Ghetto Love Bird

Reminiscing

When I got pregnant with Sorayah, her father wanted me to abort her. And for a second, he convinced me that that's what I wanted too.

I'm not sure where, but somewhere along the lines, I realized that I needed to have this baby.

When I told him the decision, he beat me, and beat me, nd beat me until I was black and blue. . . And then he left and was never seen again.

Sorayah saved me. She saved me from the abuse, the malnutrition,

But there was just something's I couldnt be saved from.

From the raw age if 12 my mother had nt body selling like it was a piece of meat to any one who wanted. The least I've every been sold for was $5, and I'm not even sure she did it for the money.

My father left her when she was pregnant, just like me, and although he would pop back up now and then to f**k her . . . He didn't care for who I was.

These days were getting worse by the hour, and all I could think about was my past. I threw on a yellow sundress, with bows at the top of the sohagetio string, and dress Sorayah in it as well.

We were currently getting ready for Tera's lunch, and to be honest, I wasnt feeling it that much.

My phone rang from the living room, "go grab mommy's phone."

Sorayah ran like her life depended on it, andni chuckle. She brings it back quickly, and I swipe left answering Roman's call.

"Mamas," his deep voice vibrated through the phone and I take a second before answering.

"H-hey," I stutter and I shut my eyes, pinching the skin on my forehead.

"What time is the lunch? You never sent me the address?" He says.

"You remembered . . . You know you don't have to come right? I was just extending the invite."

"I would to be there." He replies with no hesitatipn and I let out a shaky breath.

"Okay sure, I'm going to send you the address."

"Cool, waiting on it."

We hang up and I stare at Sorayah who was staring at me.

"Who was that?" She asks noisily.

"Mommy's friend." I tell her, texting Roman Tera's address.

"Roman?" She asks, and of course gossip girl remembered his name.

"Go find your shoes."

"Mhmm," I gape as she slowly backs out of the room, give me the suspicious eye. This child.

#

Roman picked us up, and took us to Tera's house because, why not? I put Sorayah's car seat in his truck and buckled her in.

Roman had the door open for me, like always and I couldnt help but smile at him as I climbed into the truck.

"You good?" He asks before we leave, and I nod. He turns to the back, raising his eyebrow and Sorayah nods.

"Alright, then we're all set."

Tera didn't live so far away from me, perhaps 10-15 minutes away. Her house was a pretty light blue colour, and her porch was wooden which was always the strangest part. An entire house made out of concrete with a wooden porch.

Anyway, her parents left it for her when they passed, and she took care of it, and renovated when she had to.

We could see Western at the back of the house grilling when we arrived. Roman opened up my door, and unbuckled Sorayah from the car seat, placing her onto the ground.

She immediately intertwined her hands with his, and pulled him towards the house.

Roman looked back at me, confused, but I was on the same page as him.

What was she up to.

"Hey!" Tera greets us as we walk in and I grin as her eyes linger on Roman.

Roman nods at her, outstretching his hand and she happily takes it.

"Don't mind if I do," she giggles and I give her a flat look. Western enters the house upon hearing another male voice and raps up Roman.

"That's your girl?" Roman asks, a little surprised and Western nods.

"This is Terror," Western replies and I snort. Tera smacks him with a towel.

"Where's Eastern, uncle Western?" Sorayah speaks up.

"Your son's name is Eastern?"

"His idea," Tera says blandly and I couldnt help but chortle.

"I love his name," Western defends, "he's in the sandbox, go find him."

Sorayah takes off into the backyard, while we find spaces in the kitchen.

Roman and I sit next to eachother on the stools and Tera and Western just stand above us on the other side of the table like interrogators.

"So that's your girl?" Western asks Roman and Roman chuckles.

"Nah," Roman replies, "that ain't my girl."

When I tell you this man was fine. His teeth were so straight and white, and everytime he laughed it was a little raspy but wet. I really just want to lift this sundress, and rest it on him but definitely not here.

He always smelt so good, his waves were always neat, moisturized and swimming. Don't even get me started on the way be dressed—

"Earth to Honey. Stop staring at the man like that," Tera snapped her fingers in my face.

"Huh?" I looked around to find that I was indeed staring at Roman, but he didnt seen to mind. He had a smirk on his face, and moved his hand in the weirdest yet smoothest ways to flex his muscles. He knew he was fine.

"Do you guys have alcohol?"

"I don't think we should drink while the kids —"

"Yes we do sis!" Tera opens up her cabinet and grabs some shot glasses.

I needed a drink, desperately.

"Tera," Western says in a scolding tone and she ignores him.

Western got irritated easily, so I was wary that us drinking would cause conflict between us. However Tera shoved two shot glasses on our hands, and it was a little too late. Western left to tend to the grill and Tera just rolled her eyes.

"I'll deal with him later, you two, drink up, have fun!" She raised her own glass and danced to no music all the way outside.

"I don't think Western wanted us drinking," Roman commented before throwing his drink back.

"He didn't," I did the same. I cringed a little, using the orange juice on the table as the chaser.

"I see you eyeing me though, what was on your mind?"

"What do you mean?"

"You know what I mean," he places Anand on my thigh and I eye it.

"Roman —,"

"Its okay tho' mamas," he removes his hand, "we both know what was goin' on in there."

He chuckles to himself arrogantly, before stepping down from the stool and walking outside.

I let out a frustrated huff before following.

Tera and p seemed to be on better terms as she hugged him from behind while he was on the grill.

Sorayah and Eastern struggled to make sandcastles, and I chuckled at them when their bucket of sand fell to nothing. Then Sorayah started crying.

That immediately sobered me, but before I could do anything, Roman was already by her side. He got her to stop crying, then fixed the sandcastle with her. Eastern fetched the water, and joined in on the fun.

I looked back at Tera and Western to see if they were witnessing this too, and apparently they were.

It was a weird sight, Roman with his designer Jean's in the sand, creasing his sneakers . . . for my daughter.