Her first

Chapter 18 : Gladys.

"This weekend is my twenty eighth birthday, whether or not the opportunity arises I just have to tell Eli that I love him"

(Memory - two years ago, I'm walking to a coffee shop. I bump into a guy busy on phone.

"I'm so sorry"
"No it's okay"
"It's my fault, I wasn't looking where I was going"

He said.

"Wow you're beautiful"
" Uhh thanks"

I responded with a smile looking at the ground.

"I'm Eli"
"Gladys, nice to meet you"
"Like wise, uhh I'm not doing anything and it looks like you're about to have some coffee can I join you"
"wait.,.. we just met"
"What can I say, I work fast. It gets me to my goals faster"

He gave me that smile that anyone would say yes to what he wanted especially girls)

(Memory - several weeks after meeting Elijah I'm arguing with my now ex Andrew about him cheating on me.

"You have no right to call me a cheater Andrew when you're the one busy sleeping around"
"It was once I was drunk after that party we both were"
"does that mean it's ok, fact is that you cheated I'm not a fool"
"like you cheated on me with that boy"
"I wouldn't dare I've got better morals but even if I did, he'd be more of a man than you are"

Ahh, he hit me so hard I fell to the ground, just then Eli walked in.

"What are you looking at"
"I'm looking at you, trying to figure out how hard you'll land once I knock you out"
"ha, that's rich. You think you can take me on in a fight"
"that's a question I should be asking you, how could you dare lay a hand her"

Elijah responded, cracking his knuckles. At this point I didn't know whether Elijah was in trouble or he's serious tone implied he meant business, Andrew threw punches at Elijah and true to his word Elijah dodged them and knocked him to the ground.

"Andrew leave or I'm calling the police"
"I'm done with this stupid relationship that wasn't going anywhere"

He walked out, Elijah came to my side and gave me a hug making me feel safe in his arms.)

(Memory - I'm in my living room watching a movie when I heard a knock at the door. I opened it to find.

"Eli, what are you doing here at this time of night"
"It's just that--"
"is there a problem at work?"
"no I..."

Without warning he kissed me fiercely on the lips. It's like my body pushed itself to return the kiss, I wrapped my arms around his neck. I felt his hands caress my body in and out of my clothes. He lifted me up and took me to my room.

Moments later.

"Eli what is this"
"I don't know I'm trying to figure it out"
"figure what out"
"My complicated love life, there's you and.."
"Emily, I know.... I'll let you figure things out"

I got up, he held my hand and looked me deep in the eyes.

"Please don't get up yet"

I got back in the bed and laid there for a while)

"That was the very first time I ever made love to someone. He was my first"
"and you already had feelings for him"
"yes, more than you could imagine. I love Eli so much I haven't been with anyone else"
"I understand you Gladys but you have to let go of him and those feelings"
"I know aunt, but working for him hasn't made anything easier, I dropped out of school because of our financial situation, I can't find any other job that'd I'd get as much as he gives me"
"You'll get back up on your feet eventually you have to try"
"I'd be betraying his trust, I can not aunt I'll invite him to church with us on Sunday after my birthday on Saturday"
"it's good I came, how could you not have been going to church my dear"
"I never knew aunt, I grew up with parents who didn't care"
"your parents cared about you three, they just gave up on trying to live after struggling went to far for them"

I give my aunt a hug.

" Thanks for listening aunt, I'll put Joshua to bed and take rest myself"
"alright, goodnight sweetie"
"goodnight aunty"

I head to Joshuas room and put him to bed.

" Look at you now little angel, I just wish you, your father and I could be a family but unfortunately he's already taken"

"sleep tight little one, Mama's right here for you"

I head to my kitchen and start making myself something to eat. Headphones in my ears I dance to the rythm of one of my favorite pop songs. After finishing with the food I head to the living room. As I'm sited on the chair I reach for a cup on the table, because I'm focused on the game on my phone I knock it down.

"Uhh, not my good carpet"

As I stand up my headphones come off

" Is that a knock, at midnight"

I open the door.

"Of course it's you, only you can-- wait are you crying?"

He gives me a hug.

" Tell me what's wrong Eli"