Becoming Kofi's Sunflower

Two

"If it ain't bringing no color in your life... maybe it's time for some new paint."
-Unknown

Hearing Kofi's mumbles increasing forces Adanna to wake up. She watches his heavy breathing and stands to her feet. As she stands over him, she takes the time to take in his pleasant features. With his circumstances, she knows getting attached could lead to more trouble than she was already in so she rid her mind of the thoughts forming. Going over details she remembers of his situation, she couldn't believe he thought of himself as weak.

She understood why when Kofi jumps up in fear and his arms shields his face while his legs puts him in the fetal position. Adanna quickly puts distance between them and waits for Kofi to realize she wasn't going to hurt him. Seeing him peeking from behind his arm, Adanna's heart aches. "I'm sorry for violating your personal space, again. I hadn't realized that we dozed off but you were a tossing in your sleep," Adanna speaks a small note above a whisper.

Kofi brushes it off and sits with his head in his lap, likely trying to calm his beating heart. Her feet are moving before she has the chance to dismiss her intrusive thoughts. Kofi's head slowly lifts as Adanna stands over him again. She ignores his flinches and reaches for his hands. Wrapping them around her body, she pulls Kofi to her stomach. No words were exchanged between them as she runs her hand over his waves. He couldn't contest to her touch, he simply melts in her arms.

"Can I tell you a story about a broken girl. I heard that even though it's been years, she hasn't found a way to heal," Adanna bit her lips while debating the words that threatened to spill from her lips; her eternal hell, the story of how Adanna ends up brave enough to play hero.

-

Flashback
Adanna jumped in her hospital bed when the door suddenly slung open. Her big brother rushed over to her and Adanna could see the concern in his eyes. That's not the reason she couldn't face him though, he reeked of hatred and death. Adanna knew that Aiyden would want vengeance on the person that put her here.

"My sweet Anna. Did he do this; that nigga hurt you again?! I told you he had one more time to put his hands on you! I was an idiot, I should've put that nigga down the night I found out. I'm sorry but I'm not letting him live anymore, my Anna; he's a dead man. Look at you! Your beautiful face mama, you don't deserve this!"

Her heart appeared to be an avalanche by the way it crumbled when the tears from Aiyden's eyes cascaded down his redden cheeks. Adanna could feel his anger intensifying; she knew her brother was about to go stand on business! Aiyden never cried— not even for the death of their parents. Adanna couldn't fathom how she could put her best friend in a situation like this.

"I'll fix this, alright? I have to handle it; he's leaving me with no choice. I love you, my sweet Anna; you always remember that! I need you to believe in yourself like I do. These niggas don't deserve you, Anna. NEVER allow another man to bring you this low. I love you; now rest," Aiyden rapidly wiped his face and kissed Adanna on her forehead.

"Where are you going? Why does it feel like you're saying goodbye?"

His eyes closed when he saw tears fall like a waterfall from Adanna's purple, swollen eyes. This felt like the last time she would see him— she wasn't content with losing the one person who would give her the world to get her out this situation; if anything happened to him when he left her then it would be because of her negligence.

"I promise I'll be back. You have my word," he put out his pinky and kissed the back of it.

Adanna completed their sacred ritual by reciprocating his actions and despite the pain she felt in her body, she lunged onto her brother. She cuddled so deep into the warmth of his chest that she could hear the war drums of his heart. She didn't want to let him go like she already had to do that with her unborn son.