Jungle 3: Revisited

Chapter 26

February 14, 2020

"Happy birthday, Pooda!" Mike said from his car as Ebony stood outside of her apartment.

"Thank you." She faked a smile.

"You really gotta see about me getting a keycard so you won't have to always come out when I come over. I brought you breakfast."

"Thanks. You wanna come in for a la' bit?" She took the plastic container.

"Yeah, let me park real quick."

A week after her girls trip, Ebony was back in New Orleans and feeling the pressures of grief. She was thankful to have survived another year, but today had her mind racing. A bunch of what ifs pondered her thoughts. The fact that a year had passed since her life would have another drastic turn was kind of unbelievable to her.

"You work today, yeah?" Mike asked even though he already knew the answer.

"Yeah." Ebony sighed as she entered her apartment and then her room.

"What time you get off?"

"At night, probably ten."

"Mmh. You wanna work ya' birthday and Valentine's Day away?"

"I don't mind. I'm not doing nothing, might as well make money." She shrugged.

"What if I had something planned?" Mike pulled her close.

"Well...you'd have to cancel it because I'm not doing nothing besides going to work." Ebony pulled away.

"Remember last year, you took all those pictures in ya' birthday dress. I thought it was cute how ya' smile was big as fuck. You was so happy that day." He said, causing her eyes to water.

"It's funny how things can change that fast." She sat down on her bed.

"You wanna talk?" He grabbed her thigh after sitting next to her.

"I feel like, I never let it go. Life continued on and I'm not always sad about it, but it never went away. It's like...shit that happen to me is like a movie. When it happens, it's as if I'm supposed to be watching it on TV, but instead it's my real life. Still. A year later, it doesn't feel real. How could something like that happen? A year ago today, I never would've thought. Never would've thought my potna would leave me." She wiped her eyes.

"God gave you another chance. You know what you gotta do. Let him live through you and keep pushing towards your destiny. I wish I could make you feel better. I'm sorry you had to experience that." Mike kissed her forehead.

"It's no denying that that was my fault. My actions caused him to die and I'll forever live with that guilt. You don't know what it's like to have that burden on you. I don't want God to think I'm ungrateful for sparing me, but sometimes I think I was spared as a punishment. I have to live knowing that I'm the reason an innocent person is dead."

Mike pulled Ebony in for a hug before saying, "it's not a punishment. It was an eye opener; something that God knew would get you off ya' feet and get you walking down a different path. Ya' potna in a better place and he ain't gotta worry about nothing no more. Just like me, I'm sure all he want is for you to be happy and for you to grow".

"You hea' me? I want you to grow and become the woman God destined you to be. Learn from ya' mistakes and take ya' L's like the real nigga you is." He kissed the top of her head.

"Okay." She sniffed and nodded.

"This tiny ass female sitting next to me, is somebody to admire. I couldn't image stepping in ya' shoes and going through half of the shit you been through. It's inspiring how you get up everyday and keep going. I'm not just saying that cause you my girl. You strong and if you ever start to feel weak, lean on me. Even if we going through shit, I'm still here for you as long as it's breath in my body. And even after that, I'll make it my duty to be there for you. That's my word and my word is my bond."