Where There's Smoke

At Peace

Adrian's POV

            Roman had to go away for work, so I was staying with Janae. She would leave Eva with her parents and I would go to work with her. He had been gone for a little over a week, but we'd talk every night. It was lunch time and I was sitting at a table with Zariah. She was looking at her phone sad. "Girl if you don't stop looking at his shit online!" I snatched her phone.

   "He's having a good ole time! How could he?" She whined.

   "Annoying." She rolled her eyes. She started complaining about how her dad and I zoned out. I stopped caring about her complaints a long time ago. I mean I get it she's hurt, but it's time to move on. I mean her dad is willing to hold her hand through all of this and work with her, but she isn't even really accepting it. "Hey Z, I have a question." I looked up at her.

   "What's up?" She looked at me.

   "Your dad did her always make you feel safe?" I asked.

   "Yeah, he still does." She shrugged.

   "When you would tell him if someone or something bothered you would he listen and do something about it and fix it?" I asked.

   "Yeah, he put me in a new school when I would get bullied when I was little. He even walked me to my class until I went to middle school." She smiled at the memory.

   "I see you have a packed lunch. Does he pack you lunch?" I asked.

   "Yeah, he always has. He even still puts a note in it." She showed me a piece of paper.

   "How about breakfast and dinner?" I asked.

   "I wake up and breakfast is ready and he usually has an idea about dinner." She shrugged.

   "Yet you complain because you now live in a two adult home where they both care about you and are interested in everything you do. They're first priority is that you are safe. You're 16 going on 17. You are almost 3 years older than me. You want to know what my 14 years have been like, just Alessia and I. I watched my own mother lose interest in me and then marry a dick of a husband who couldn't give a shit about me. From the age of 7 to 12 I was molested by his brother. Alessia didn't do shit when I went to her saying I didn't like him. Her sister didn't do shit knowing her husband was doing that. Any injury I've had of the past 7 years was because he beat and attacked the shit out of me because he could. If I fought him back it would be worst. He was the reason I was in the hospital for these burns. The parent that was there from birth was supposed to be the one to protect me and save me. You have known safety, security, and the love of a parent your whole life. I've known for 3 months. I get it your dad has a girlfriend and a baby. That doesn't take shit away from you. I met my dad on one random ass day. When I met him do you know I could have been mad at him and hated him because he wasn't there for me? I could have been like nope fuck him I've been nothing but tortured and torment and where was he all my life. He has a wife a new baby, two dogs, and a picture perfect home fuck him. I could have hated Janae like damn you married my dad and never told him I was his daughter, even though she didn't know either. I could hat Eva simply because she will be raised like you in a family that is so fucking loving and secure. I'm not going to though because being angry is exhausting! I have lost 14 years with Roman and I'm not going to waste anymore holding a grudge over something neither of us could control. I'm not going to be mad at Lovie because shit she's been more of a mom to me that my own have been in years! I'm not going to be mad at Eva because she was just born into an amazing family. Yes big shit is changing in your house, but at least you know you will always be safe and loved there." She gave me a pitied look and I rolled my eyes. Before she could say anything the bell rung signaling that lunch was over, I got up and said I'd see her after school. I walked to Lovie class room through the crowded halls hugging my laptop and notebook. I walked in and nobody was here. I looked around. It was a nice room. I saw door labels Mrs. JM's Office. I went over and knocked on it. "Come in!" She called out. I opened it and smiled. "Hey Adrian, how was the first half of your day?"