His Weakness, Her Liberation

The Letter

I felt so much better after we had that conversation a few weeks ago. The air was cleared and we were able to just be ourselves. I still wanted to take things slowly and be real friends to each other. Michael was eager to be more than friends sooner than I was, which proved to be a pain point in our interactions from time to time. We had just over a week until Christmas and I was busy with work trying to finish planning our company's annual New Year's Eve gala. The party was our biggest fundraiser and Ms. Austin convinced Michael to make an appearance to encourage donors and others to pay the steep ticket prices.

"You wanna do lunch today Jay?"

"Michael, I asked you not to call me--"

"Alright Janeé. I don't understand why I can't call you that. Shit, do you have to control every fucking thing?"

"Please don't curse at me, Michael."

"Im sorry. It just frustrates me that you always try and keep me at a distance. I thought we were working towards something."

"We are. A friendship."

"And friends don't have nicknames for each other?"

"They do, it's just... I want us to kind of start over like from the beginning, and if I'd only known you a few weeks, you wouldn't be calling me Jay."

"But we haven't just known each other a few
weeks, it's been over six months now."

"Ok, yes."

"Yes what?" he asked excitedly.

"Yes, we can do lunch."

"Whatever. What you want to eat?"

"Something you can pick up and bring here. I'm swamped at work today, Mike."

"So you can all me by my nickname, but I can't call you by yours?!"

"That's different, everyone calls you Mike. See you at 1. Bye!"

I hung up before he could start up the fight again. I honestly didn't know why I wouldn't let him call me Jay. Maybe I felt like he hadn't earned it yet. Like he didn't know me well enough to call me something so personal.

----
Christmas was amazing. I loved being home in Maryland because it meant I had a much better chance of seeing snow on Christmas than in Atlanta. My family means so much to me, so it was truly a blessing to be able to spend special time with them. After Christmas dinner, there was a knock at the door and a courier handed me a huge, beautifully wrapped box. My dad was always surprising my mom with extravagant gifts, so I headed back to the dining room table eager to see what he got her. I sat at the table grinning from ear to ear.

"Look who's got a special delivery!" I said as I handed my mom the box.

I looked over at my dad who had a puzzled look on his face.

"Oh Greg, you shouldn't have," my mom said blushing.

"I didn't," my dad chuckled.

As my dad was trying to convince my mom he hadn't bought anything else for her, my phone started buzzing. It was Michael. He was factiming me, which he'd never done before. I'd call him back later I thought to myself, and hit the ignore button.

"Well if it's not from you, who's it's from dad?"

"It's from me."

Everyone looked around the room searching for the mystery voice. I looked down in my lap at my phone to see Michael's face. I must have picked up instead of hanging up.

"It's from you, Michael?" I picked up the phone.

"Michael? Who's Michael, Janeé?" My parents asked.

The only person who knew about this thing with him was my younger sister, Janell. We talked about everything and there was no way I could keep this from her. But even she looked surprised to hear and see Michael on my phone.

My mom could have easily reached across the table to give me the box back, but she wanted to know who was on the phone. She walked the gift back and looked at my phone screen without shame.

"Ohh he's cute Jay. Kinda looks like that boy from the Black Panther movie."

Directing her question at Michael she asked, "Anybody ever tell you that you look like that boy from the Black Panther movie?"

Michael laughed hysterically, "Yes ma'am,
they have because that's me."

"What?! Stop playing."

"I'm as serious as a heart attack!" he joked.

They both laughed. "I'm bout to google you right now!" My mom said as she walked back to her seat.

"How's your Christmas going?" I asked.

"Better now that I'm talking to you. It was good though. I was calling because I wanted to see y'all open your gifts."

"Y'all?"

"Just open the box."

The big box contained five more boxes--Chanel boxes. Each was labeled with a name. One for my older sister, younger sister, my mom and two with my name.

"Michael what did you do? You didn't have to do this."

I handed out the boxes and my mom and sisters eagerly opened theirs. They each had something different with a short handwritten note from Michael. None of them would let me read their note. What could he possibly have to say to them?

I opened my boxes to find a jumbo Chanel flap bag and a matching wallet. My box also had a note, but was larger and was sealed in an envelope.

As Michael saw me staring at the envelope he said, "Uhhh, you should read that later."

I stepped away from my family as my sisters a mom were profusely thanking him.

"Thank you so much Michael, I don't know what to say. You somehow know how to leave me speechless. I love hand-written notes too. I'm nervous to read my letter though. What's it say?"

"You have to read it to find out," he smirked.

"It's not a nasty letter is it?" I said laughing.

"Nah but I can write one for you. All you have to do is ask," his tone was much more serious than mine.

"I wasn't expecting to meet your family today. They seem pretty cool."

"They aight."

We both stared at each other not wanting to say goodbye yet.

"So I guess I'll see you in week for the gala then," I said, breaking the silence and our stare.

"Yea. I'm looking forward to you-- I mean it."

After we got off the phone I stared at the letter in my hand, dying to know what it said but, but too afraid to open it.