| Compton, CA |

Shayla

I parked alongside the curb before hopping out of the car and making my way up to my Auntie Cassie door. It has been a long time since I've been around here, and I must say I like what she did with the house.

I watched my Auntie peak out of her curtain before opening the house door. She walked down the porch steps as she gave me a small smile as she held out her hands to hug me.

"Hi beautiful"

I smiled as I embraced her, "Hey Auntie...how you feeling?"

She kissed my cheek before she pulled back and stared at me. A slight frown appeared upon her lips as she stroked my hair out of my face.

"I should be asking you that...I know its hard love"

I nodded as I looked away from her. It has been hard. I have been at the hospital everyday checking on Eric, not getting any sleep worrying about my health and E'mani's, and I admit I have skipped a bit of my prenatal pills, but I promised myself I wouldn't do that no more.

Even if I am sick, I will give my child a healthy delivery regardless of what state of mind I am in.

"Where's Kim?", I asked as I leaned on the rail to help me up the porch step.

Between carrying E'mani and all this wheezing, shortness of breath and sharp pains I get, it gets harder and harder to walk up steps.

"She's inside, Ren dropped her off and took Anthony to the hospital to visit Mickey Mouse", Auntie Cassie said as she held the door open for me.

I chuckled, "Dang you still call him Mickey Mouse after all this time?"

"Girl...I still remembered when he peed in my garden, he aint slick", She laughed as she waved me off.

I stepped inside of the house and I almost died instantly when I see who was sitting on the couch. I quickly turned my head as I watched my Auntie close the house door and lock it before leaning on it.

"What is she doing here?", I asked as I turned my attention back to this unwanted guest.

"Shayla..." my mom said as she stood up from the couch.

So many emotions ran through my mind as I stared at my mother. It has been a long 8 years since I have seen her, let alone hear from her. She looked so beautiful as I remembered when I left her in the living room in my freshman year of college. Her hair had slight strands of Grey as she stood in the middle of my auntie floor in a pink and white track suit and white sneakers.

"Oh. My god...Shayla", her voice cracked as she pulled me into a hug.

I didn't hug her back. Instead, I pushed away from her and just stared at her with my eyes filled with tears. I'd never expect to see this woman again, and the moment I see my mom, she doesn't even know I'm dying.

"You two need to talk". My aunt said as she placed a hand on my shoulder. "I'll be up the hall..."

I watched my Aunt walk up the hallway, then hearing her door close. I slowly looked up at my mom as I took a seat in the love seat across from the suede couch. My mom sat down across from me, wiping tears from her eyes.

"You're pregnant", she smiled as she choked on her tears.

"Yes...You're a grandma", I dryly said as I picked at my finger nails that were now dry and brittle.

"Shayla...don't be this way, I came this far to be with...- "

"Don't you think it's too fucking late for that?" I screamed as I stared at my mom.

My mom opened her mouth to speak, but closed her mouth and furrowed her eyebrows and raised a finger.

"I will not tolerate you to speak to me like that, I am still your mother...how fucking...- "

"Oh, now you want to be a mother when you put my ass out?!" I screamed as my voice cracked.

"Excuse me?!" my mom tilted her head and crisscrossed her legs. "You left, I never put you out you left me to be with that Eric boy, which is why I am here"

I bit down on my bottom lip and looked down at the floor. I am hurt as hell right now. Not because of the situation, but because I willingly left my mom for Eric and look how my life has turned out. Sure, I Was a doctor and now a soon to be mother and a wife, but look what I been through.

My mom was right all along. She was right and I was wrong, to an extent.

| Flash Back |

"What the fuck do you think you're doing!" my mom yelled, grabbing my shoulder and turning me around. I furrowed my eyebrows.

"Since I'm up Eric ass I'm going to stay up his ass. You steady going off what Cassie say" I snickered and continued throwing some clothes, shoes, accessories into my suitcases.

"Look maybe we can sit down and talk about this you're not going to live with no man at 18 years old Shayla" my dad grabbed my wrist and stared at me with hurt in his eyes.

"Nah let her ass go, she thinks she grown any fucking way she'll find out that her ass aint grown and that little thug she pressed over gonna break her heart" my mom screamed as she left my bedroom.

I let the tears flow down my cheeks as I continued to pack my stuff. About an hour After packing what I needed, I slipped on a pink Nike hoodie and made my way to the front of the house, rolling and carrying my bags.

My dad sat there with his hands folded and my mom sat back in the chair and smoked a cigarette. She cut her eyes at me as she exhaled the smoke out her nose.

"you'll be back Shayla" she in haled and exhaled the smoke. "You gonna find out you about to throw your blessed life down the drain for a stupid ass thug. Your whole college career and more. Gon to Cali and don't call me for shit until you learn some respect".

| End of Flashback|

As my mom continued to scold me, I felt my body being to deliver shivers as the tears fell from my eyes. I threw my head into my hands as I belted out a cry, causing my mom to stop yelling.

"Mom.... Please... STOP!" I shrieked with tears falling down my face. "I am hurting, I am losing my husband and I can possibly be dying too, stop yelling and just listen to me"

My mom face softened up as her mouth dropped. She placed her hand on her chest as she stared at me in shock.

