Treat Me Like Somebody

:: Prologue| Mercy

"Karson, I'm pregnant." The words barely escaped my trembling lips. Tears streaming down my caramel cheeks. I hugged myself as if this was all a dream and I will wake up soon.

The disgusted expression on Karson's face turned into a hardened look. "What you telling me for? I hope you don't think I'm the daddy."

My eyes widened as more tears began to pour and I let out a choked sob. How could he say that? After all we been through? I love this boy with all my heart. I gave this boy all of me. I want us to be in this together. Isn't that how it's supposed to be?

"Karson, you know you the only boy I slept with! I was a virgin!"

He snorted and dissed me with his hand. The same way he dissed the hoes that always tried to get with him

The same way he did when someone annoyed him. The same way when he was done with something or someone. It can't be over. Why is he acting like this? Like I'm nothing.

"See. I should've listened to my boys when they said you got around. You ain't nothing but a thot. The nerve of you to try to pin your baby on me."

"Your friends were the main ones that tried to get with me! You know I don't like 'em. How can you say some bullshit like that Karson? I love you and that night we shared was special. Not only for me but for you. Don't try to leave when things get tough. Be a man. Not only for me. Not only for you but our baby."

Karson stared at me with softness and love in his big, brown, hazel eyes. That look that warmed my heart every time and that look that made me want to give him everything he wanted. That look that got us in this situation in the first place. As quickly as that look came it was gone and replaced with an impassive one.

"I got goals and dreams and none of them included you. Especially now that you're pregnant it makes it so much easier to break up with you. I refuse to be trapped."

Karson walked down my porch with his hands stuffed in his pockets. I let out another choked sob and covered my mouth to stop the painful scream I wanted to let out. I haven't felt so much pain. My heart feels like it stopped pumping and I struggled to breath as I cried. I watched my first love get into his car and drive off. That was the last time I saw him. The last time I heard his voice.

*/*/*//* Present *//*/*/*

::T H R E E Y E A R S L A T E R::

I had baby vomit all over my chest. Kania is propped on my hip with her hands gripping my shirt as she cried. I told my little sister, Priscilla, to stop feeding her so much oatmeal. Kania is already spoiled enough.

"Mom! I-"

"Already here," she walked into my room with her arms stretched ready to receive her granddaughter. I mouthed thank you as I handed over my daughter. I don't know what I would've done without her support.

When I was in high school I use to stay with my father just so I could continue at Edison High. I stopped calling him dad a long time ago. He cheated on Mom when I was twelve. With some woman from his job. When it came time for me to start high school mom thought it would be best to get out the ghetto and attend a good school. That's how I ended up with my father before he kicked me out when I told him I was pregnant.

I moved back in with my mom just as summer rolled around. Junior and senior year at a new school was tough. I was an emotional wreck. Mom made me take care of Kania and she helped out sometimes but it was my responsibility. I can't tell you how many times I cried at night. I was so exhausted and I had no one to help me most nights when Kania woke me up at least four times. I was failing most of my classes and I couldn't go out with my friends because I had to take care of Kania. I even thought about adoption. I couldn't take it but I managed to pull myself together. Mom and my Auntie Loren helped watch Kania after and before school so I could catch up on school work. My brothers and sisters even helped watch Kania on the weekends sometimes. Life was getting better.