After a long day of classes, Janiah stood in front of the mirror pulling her afro up into a tight bun. She rolled her eyes as she thought about the amount of assignments she needed to start working on. She went into her room determined to start on some lab assignments but when she felt the cool air from her fan she changed her mind and headed straight for her bed.
She pulled out her phone and decided to call a few stores back, hoping to land a job interview. The first on her list was Jenny's, a local supermarket a few blocks from campus. Janiah dialed the number and pressed the phone up to her ear.
"Hello, my name is Janiah and I was wondering if your hiring manager was in today?" Janiah spoke in her professional voice.
"You the same Janiah that called yesterday?" The woman asked in a high nasally voice. Janiah could already tell the lady was going to make this difficult for her again. She could hear the irritation in the lady's voice.
"Yes ma'am. Is the hiring manager in right now?" Janiah asked wanting to get straight to the point.
"I told you yesterday that I would give him your name and number, then you could expect a call back." The woman said.
Janiah huffed. She could feel her eyes start watering as she started to grow frustrated.
"Thank you for that." Janiah said through clenched teeth. "Is he in or not ma'am?"
The woman smacked her teeth, "He's not in right now, try again tomorrow." The woman said before hanging up.
Janiah looked at the phone for a few seconds in shock. She knew people were rude but she was not expecting that. Tears pooled in Janiah eyes as she slowly started to feel discouraged. All she was trying to do was secure a job and start saving up for her and her baby and the more she tried to do the right thing, the more people made it more difficult for her.
Janiah stood from her bed and picked out a white, t-shirt, black slacks, and some black closed-toe shoes. Janiah had been calling restaurants and stores for the past two weeks and was having no luck. She was going to go to every store in the area, if she had to until someone hired her. Janiah knew she couldn't last on the little savings that she had in her banking account for long. She knew that no one was going to take care of her and her child except for her.
Janiah turned on the shower and let the hot water relax her muscles. She grabbed her soap and lathered it up washing her body thoroughly before rinsing out and stepped out of the shower. She grabbed her cocoa butter lotion and coated her damp skin, making sure to put extra on her stomach. After spraying on her perfume and putting on her under garments, Janiah exited the bathroom putting on her clothes and shoes. She applied a light coat of makeup before grabbing her keys.
Janiah walked outside, squinting from the bright sun. Her eyes searched the parking lot before they landed on her beat up 2001 Impala. Janiah didn't have much but she was grateful for what she did have. It was easy for her to get caught up sometimes longing for newer cars or an easier life that others seemed to have but Janiah wasn't stupid. She knew that everything that glittered wasn't gold.
Janiah swifly walked to her car, happy that many people wasn't in the parking lot. She got into her car, rolling the windows down to let out some of the heat. She started her car and said a quick prayer for patience and an interview before pulling out of the parking lot, heading straight for Jenny's.
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When Janiah arrived at Jenny's it was packed as usual. Janiah circled the parking lot twice trying to find a parking spot closer to the front entrance. She scuffed when she saw a parking spot near a group of men. Janiah parked her car and got out. She glanced at the men that were to her right before she grabbed her purse and locked her door.
She started walking past the men when she heard a deep voice call out her name. Janiah turned around slowly with a aggrevated look on her face. She looked up to see none other than her baby's father walking towards her. Janiah huffed. If today wasn't great she knew it was only about to get worse.
"What do you want Trey?" Janiah asked looking at the ground. She just couldn't look the man that hurt her in the eyes. Her heart longed for him but her mind knew it had to be stronger than her heart. This was the same man that she was there for day in and day out. The same man that told her he loved her and wanted a future with her only to change his mind when he found out she was pregnant. The same man who changed up on her, lied to her, and left her for his ex.
"I just wanted to see how you've been Niah but I see you haven't taken care of that situation we got going on." Trey said.
Janiah head snapped up. She couldn't believe his triffling ass. How dare he continue to pressure her about getting rid of a child he helped created. Janiah could feel her heart beat speed up and her ears get hot.
"How tf dare you continue to harass me about getting rid of a child you helped created! I told your ass you don't have to be in their life, I got them. I don't need you and imma make sure they're taken care of with or without you!" Janiah turned on her heels ready to get out of his presence. She noticed some of the customers giving them looks as they headed inside the store. Janiah took a few steps forward only to be yanked back by Trey.
Janiah gave him the meanest look she could muster. The once soft brown eyes that he had was now red-tinted and filled with anger. His once handsome face was now contorted into a scowl. Janiah glanced around for help just incase. She was a little scared. Trey wasn't no small guy. He was 6'4 towering over Janiah's 5'7 frame.
"B***h I told your ass that I wasn't ready for another child. You gone be raising the lil' s**t by yourself hoe!" Trey yelled into her face before pushing past Janiah and walking towards the store with his homeboys trailing behind him.
Janiah felt her eyes burn as tears began to well up. A lump grew in her throat as she tried to push her emotions away. She said nothing and kept her head down as she trailed a few steps behind Trey and his friends towards the entrance of the store. She heard Trey and the guys call her all kinds of hoes and continue to drag her name through the dirt.
When Janiah entered the packed store she rushed straight to the restroom. She found an empty stall and let her emotions take over her. Her body shook as she let out pent up anger and hurt. After a couple of minutes, Janiah exited the stall and proceeded to the sink to wash her face. As Janiah looked at her reflection in the mirror, she sent up a silent prayer. I don't know how Lord but please let me be everything my child needs. Janiah rubbed her belly bump before exiting the bathroom with a new found courage.
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Author's Note:
What do you guys think about Janiah? Trey?
Make sure you like and comment.
