The Last Fall

3

CHERYL's POINT OF VIEW

At dinner, it was silent as always. I always tried to spark a conversation with Cai and Ciyle but they never had interest in engaging.

They both knew about the situation with Shemar and I and what happened. I didn't want them to know but Tony insisted on us telling them a little but not a lot. However, they're smart and they pieced everything together.

I looked up from my plate and looked at the both of them as they continued to eat.

"So...you two do know that Mommy loves the both of you with all of my being, right?" I asked them.

"Yes." Ciyle said as he looked at me. He then looked at Cai but she just kept looking down at her plate. She barely ate anything but she barely eats while she's over here. I talked to Tony about it and apparently, the only time she doesn't eat is while she's over here.

"Baby girl..." I said as I looked at Cai.

"Yes ma'am. I do." She said as she didn't look up at me.

"Your 18th Birthday is coming up soon." I said as I smiled at her.

"I know." She said as she nodded her head and finally looked up at me. "In a few months...yes." She added.

"Yes, that's right." I said as I slightly nodded my head and looked down at my plate.

It was instantly silent again.

"I'm not that hungry. Excuse me." Cai said as she stood up, grabbed her pate and then disappeared into the kitchen.

I watched her leave and sighed softly to myself.

"Ma, I think that you should talk to Cai. It might be getting worse..." Ciyle said to me.

"What do you mean? What is getting worse?" I asked as I put my fork down.

"Her arms. Dad doesn't know about her starting again because she's good at hiding it. However, I know about it and I saw some of it the other day. That's why she keeps jackets on." He told me.

I sat there confused.

"Alright, Thank you, baby. I'll handle it." I said as I lightly smiled at him. He nodded his head and continued eating dinner.

After Ciyle and I cleaned up the kitchen together- I went upstairs to check on Cai.

Once I made it to her room, I had noticed that she had already finished taking her shower and jumped Into bed.

I smiled at how peaceful she looked as she slept and walked over towards her bed.

Where did the time go? She was a baby almost 18 years go and now, she's basically a grown woman.

I sat on the edge of her bed and moved some of the curly hair out of her face.
She started to look like me and my young Pepsii Pop days. She's growing up.

I then leaned down to softly kiss her forehead. She wouldn't let me do that if she were awake but I'm her Mommy and I care for her.