The Last Fall

15

CHERYL's POINT OF VIEW
After work;

Once I made it home, I closed the door and heard Dana upstairs crying. I rushed to put my things down and went upstairs to make sure that everything was alright.

"Ma?" I said as I looked through each room down the hallway. I then stopped at Dana's room and saw that Ma was trying to calm Dana down in bed. She wasn't having it though because the crying continued.

"Awww, baby. What's wrong?" I said as I went over towards them.

"A lot is what's wrong." Ma said.

"Did she take her nap?" I asked Ma as I went to go pick Dana up slowly from the bed. Dana had been with Ma all day since I had to work.

"Well, kinda...she's been kinda fussy all day. Following me around the house and crying. I tried to get her to go to sleep but she just doesn't wanna lay down at all." Ma said as she stood in the middle of Dana's room and watched me as I held her. Ma then raised her eyebrows at me.

"What?" I said as I looked at Ma and then at Dana whom was laying her head down on my shoulder.

"She's silent. I guess she just wanted you." Ma said as she smiled at Dana.

"Yeah, but Mommy's here now. Has she been talking today?" I asked as I looked at Dana and saw that she was drifting off to sleep. I continued to hold her and sway back and forth. Even though she's getting a little heavy, I still have no problem with holding my baby.

"Uhm, not much. You know how she is. When she's sick- she doesn't wanna talk."

"Yeah, Cai did the same thing. Except, Cai would cry all day AND night. That child gave me migraines all the time and Tony had to calm me down. Whew..." I said as I kissed the top of Dana's head and then rested my head on top of hers.

"Yeah, I remember that too. Anyways, you've got it right? I'm about to go home."

"Yes, Ma. I got it. Thank you. Imma take her over her other grandma's house tomorrow." I said as I walked towards the hallway with Dana still laying in the middle of my chest asleep.

"Okay. See you and take care of my grand baby." Ma said as I watched her go down the stairs.

"Don't I always?" I said as Ma then looked back at me, smiled and left out of the front door.

Next, I went into my room and laid Dana down in my bed. I laid next to her and rubbed her little back. I still had some work to do and I remember Trey telling me to call him once I made it home but...my child is more important. I need to tend to her before any other nigga.

"Mommy needs to wash your hair, baby girl." I said as I lightly touched her curls. All of my kids have the same hair texture and it's actually a good thing. I know what to expect and how to manage it. With Ciyle, all I had to do was take him to get a haircut at a decent age and boom....I didn't have to deal with his hair.

As Dana stayed asleep, I pulled my phone out and started to text Trey but before I could press send; I heard the doorbell.

I stood up, put my phone down, picked Dana up and went towards her room. I then put Dana in her bed where she could safely sleep without me being afraid of her falling out of bed.