Unintentional

Rude Awakening

6 years ago...

Courtney stood at the curb, holding his belongings in a plastic bag. He was just released from a 2 year sentence in jail and had been waiting on his girl for the past hour. He didn't understand why she was so late; her apartment was just 10 minutes down the highway even with traffic and he even wrote her a letter letting her know when he was getting out. 30 more minutes had passed by before he realized she wasn't coming. Just as he was about to start walking, a tan Chevy Malibu pulled up. Without saying a word, he got in, looking straight ahead at the road while his mother pulled away.

"So what are you gonna do about a job?", Juanita asked, breaking the silence. Courtney simply shrugged, not even bothering to give her a verbal answer. "Well you not stayin with me rent free so you need to go online and start filling out applications". "Who said I was stayin with you? You can just go ahead and drop me off at my girl house", he muttered. Juanita swerved into the exit lane and parked on the side of the service road. She was so tired of Courtney being so disrespectful, acting as if she owed him something. "You don't have a girlfriend Courtney, that girl is gone". When he didn't answer, she threw the letter Jessi left in her mailbox a week ago into his lap and sat patiently as he read it.

Courtney,

   I'm sorry but I'm not doing this anymore. I've wasted almost 3 years taking care of you like a child when I have no children of my own. You going to jail was the best thing that ever happened to me. That may sound harsh, but it's true. I have so much more money and free time to do whatever without having you around to ask for money or for a ride around town. I even got a promotion, and they're asking me to relocate, so by the time you get out, I'll be long gone. I wish you the best of luck, but for me, this is goodbye.

                                                                      -Jessi

Juanita smirked as Courtney tore the letter to pieces and threw it out the window. "Still want me to take you to your girl house?". "Should've known I couldn't trust that bitch. Can't trust nobody but my damn self; I'm the only one that looks out for me", he mumbled. "That's exactly the reason why you went to jail in the first place. What the fuck do you think I'm here for? Every time you go to jail it's always me coming to get you, not any of your friends or the females you mess with. If anything I'm the only person you got left". Courtney folded his arms across his chest and shrugged yet again.

His mother sighed in frustration at her son's childish behavior. "You know, there was one other person that was always there for you. That girl went through hell for you and got nothing in return. I never understood what made her stick around so long". "Fuck her. Apparently she ain't shit either cause she ain't here no more", Courtney grumbled. "It's your fault that she's gone, son. Nyree loved the hell out of you, but you made her leave. Too focused on trying to find better and ended up with less than what you had. I know all about the fight you two had.

She showed me all of the messages between you two, so I know about all that was said on your part. I can't believe you would talk down to someone who sacrificed so much for you. I didn't raise you to disrespect women, Courtney". She was awarded with silence, as he continued to look out the window. "She was right you know", Juanita countered. Courtney looked at her in confusion. "Right about what?". "What she said about your father; she was right. Your daddy ain't shit, and you really are starting to act just like him. I guess I was wrong to think you would turn out better", she muttered. Courtney stared at her in shock as she turned her blinker on to get back on the road.