I look at the $20 this women just gave me in amazement. This is probably the most money any one person has gave me and I still can't believe it. With this $20 and the other $15 I had saved up from the past week, I should be able to buy Aimee some more diapers, a little bit to eat, and maybe some money leftover to put some gas in my car. I approach my car that is nearby the apartment building I was standing in front of, in a alleyway. I unlock the door and get in.
Once seated I look into the backseat to see my daughter, Aimee, beginning to wake up. I gently lift her out of the backseat.
"Hey chipmunk, did you have a good nap?" I question, she looks at me with those brown eyes and begins to whine.
Knowing what that means I make her a bottle and began feeding her.
My name is Shawn Carter and I am 20 years old. I was born and raised in New York. I used to stay with my mom but when I was 10 she gave me up to the system, and I lived in and out of foster homes until I was about 16. To this day I can't understand why my mom decided to just give up on me, we lived a pretty decent life. Yes times were a little hard with just my mom working, but we managed. Maybe she was going through some personal things that she didn't want to disclose to me at the time, but I still feel it wasn't fair to me. I don't hate my mom but I definitely feel some sort of resentment towards her.
Around the age of 16 was when I found a pretty solid foster home owned by the Browns. The foster parents were decent, I didn't hate them but I didn't love them either. They helped me with a home, food, and clothes and I will always be grateful. Also being under their care helped me finish school and at least obtain a high school diploma.
While at the Browns foster home I met Aimee's mother, Rosario.
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Me and Rosario met when we were both 17 and we found comfort in each other because of our similar situations. Our blossoming friendship lead to us pursuing a relationship. When we were 18, we obviously had to move out of our foster home. With the money we both had saved up we were able to get a apartment, it wasn't the best place in the world but it was ours. We both worked pretty decent jobs to keep up with the bills and such. It was around the time Rosario got pregnant when things took a turn for the worse.
When Rosario became pregnant she also became very sick, so she wasn't able to work at all, which left everything on me. I picked up double the shifts and basically worked 24/7. Rosario passed away giving birth to Aimee. Imagine being 19 years old, with a newborn and barley a stable life. I had to end up quitting my job to raise my daughter. With no source of income I was kicked out of my apartment when Aimee was around 5 months. So for the past two months me and my daughter have been living out of my car.
After feeding & burping Aimee, I place her in the car seat and begin making my way to my friend Meek's place so I can drop her off. I just started a job as a night janitor at a new sports broadcasting company.
Arriving at Meeks place, I leave Aimee in the room with him and go take a quick shower so I wasn't late to work. Meek allows me & Aimee to shower here whenever we need to. He also has offered to let us stay, but I declined. I really hate depending on other people, it makes me feel like less of a man if another man has to help me provide for me and my child.
I turn the water off and stepped out of the shower to dry off. Putting on my work clothes, I place my other ones in my bag. Finishing up in the bathroom I head to the living room.
"Alright chipmunk, daddy is going to work, I'll see you later" I say while kissing her cheeks, she starts giggling. "I love you. Meek her stuff is in the bag as usual."
"Alright man, have a good night at work"
I laugh. "I'll try, see y'all in the morning"
I head to my car and drive to the office building. Using my badge I unlock the doors. Before I begin to work I hook my headphones up to my phone and press play on the 'Revenge of the Dreamers 3' album before I start cleaning.
It took me around 4 hours to clean all three floors of the office building. After making sure everything was efficiently cleaned, I lock the office up and head to my car. Walking outside I realize the parking lot is empty.
"Where the fuck is my car?" I question lowkey furious. I go to where I was parked to see glass shattered. "FUCK" I scream out realizing that somebody has stole my car.
I sit on the edge of the curb mad as fuck. Everything I needed was in my car, including me and Aimee's clothes, her bottles, and much more. Out of frustration I begin to tear up a little. My life has been difficult for so long and I just want a break. I'm mentally and physically tired and I don't know what to do. After just sitting around I realized I'm going to have to take a bus to Meek's house to pick up Aimee.
After the bus ride I walk to Meek's apartment. Once arriving I knock on the door and wait.
"Hey man" Meek states while opening the door wider for me to walk in. "Where your car at?"
"Somebody stole it while I was at work" I tell him while grabbing Aimee off the couch and picking her bag up.
"Where y'all gonna stay at Shawn? Look I've told you before you can st—" I interrupt him.
"And I've told you Meek I appreciate it but I got it."
"Where you about to go now?" He questions.
"I'll figure something out. Thanks for watching Aimee, I'll talk to you later" I say while heading out the door.
While walking back to the bus stop I ask myself the same question Meek just did, where am I about to go?
