Miss Sacrifice

Malik

I jumped out of bed the next morning  to get Tay to school, but when I checked my phone it was Saturday. The night before seemed long and faded when I tried to remember and when I looked besides me and spotted the ash tray that was pilled high with about 6 roaches that I'd finished. I couldn't quite remember everything from last night but I had a sinking feeling about Jaaliyah and got up to get ready to meet her. Although it was only ten in the morning and I was going to see her at one, I wanted to get all cleaned and freshened up. I walked by my mom's room too see her getting ready to go out again. She was looking at her ass in the mirror and pushing her boobs up in a low cut shirt. My mom lost her sense of dignity when my dad died and she lost herself completely when my brother died. It was sad looking at her and not knowing what to do or say, so each day—if she was there I'd just wave and walk away.

I've been keeping things together with the bills and the food for a while now since she's lost her job. She's been sleeping in and out of peoples's houses trying to make some money after getting drunk. Looking at her made my heart ache, not only for her but for Tay. She's a little girl growing up in a house with a no good mother and a brother as her father.  That's not the life I wanted for Tay. I looked away and se called out my name.

"What?" I said and clenched my jaw. I didn't want to face her.

'"Where you goin'?" She asked groggily.

"Out." Was my response.

"Take Tay with you." She limped her way over to me.

"I can't, she can't come where I'm goin'."

"Well I can't stay here and babysit all day. I gotta go out too." She said and she raised her voice at me.

"Aight. Whatever." I said. Walking away I thought of where to go with Tay and decided that I'd let her spend some time with her friends from school.

"What you say to me!?" She yelled. I didn't pay her any mind.

I stayed in the shower for a long time, at least until my mom was gone and it was only Tay. I wrapped the towel around my waist and went to wake up my sister. When I went to her room she was not in there but rather, I found her in my room. "Hey Tay. Did you shower yet?" I asked.

"And brushed my teeth." Tay smiled a big smile to indicate that she did as she was told.

"Go get some clothes on. You're going to Sasha's house." I picked her up and directed her out of the room.

"Finally. Can I spend the day with her?" She asked.

"Maybe. Now git or I'll leave you."

I watched as she ran out of my room and closed the door behind her. I dressed myself in my regular blue ripped jeans and a red shirt and on top a grey Nike hoodie. I finished off with red New Balances and sprayed myself lightly with my new cologne. I'm not one to ever spend a long time in the mirror but this time was different, I picked my hair out with evened out care and wrapped a bandana around my  head. When I was content with my choice of style I walked out and left with Tay. We ate at Ihop and I dropped her off at Sasha's house, it was around twelve then and I stalled until it was one. I didn't want to be late to my first time with Jaaliyah, so I parked my car a block away from her house until the time came. My phone buzzed and when I looked down, it wasn't who I wanted it was the exact opposite. It was Tony. I didn't answer.