New Life?

The car didn’t come to a complete stop at the stop sign until the car speeding by nearly hit it. She lowered her sunglasses as the driver hit the brakes in time not to hit the speeding car. She pushed her glasses back up and watched the blue benz race down the street. She shrugged her shoulders as the driver of the cab began to drive again and head towards her home. A house made for three, but housing five. She turned towards the small shabby house and cringed at the feelings that welled up in her heart from memories of living there. She visited constantly but still got chills being there. She stepped out the car with her LV bag then looked back towards the cabby. She stuck her newly manicured nails into her bag and pulled out a hundred then handed it to the driver. He started to object, but she slammed the door closed then briskly walked towards the gated house and pushed the gate open just wide enough for her to get through. With each step she thought of turning back around not ready for this big bomb she was about to lay on her mother. She stared down at her heels that she had gotten a few months back from her boyfriend, but finally decided to wear them. Why did I wear these? She thought as she stepped up on the last stair and right in front of the door. She knocked lightly at first then a little heavier as her nerves took over her and she looked around her to see if she had been followed. She jumped as the door flew open and there stood her mother at 5’0 with her hair flowing over her shoulders and a warm smile on her face. She pushed the screen door open and let her walk in. She quickly turned back to her mother and hugged her tightly as if she hadn’t seen her in days.

“Onika?”

“Mommy.”

“What’s wrong baby girl?”

“I love you and I just need to talk to you.”

“About what? Spit it out?”

“Um….”

She hesitated as she clamped her hands together then sighed again. Her mother grab her hands and placed them together between her own small hands as she led her to the long sofa across from the small television that was playing a movie low. She stared at her mother then smiled a half hearted smile to somewhat ease her mind. Her mother sat up straight with every passing quiet second until Onika started to talk in a low hushed town with her emotions escalating as she fought the tears that wanted to fall from her eyes.

“I’ve decided to move in with Webb."

She rushed out looking over her mother's, now, hardened face. Her mother was a strong believer in a solid relationship, which consisted of them being engaged, before moving in together. All of her emotions escaped her once her mother started to cry. She knew this would break her heart, but she didn't plan on her crying about it. She quickly embraced her mother in a tight hug then jilted back when she felt a strong tug away from her. Her mother has pulled away and stood over her looking at her with disapproval all over her face.

"Onika, just go..."

"Mommy?"

"You don't listen to me, why should I keep wasting my enegry on you?"

"You're suppose to be here for me."

"I'm not supporting this relationship, he's no good and you deserve much better!"

"He treats..."

"Like a pawn in his game! Relationships aren't games, Baby!"

"You don't even know him! You never even..."

"I know him, I know him more than you think..."

"What does that mean?"

She questioned staring at her mother's face soften nearly breaking down, but she quickly shook it off. She placed her hand on her child's cheek then sighed loudly. This was her last straw and Onika had plucked it. Webb had been in their life for two years and had changed it in all of the first two months. But, Onika couldn't shake his fast money, fast cars and fast lifestyle period. He had made her home into a target for dope dealers and made her daughter into one of his many whores and have her husband his fixes. So, she did know him and everytime she told her daughter the truth, it back fired because he'd buy her love again and she couldn't compete with that. She finally walked away from her daughter, she had had enough of her blind love for a guy who was helping destroy her family even while providing for her which in-turn provided for them.

Nicki grabbed a few things out of her old room, silently talking to herself as she moved about the small room. Her mother giving up on her, had set ablaze in her and she was determined to set right and prove her mother wrong. That Webb was a good guy and that he would do as he promised and take care of them always. She placed her baby blue top with the matching shorts in her carry-on bag with her other things including the pictures of her family and friends. She picked up the biggest picture on her dresser that was of her and her family before drugs turned their world around. A chill whispered up her spine, traveled up the back of her neck and blew across her face. The thoughts of her father came rushing to the forefront of her mind. He had made the strongest woman in the world, weak. Nicki had wished upon plenty of stars that her mother fight back, for herself and if not for herself, for them. Especially her baby brother. She wiped a tear that had trickled down her perfectly made up face. She swiftly placed the bag on her back after zipping it up. 

She took the short walk across the hall to her baby brother's room where he lay sleeping. His baby innocence made her soul ache a little. This would be the times, he would miss like she had. Her father's demons would eat at his innocence and make him hard like her one day but she prayed that it wouldn't happen that way and maybe her mother grow a back bone and leave him, but until then she would be the one leaving them behind. She kissed his baby face and rubbed through his curls then walked out of his room and down the hall. She found her mother sitting at the dinning room table and kissed her cheek then held her head against her shoulder. Her mother embraced her warmly.

"Be safe out there Onika."

"I will. I love you... I'll be back once we're settled in."

"You do that, call me if you need help..."

"You know, I'm not... I need to do this for me. Bye, Mommy."

She kissed her other cheek and quickly made her way out the door where Webb sat waiting for her in his Green Honda SVU with tinted windows. She placed her bags in the back seat then looked over at his round fat face with love. He smiled then locked the door and pulled off as she put her seatbelt on. She grabbed his hand and held it as Tupac played on the radio and he bumped it loudly riding down the New York streets. He laughed loudly as he watched her face turn up as they pulled up to his home on the New York City line. 

"When are we moving into a home, I can call my own?"

"When the time is right, Nic? Just chill."

"We've been together too long, for me to just chill now. I want more..."

"Nic, you my main girl... That should be enough. I'm moving you into home.. That should be enough. Stop trying to get ahead of this thing."

She nodded. He was right though. She was his girl and the first one he moved into his house, so she couldn't complain. She would take it as it came to her like everything else in their relationship. She hopped out the car behind him as he grabbed her bags and headed into the house where it was finely decorated in white on black with a splash of gold here and there. She loved it, it was sexy. It made her feel pretty in a beautiful home waiting for her as Webb had told her when he said it was time for her to move in. She didn't have a key, yet, but this was her home. 

"Alright, get unpacked and the closet is yours. I'll get Taylor to go shopping for everything in your size and fill up the closet for every occasion."

"Taylor?"

"My stylist and personal shopper."

"Oh, the gay guy?"

"Yeah. He has a key. He should be here in a few just give him your sizes and tell him what you like."

"Wil do."

She replied becoming excited about her new life with Webb. He was her king and nothing or no-one, so she thought, could change her mind about that. He was great in every way and treated her like the Queen she believed she thought she should be treated like. 

"Life will be better, I feel it."