TWISTED | SLOW UPDATES

CHAPTER ONE

present day.

I WAS staring out the window, the daylight had begun to overpower the darkness, the thick clouds blotted out the stars. The air was cool but the sun was out. You could hear the birds outside chirping away creating a melody that could wake the whole neighborhood. "Mommy!" Ella came into the room, shaking me.

"Yes, baby?" I grabbed her, squeezing her very tightly as she giggled. "How is mommy's girl doing, did you sleep well?"

"Yes mommy," Ella smiled, her smile always brightened up my day. "Auntie Monica told me to wake you up for breakfast. I helped her with it."

I pulled the covers from over my body and gave her a kiss on the cheek before following her into the kitchen. The smell of bacon, pancakes, eggs, and grits lingered through my nose. "Good morning baby girl," Monica smiled, handing me a plate. "How are you feeling this morning?"

"Good morning babes," I grabbed my plate, sitting it down on the table. "I'm hanging in there, you know, I have my off-days here and there, but I'm hanging in there."

"I'm glad you're doing good. I hate to see you sad, we need to go out and find you a man." I shook my head. Monica is always trying to play matchmaker. I've tried dating a few times but that never worked out well. I just didn't find the right one for me. But I'm not worried about finding a man right now, all I'm worried about is being able to provide for my child and making sure that she has a better life than I ever did.

"Oh, nope, I don't have no time to be worrying about some man," I answered. "My only priority right now and taking care of Ella. That's it, nothing more, nothing less."

"You just don't know how to pick the right man, you need to let me set you up with somebody," Monica placed some more pancakes on Ella's plate. "Here you go Auntie's baby."

"Thank you," Ella smiled, before looking over at me and smiling.

I shook my head no. "You've helped me enough, do you remember that guy Rondo?" I asked as she shook her head. "I remember him, didn't y'all date go well?" Monica asked.

"No, it did not," I answered. "He was a whole married man and I was not about to sit there looking stupid messing with a married man."

"Oh, dang," Monica chuckled. "I ain't even know that."

"Well, I'm all done mommy," Ella smiled. "Can I go play with my toys now?"

"Yes you may," I smiled, watching as Ella ran over giving me and Monica a hug before running into the back room.

"How are you and Will holding up?" I asked.

"I don't know what to say about him," Monica shook her head. "First he's all lovey-dovey and the next thing I know, he wants to take a break. I love him so much but I just don't know anymore."

"Monica it's time for you to move on. I know I'm the last person who should be talking about moving on when I can barely do it myself. But you deserve someone way better than Will. Didn't he cheat on you many times? And you still keep taking him back. Will is just playing with your heart because he knows you will always be there to take him back." I said, finally telling her what needed to be said. "I'm going to always tell you the truth, even when you don't want to hear it."

Monica has been through so much with Will and I hate hearing about him breaking her heart. She helped me through so much getting over my ex, without her or Ella. I don't know where I would be right now. "I know, I know," she said. "I want to but I just can't, every time he comes back apologizing. I feel bad and take him back. He's the love of my life Nailah."

"I only want to see you happy Monica and Will is not the person doing that for you," I responded, hoping that she will think about if her relationship with Will is the right thing for her.

"I understand," Monica said. "Let's just change the subject, are you not interested in dating because of you know who?"

Glancing over at the picture of me in the hospital bed holding Ella brought back so many emotions and memories. I thought going on a few dates would help me but it just made things more complicated. "Look at yourself Nailah," Brandy sat down next to me. "I know you get tired of hearing this and I shouldn't be the one to tell you this but Nailah you've got to move on. My Auntie use to say that, a man is just a tool. You got to know when to take him out the box and when to put him back in. If you lose one, you just go get yourself another one. Go do something different for a change, there is someone even better out there somewhere. You just have to go out and find him."

I wiped the tears that escaped from my eyes and hugged her. It was so hard raising Ella on my own even though I had help from Monica and other close family members it's still not right raising a child on your own when you thought the person that you once loved was going to be here for you. It's hard trying to explain things to Ella because she's just so young and doesn't really understand what's going on sometimes.

"I should be taking my own advice for a change," Monica joked causing me to laugh. "That's what I like to see, you be making me want to cry when you cry best friend. Just know that I will always be here if you need someone to talk to."

"I know babes," I smiled. "Thank you for everything and what I want you to do is to try and take a break from Will, there's plenty fish out in the sea. Don't settle for a fish that you've already caught before." She just stared at me before smiling. I really hope she takes her own advice and my advice and leave Will alone. It's better to be alone than to be with someone who makes you feel alone.

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Thanks for reading my new story, please tell me what you think of it so far. Honest feedback would help a lot. Please excuse any typos I will be editing this story very soon.

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