".... Shayla.... Look at me...Shayla" my mom whispered as she kneeled down in front of me wiping my tears away from me.

I sniffled as I cried so hard that it started to make my mother cry. She used both her hands to palm my cheeks and bought my face to hers. I looked at her with my red watery eyes.

"I am so...sorry...my daughter.... I have failed you as a mother, I thought I was teaching you a lesson by letting you go off to live your own life, when I should have grabbed you and consoled you. I just didn't want you to make the same mistakes I did, allowing a man to deteriorate you, use you, hurt you" she said as tears rolled down her face.

She sniffled as she continued, "I just wanted you to be better than I was, depending on a man for nothing, but I'm damned proud of you. I know you graduated medical school, I know you gotten married in Paris, I know these things. The moments "I've should have shared with you I allowed my pain and bitterness hinder me from sharing those moments for you. I prayed for you every day, God knows I did asking him to forgive me and one day you will too...".

I wiped my tears as I looked down at my Wedding ring and smiled.

"Ol boy got good taste, damn look at that ring shining", my mom laughed between her sniffles.

I couldn't help but to giggle and nod my head, "Yeah...he has good taste mom".

We stared at each other for a moment before embracing each other. I squeezed my mom tightly as she kissed my cheek, then squeezing me tightly again.

"I've missed you so much baby girl.... So much, just thank you god" my mom said as she sniffed.

I bit down on my lips as I stared at my Auntie and Kim standing in the hallway wiping their tears and nodding their heads while smiling.

I closed my eyes, "I. I've missed you too mommy"

Smiling as I thought to myself, thank you god...just thank you for allowing this closure, tomorrow is never promised today.... Thank you.

***

Eric

"Mr. Wright?"

I looked towards the door at the Nurse who poked her head into my room as I held the remote in my hand.

"Your Wife is here to see you"

I nodded, "Alright".

I watched Shayla walk in wearing one of my flannel shirts and sweat pants as a woman followed behind her. I looked Shayla up and down and cracked a small smile as she leaned over to kiss me on my lips.

"Wassup baby?", I said in between kisses.

"Hey", she said softly as she grabbed my hand, gently squeezing it. "Ummm I bought someone to meet you".

I stared into her eyes as I diverted my eyes to her guest. She pressed her lips together as she walked over to my bed and looked down at me with sadness and guilt in her eyes.

"This is my mom..." Shayla sighed, staring at her mom then me.

"Oh Shit", I said then covered my mouth as I sat up in the bed. "I apologize for that language umm Ms....?"

"Vanessa. But you can just call me Ma", Shayla mom smiled as she leaned down and hugged me.

It wasn't an ordinary hug, it was a genuine hug as if she known me all her life and she met me before. She pulled back, with her eyes filled with tears.

"Eric...I am so sorry" She started as she wiped her eyes with her index finger.

I just nodded as I rubbed my thighs. If anything, I should be apologizing to her mother for all the hell I put her daughter through. It's just real fucked up that I'm meeting her mom under these circumstances, but everything happens for a reason, right?

"Aye. Ma", I chucked, causing them two to giggle as well. "No I am sorry, I should have been a better man to your daughter, she is a beautiful person.... that I've taken for granted"

I heaved a sigh as I felt my eyes sting and hands get hot. I know her mom hates me, I'd hate me too if someone ruined my child life. I guess I deserve this, Shayla just wanted me to love her, but I wasn't loving her right. She doesn't deserve this shit, but it's too late now.

"Eric... I have spent 8 years upset with my daughter for leaving the only place she called home to start a new life with you, I thought she would have ruined it, forgetting about her education and depending on a man to take care of her...I just knew you were no good for her" Ms. Vanessa said.

I looked up at Shayla, then down at my hands that seemed suddenly interesting at this point.

"But..." she continued, "I asked God to give me clarity, and to find forgiveness before I got the chance to meet the man that stole my daughters heart... I just wish it wasn't in this type of way...I pray for you as much as I pray for my children...don't blame yourself, god does things for a reason but don't question it okay...I don't hate you, I forgive you" Ms. Vanessa said as tears flowed.

I felt my tears flow down my face as she leaned in and kissed my cheek, then hugging me tightly, not letting me go. I cried even harder once I seen Shayla wiping her tears and smiling beautifully at me. I finally got to meet my mother in law. Something I've dreamed of, but I never told Shayla that.

"Thanks...Ma", I said as I rubbed her back and kissed her cheek.

She pulled away and fanned herself before laughing, breaking the sentimental moment.

"Alright Mr. Eazy E...and don't let me see you wearing your pants unbuttoned again, talking about some damn Easy Access", she pointed at me, smiling.

I put my hands up in surrender, "Yes ma'am. I think those days are over" I smiled, then looking away.

Yeah, those words I just said I am now eating them. Those days are over, I just pray to god that I can just live to spend 6 months with my other children, and my soon to be newest edition, Shayla and I first child together,

 E'mani Lynnea Wright. 

-------

Comment. Vote. Read