were playing and dived on top of us.
“There’s my husband, Trae. And Aunt Marva.” Tasha said. With a glance I remembered them as well. I felt like I was back. My prayers had been answered.
5
KYRON
“Ma, I’m good. Just get everybody out of my house, and I promise you I’ll be doing much better. Y’all are acting as if I’m a cripple.”
“Your damn mouth is!” smart-ass Kendra, my first cousin had the nerve to say as she chuckled. “Look at you, you can barely talk, sounding like Whispers from the movie Hoodlum. You know your mouth is where all your strength lies.” She plopped down in a chair across from me just so she could talk shit.
I gave her a look that said, You better get the fuck out of my face and fast. She obviously read my expression, because she got up and went into the kitchen.
My mother touched my shoulder. “Kyron, go lie down and get some rest. I will get rid of everyone.”
“Ma, what do you think I’ve been doing for the last few months? Laying up resting. Trust me, I’m good. I just need to clear my head in my own house all by myself. I’ll be fine, Ma.” I grabbed her hand and kissed it.
She sat down next to me. “Watch your tone, boy. You didn’t try to get rid of me when I was cleaning your behind.” She shot daggers at me, and I had to grin at the thought.
“My bad, Ma. I know you just want the best for your son.” She smiled as I leaned over, kissed her forehead, put my arms around her, and squeezed her tight.
“That’s your problem. You think you are the baby, but you’re not. You are my eldest, and I want you to start acting like it. Now, turn me loose so that I can get you settled.”
I couldn’t do anything but surrender. Between the nurse’s visits, Mari, and family crowding my space, I was feeling suffocated. I was thankful when my moms eventually went to kicking everyone out of my apartment before finally putting on her jacket and snatching up her big-ass purse off the sofa. I stood up, and she stood right in front of me with her hands on her hips. I leaned over and kissed her cheek one last time. Mama was my heart.
“Do you remember how to change those bandages?”
“Ma!”
“Do you?”
“Yes, ma’am. I do.”
“Good, and don’t get fresh with me, Kyron. I thought your brother was going to be the death of me, but now I see that it’s you. You shouldn’t have gotten yourself into this mess in the first place.”
“I’ll call you each time I change the bandages. How’s that?” I needed to get rid of my mother as soon as possible.
“You are the oldest, Kyron. You are supposed to lead by example. A good example.”
“I know, Ma. We all make mistakes.”
“Why don’t you want somebody over here with you?” My mother continued to question me as I led her to the front door.
“Ma, I need some time to myself. Time to think and strategize.”
“Strategize for what? Kyron, at the rate you’re going, I’ll be burying you instead of you burying me. Don’t take me through that. I’m not supposed to bury my son.” She touched my face as tears began welling up in her eyes.
“Ma, I’m going to be fine. I promise.” I opened the door to let her out.
“That’s what your mouth says, but I’m not totally convinced.” She rolled her eyes and shook her head as she walked out of the apartment.
I closed and locked the door and hurried into the bathroom to splash cold water onto my face. All of a sudden, I was having hot flashes. I wasn’t sure if it was from the pain medication or the rush I was having from finally being out of that hospital and alone in my own space. To be sure, I opened up the pain-medication bottle and dumped the pills down the drain. I looked at myself in the mirror. I rubbed the stubble on my chin, while wishing that I didn’t have to look at the gauze wrapped around my neck. The plastic surgeon hooked a brotha up, but the deep scar left behind would be a constant reminder that I almost lost my life over some good pussy. Pussy that didn’t belong to me.
Trae’s bitch ass had the perfect opportunity, but he fucked it up. It must have been meant for me to be here. He