my head was replaying everything that went down today, from the second I woke up to now.