I was born as a gift to my future husband from God.
And I was to be presented at fourteen.
I was born as a gift to my sister’s husband. Her fifty-seven-year-old husband who is also our father’s brother. I was born and groomed to become my uncle’s seventh wife.
The power in the number seven, I was the wife to gift him a multitude of children. Our offspring were to be the prophets.
As soon as Amara learned of his plan to take me as his wife, she warned me. Without her help, I would be nothing more than a sex slave and a brood mare. I begged Amara to come with me and our original plan was for her to leave with me. Only she found out just weeks before my planned departure that God blessed her with a child. Pregnant and on the run, she wasn’t willing to hold me back.
My niece was born healthy and as happy as a baby can be since ignorance is bliss. I didn’t realize I was born to a cult until I escaped.
Now, I see.
I see a lot of things I never would have noticed before. Like the scars on the face of the man who introduced himself as Drifter is on meth, as is the girl in their group known as Twig. Watching Caleb he’s twitching and hooked too, even if Katie doesn’t see it yet.
Drugs can provide an escape from the woes in life, but it’s always only temporary. That knowledge is what has prevented me from ever trying them in the first place. I can spot a user though.
The thing is drugs make people unpredictable. It’s a different level of danger. Which is why I wish I had more space between me and the others. However, traveling in a strange place at night isn’t smart. So keeping my wits about me, I have settled in where they won’t think to find me.
One thing about people living like me, very few actually use the undercarriage of the cars. This is something I use to my benefit.
I’ll stay put and doze until morning.
Tomorrow is a new day and I’ll face what is to come alone … as usual.
Good thing I long ago adjusted.
Five
Jinx
“You can observe a lot by watching.” Yogi Berra – This is one hundred percent fact, Jinx
The dawn of a new day has me hitting the road early. I need to be there for his discharge. Pops was in good spirits last night when I called to check on him, so I’m hopeful today’s transition back to the nursing home will go okay. I stopped staying with him at the hospital because he says it’s degrading. Now, when they have to transport him in like this, I call and make sure I’m there when he transitions back to the facility.
Growing up I never thought about when the time would come and my parents would need help. I guess I somehow figured they would be fine. After all they both are stronger than anyone I know. The reaper doesn’t discriminate by gender, age, race, or how much money is in the bank. When he comes for you, it’s a done deal. Mom died and Pops has been adamant about not being a burden to me. Even though I don’t see him as a burden in any way, he made this choice to have a nurse wipe his ass as he puts it, than his grown son. While I don’t desire to ever wipe any man’s ass if Pops needed me to I would. After the shit I put him through back in Hawaii, he never once turned his back on me so I won’t turn mine on him.
I do my part to make sure he never feels alone since he never once let me be alone in life. I can’t imagine what it’s like for him to be lost in the past while living in the present. That’s how I assume his head works with the dementia.
I leave Uprising heading through Atlanta when I make a small pitstop at a shop in Little Five Points. My phone keeps ringing over and over therefore, I stop earlier than I planned. This kind of shit tests my patience. I could get one of those helmets with the shit that will let me talk and answer on it, but I like my half-shell lid just fine. What I don’t like is any distraction from the freedom of the ride. Most of the Kings have all updated