𝐋𝐎𝐘𝐀𝐋𝐓𝐘.

24 ☼

    1 year later..

Moni smiled from ear to ear as she watched Harmony grab the end of the sofa and pull herself up in an attempt to stand up on her two feet. She erupted in laughter when Harmony fell on her diapered butt.

Almost immediately, Harmony looked up at her mother with a slight frown on her face. She pouted her lips and shook her head.

"Aw, poor baby," Moni cooed, reaching down to pick her up. "Come sit with mommy." She then sat Harmony down on her lap and held her close.

Harmony was one and a half now. She wasn't an avid walker, but she was getting there. She often grabbed on furniture to assist her in standing up. It wasn't perfect, but it was progress. She took her first steps about four months after Shawn had passed away.

Moni looked over to her right and at the glass shelf which had all sorts of picture frames on it. Her eyes wandered all over until they landed on a portrait of Shawn.

She began to reminisce about her late boyfriend; the memories they shared, the wild adventures they had, and the good and bad times they experienced. A small tear escaped her eye.

"If only your dad was here," Moni said to herself softly, gently wiping a tear off her face. "If only he was here."

After Shawn's death, Moni mourned for months and months. She wouldn't eat, communicate with anybody, and her sleep was limited. She experienced terrible nightmares almost every night. Thoughts of getting shot and killed plagued her mind almost every second of her life but she often pushed those thoughts to the back of her head to take care of her daughter and for her own sake.

Moni's thoughts were soon interrupted by an abrupt knock at the door. She moved Harmony off her lap and gently placed her on the ground near a pile of toys.

"Coming!" She shouted as she arose from the couch and jogged to the front door. Standing on the tip of her toes, she took a quick glance in the peephole. A small smile formed on her face. Kit was on the other side.

    After the incident that happened a year ago, Kit grew fond of Moni. After nearly losing her life, she came to a realization that life was too short. Holding hate in her heart for a female that she barely had known would make her a bitter, frigid bitch. It would also replace happiness. So, she decided to put it behind her. And, the same girl that she resented and had an issue with, was the same girl who stood by her side while she laid in her hospital bed, damn near close to slipping into a coma.

Unlocking the door, Moni instantly greeted Kit with an air kiss and hug. She was accompanied by her son Demari, who was now four years old.

"How are you doing Kit?" Moni questioned. She then turned her attention to Demari and pinched his cheek. "Hi Demari!"

    Demari smiled shyly, revealing two silver front teeth. He had lost his baby teeth so his mother went and got him a couple of stainless steel crowns.

    "I'm great Moni," Kit replied, preening down her blonde lace front. She adjusted herself in her wheelchair, making herself a bit more comfortable.

    It was a miracle that she survived after being shot twice in the chest and once in the abdomen. Kit remembered laying in her hospital bed, barely conscious but still listening to what the doctor was telling her.

    "Kit, it's a miracle feat, if not, an act of God that you survived this terrible event. The two bullets that entered your chest cavity exited without hitting any vital organs. You'll recover just fine, however, the bullet that entered your abdominal cavity hit a very important nerve that's in charge of movement. You will NEVER be able to walk again," the doctor informed her as he looked at her in concern.

    Although she was bound to a wheelchair for the rest of her life, she was grateful. Not many people who get shot get a second chance at life. This was a sign for her to do everything right.

    "How's Harmony?" Kit asked, shifting her attention to Moni.

    "She's doing great Kit," she replied truthfully. "She's a little slow when it comes to walking but I think that she'll get there sooner or later."

    Kit laughed out loud. "Demari was like that too. He was well rounded in walking by the time he was one and a half. Harmony will get there soon."

    "I hope so too." Moni stepped aside and gestured Demari and Kit to step inside.

    Taking note, the two made their way inside Moni's home and closed the door behind them.

~~

    Both Moni and Kit watched from the kitchen island  as Harmony and Demari were playing with her toys. Taking a bite out of her sandwich, Kit began to speak.

    "So, do you still have those dreams?"

    Moni took a small sip of her wine and looked over at Kit with a raised brow. "Which dreams?"

    "Girl not those typa dreams," Kit stated, playfully rolling her eyes. "The other ones."

    "Yeah, I still do. Almost every night I'm awaken out of my sleep. It's terrible."

    Kit nodded her head in agreement, then took another bite out of her sandwich before continuing. "I know you miss him."

    Moni looked over at Kit as she downed her drink. "How can I not? He was my everything. We met through my sick, twisted ex, became best friends, then lovers, and then we finally made our own family."

    "I understand completely. There's been times where I lay in my bed and look over to my right, thinking that Rick is laying next to me, but it's all in my head." Kit's voice began to waver a little bit. "He was my baby since we were in high school, then we had our own baby. Despite the hardships and shit, he always managed to remain positive and love me continually. That's what I miss about him."

    A small tear escaped Kit's eye. She placed her food on the table and wiped her cheek with the back of her hand. Moni leaned over and wrapped her arms around Kit, giving her a warm embrace. She understood the pain that Kit was feeling cause she herself was going through the same thing.

    "We'll both get through it," Moni said, rubbing her hand on Kit's back in a circular motion and patting it. "It's gonna take some time but we'll get through it."

    Releasing herself from Moni's embrace, Kit sniffled then smiled a little bit. "At least they're in a better place now. I know he's up there with my mom and granny."

    Faintly chuckling, Moni nodded her head in agreement. "Same with mine. One day, we'll be reunited soon in paradise. All I know is that I was holding him down and I still am, in my heart."

The End.