I took a deep breath and knocked on the door. It took my hours to make up my mind, but I know that this is what I want. This is what I need.
I knocked a couple more times and looked down at my shoes.
"Chilombo?"
I looked up to see Daniel a little startled, but calm. I smiled faintly and cleared my throat.
"I know this is...unexpected." I say.
"Yeah, I've been calling and texting for months. I'm suprised you even know I exist." He says.
I sigh. Ever since I got mixed up with August, Daniel hasn't really been a factor. And I regret it more than ever now.
"Daniel, I'm sorry. I just got caught up in so much shit, I just-"
"You just forgot about me?" Daniel said, getting mad. "You were running around with this famous nigga, you forgot who had your back while he wasn't there."
By this time, Daniel face was red with pure anger. Each word he said tore me up inside...because it was true. I put him on layaway and its not fair to him.
"Daniel I-"
"I'm not done talking! You set me on the shelf and now that the big shot is gone, you want to fall back on me!" Daniel said, raising his voice.
I looked down at my shoes again. I didn't know what to say after that. I deserve it. I deserve it all. Daniel sighed and calmed down. He grabbed my hand and rubbed it with his thumb.
"I love you, Chilombo. With my mind, body, and soul. You have every part of me. But I'm not your fall back. So you have to choose. Either its me or him." He said, lifting my chin.
Tears were streaming down my face. August is always going to have a portion of me. I can't run from it. But that doesn't mean I can't love someone else. While I was with Daniel, he showed me something new. He showed me how to love. He treated me like I was a queen and showed me that I'm worth something. And that's what I need. All the time. I sighed.
"You." I say. "I need you."
