A Chance for Growth

Changes are Coming

Taraji dropped Apryl back at home after a funfilled day. She didn't think she would enjoy spending time with a 7 yr old, but she learned that Apryl was a little diva like her. Instead of going to the arcade, Apryl thought it would be better to find an outfit to match their nails. Neither wanted the day to end, but enough time had passed, and Taraji needed to talk to her mom.

She pulled into the driveway, relieved to find her father not there anymore. She wasn't sure if she could face him right now. Taraji walked inside and saw Bernice sitting on the couch with a cup of tea."Hey mama," she whispered into the room. Bernice turned quickly, putting the cup on the coffee table. "Come over here. I think I should explain myself," she told her traumatized child. Bernice sighed, feeling ashamed about not standing strong against Boris.

"Why mama? He cheated on you, and had two other kids while being married to you. And now you just take him back? What happened to the other guy?" Taraji questioned Bernice. "Hold on. I know what he did, but we are not back together. He came over because you just so happened to tell him about Philip. It was a momentary thing, Raji. I'm not going back to your father after everything he's done to tear this family apart," Bernice sternly stated. She needed to make sure it's clear that she was done with Boris.

Taraji rolled her eyes, folding her arms across her chest. "Then why did you fuck him?" She semi yelled at her mother. "Taraji Penda Henson, you better watch how you talk to me! I am your mother and you are going to talk to me with respect! Now, I can't explain why I let myself get wrapped up in your father, but he and I have history. History that he knows how to use against me. It's something about being around someone that you shared so much with and built a life with, you just can't pull yourself away from them. No matter how much they hurt you. But i'm trying baby. I'm trying to move on and away from your father. It's hard. I pray you never have to deal with that. But I am not willingly going back to your father. He is my past, and I no longer see a future with him," Bernice broke down the situation

They both sat in silence for a few minutes. Taraji didn't know what her mother meant, but she didn't worry about it because her Terry would never do that to her. "Ok mom. Just focus on something else so you don't get swayed again. I'm here to help you not end up in that situation again. I love you," she hugged Bernice. "I love you too," Bernice kissed her cheek. Taraji hopped up and went to her room, getting in the shower before heading back to Terry's house.

She headed to her love's house, wearing the new outfit she bought with Apryl. She knocked on the front door, greeted by Alice. "Hey baby! Terry's downstairs as usual," Alice shouted out as she went back to her room. Taraji hightailed it downstairs to see her boo. She saw him getting dressed. Like he was going out. "Soooooo we going out or something? Thanks for the invite I guess?" Taraji said as she stood on the stairs. Terry turned to face her and laughed.

"I knew you were coming back, babe. Yes we are going out. Shad is throwing a party at his place. I figured we could go, have a little fun. What do you say?" He asked his increasingly upset girlfriend. "I say you have lost you fuckin mind. After he blatantly disrespected me in front of you, you still want to go hang out with him? Are you serious!?" She yelled at him. He huffed and went to grab his shoes. "Babe, he already said he was joking and he apologized. What more do you want?" He casually said, as if he didn't care about Rashad's actions.

Taraji placed her hand on her hip, shifting her weight onto her left leg. "What I want is a boyfriend who know who his friends are and not hang out with niggas who disrespects your girl all the damn time! You just let that nigga get away with calling me hoe! So I guess you feel the way he does huh? You think I'm gonna trap you?" She shouted, forgetting that Alice was there. "You need to chill with all that. I didn't call you a hoe and never will. And I know you would never trap me. Where the fuck is this coming from?" He boomed, walking closer up her. His face grew tight as he got angrier with every accusation she threw at him.