Something New

“How would you know that? I told you last night wasn’t just a one-off for me; it was me hoping you'd see the connection between us that’s still there after all these years. You told me what you wanted from me, and I told you I was willing to give that to you and more, Imani. What more do you want from me?”

“I don’t want anything from you because I can’t stay here! You’re putting down roots here, and all I want to do is rip mine up from this poisonous soil! I hate it here! Every time I’m here, something bad happens! Every time I’m with you!” I blamed him.

He turned to me with a stern look on his face. “We both know that’s not true.”

“Why isn’t it, huh? I kiss you, and my brother dies. I spend the weekend with you, and my sister’s entire happily ever after goes down the drain! You’re just as poisonous to me as this entire city is, Bleu, and being around you makes me feel so insecure like that little heart-eyed girl I was all those years ago, and I–I can’t.”

“I think you're just afraid to be happy.”

“And I think you’re chasing after someone who doesn’t feel the same way about you anymore. Time may have stopped for you when you were locked up, but the world kept on spinning for the rest of us. I’ve moved on, and I think you should too.”

“Is that what you really want, Imani?” he asked with frustration weighing down his brows.

“It doesn't matter what I want! Can’t you see that? I can’t focus on that right now. I can’t focus on myself. I can’t focus on you. I can’t focus on us, Bleu. I’m leaving, and that isn't up for debate!” I yelled before exiting his car and slamming the door behind me.

Isa

The wedding night.

There was no more drama or mystery, no relief, or pardons. It didn’t even have the luxury of feeling like a new beginning or an ending. It just was. A few months ago, I was ready to be married. Ready for a quick I do, a speedy reception line, cake, and life with Axel right by my side. I was happy with no doubts, at least not big ones. Every time I closed my eyes, I could envision him standing at the altar in a fitted tux with a fresh red rose in his lapel. His smile would be knee-melting, but his hands would be sweaty, so he’d have them clasped tightly behind his back so I couldn’t see his butterflies in full effect. I wanted it to be the fairytale it was in my head. Instead, we were doomed to be anything but magical. My wedding day was supposed to be bliss. The flowing dress, the romantic scent of a room filled with flowers, our friends and family all wishing us well. Everything I had always wanted. I couldn’t wait for the next fifty years with Axel, all the while knowing a bigger piece of my heart belonged to someone else. With no one else to turn to, and my secret out to my family, I had no choice but to find a way to tell Elijah the truth about the baby.

“Isa?” he answered.

“H–hey…” I stammered.

“Ain’t today you’re uh–”

“Yeah,” I cut him off, “today was my wedding day.”

“Was?”

“I didn’t go through with it. We didn’t get married.”

“Are you serious? What happened?”

I huffed. “I don’t even know where to begin. Let’s see; I found out that my fiancé had been cheating on me for months.”

“Damn, that’s fucked-up.”

“Nope. I haven’t even gotten to the fucked-up part yet.”

“What?”

“The person he was sleeping with was my mother!”

“Hold up. Your mother?”

“Yeah,” I confirmed.

“The white boy you brought to my grand opening was smashing your moms behind your back?”

“Yeah,” I confirmed.

“That’s grimy as fuck.”

“Tell me about it.” I sighed.

“I bet that was some show, huh?”