The Preachers Daughter

Chapter Seventeen

"Stinkie, come out of that dressing room or Imma drag ya ass out!"

I looked at myself in the mirror with the dress my mother picked out for me to put on. To anybody else, a shopping trip like this would be the best thing ever. But I can't shake the feeling of this being hush money. He purposely brought my mother to shower her in gifts too. He didn't want me to tell her how bat shit crazy he is and how he almost killed me the other day. Taking these clothes would be like signing my soul off to the devil. He's going to feel like he always has something over me. 

The dressing room door flew open and my mom walked in, invading every ounce of my personal space. 

"Mom, this stall is not that big for you to be barging in here".

"Does it look like a give a fuck? What the hell is taking you so long?"

"I can't take this stuff he's trying to buy for me".

"And why the fuck not?"

I looked away from her and back at the mirror. The bruise that formed from Earole choking me was beginning to fade, but I hid it for a while with my makeup. Unfortunately for Earole, I ran out of that makeup today. My mother followed my gaze to my neck then forcefully pushed my head over to get a better look. 

"Mom!"

"What the fuck is this?"

I snatched my head back and took as big as a step I possibly could away from her.

"It's nothing".

"It's looks like a bruise from someone choking you".

"Well ..."

"Y'all some freaks". 

I turned and saw my mother had a smile on her face. I was stunned that someone as smart as her could be so dumb to think I would let someone choke me so hard with my complexion that it would leave a mark. I wanted to explain more, but I could smell the shea butter before he was even fully by the door.

"Wah qwan in there?", Earole said outside of the door. 

"Nothing, just doing girl shit".

"Hurry up, we're going to be late for the movie".

My mom kisses my cheek then left me alone in the stall. I took off the dress I was trying on and put back on my other clothes, trying to avoid my reflection in the mirror. I wasn't liking the woman I was seeing. The woman I see is still lost like the little girl back when she found out her father had cheated. I have no idea what I'm doing, what is right and what is wrong. I want to go back to the days where I had dreams of being a designer. When it was just me and Annie hanging out and living life. Maybe that's what has me off today. I haven't seen Annie since they helped me clean up my mess. I haven't called but neither has she. I would hope and pray I didn't lose my friend over a night that should've never happened. I wish she'd never told me her secret. 

My mother and Earole engaged in conversation as we walked towards the exit of the mall, and I trailed behind. Earole seemed more into my mother than he was with me. If he admired her so much why the fuck isn't he trying to fuck up her life instead of mine? I rolled my eyes then suddenly I was being pulled backwards. I tried to pry off the hand that was on my mouth and arm, but they had a tight grip on me. They pulled until I was by one of the coed bathrooms in the cut. They removed their hands from me and then I noticed who it was. 

"Zy'Air, what the fuck is wrong with you? Pulling me like that".

"I didn't want your boyfriend to see you walking off with me".

"He's not my boyfriend".

"Then what the fuck you call a nigga walking around buying you shit. Are you fuckin him?"