It has been two weeks since I had that confrontation with Shaniel's good for nothing father.

He has been sending letters to our apartment with money and gifts. I sent back the cash but the gifts that couldn't be returned I gave them away to my neighbours. I wanted nothing from him, he was dead to me. Dead.

He thought he could put me through so much pain then come back expecting me to run into his arms. He was dreaming, and he needed to open his eyes, wake up and smell the coffee.

I sat in my cubicle listening to music, it was a slow day and I was a bit out of it so I didn't mind.

I was in a tank top, ripped blue jeans and my hair was cornrowed in two.

I was kicking back with my earphones in, listening to Beyoncé's Sorry.

"Sorry, I ain't sorry. Sorry, I ain't sorry. I ain't sorry... nah. Sorry, I ain't sorry. Sorry, I ain't sorry. I ain't sorry.

He trying to roll me up (I ain't sorry). I ain't picking up (I ain't sorry). Headed to the club (I ain't sorry). I ain't thinking 'bout you (I ain't sorry).

Me and my ladies sip my d'ussé cups."

I hummed the rest until it reached near the chorus.

"Middle fingers up... Put them hands high... Wave it in his face... Tell him boy bye... Tell him boy bye... Boy bye... Middle fingers up...

I aight thinking bout you. I aight sorry... Sorry (rept). I aight sorry... I aight thinking bout you-"

A tap on my shoulder knocked me back to reality.

It was Lucy but she didn't look as vibrant as she usually does. She was in a grey hoodie and black jeans with black slippers.

"Yes?" I asked, concerned about the droopy look on her face.

"Umm... It's lunchtime. Would you like to go to lunch with me?" she asked.

"Umm... sure sweetie," I said as I grabbed my black Gucci handbag and walked out with her, telling the girls I had to cancel our lunch plans.

We took my car and soon we were at Lennie's diner.

It was a yellow and blue building with large windows and a red sign saying Lennie's.

After I parked the car in their small parking lot, we walked in and took the yellow booth beside the window.

Inside of diner had yellow and blue checker tiles and blue walls. A mahogany counter and yellow booths with blue tables.

A waitress came over to us and gave us a menu after looking at it I ordered a cheese burger with a bottle of water while Lucy ordered a salad and orange juice.

What is it with girls and salads? Damn, feed your body with real food.

I eat a lot and I'm not that fat. I'm slim thick, I have a flat tummy, which I owed to constantly stressing, but thick thighs and broad hips.

I love my size and I wouldn't want to alter it so why starve yourselves just to be a size 2?

"Um... Lucy honey? You sure you don't want something else you look flushed and pale," I said concerned. "You need food."

She looked at me and tears flooded her eyes. I pushed out of the seat opposite to her and went beside her. She grabbed me and started crying on my shoulder. I patted her back and rubbed it, soothingly.

Soon the waitress returned with our food and Lucy stopped crying. I pushed my burger to her and she started to devour it.

"What's wrong Lucy?" I asked as she chowed.

After swallowing she cried. "M-my fiancé c-cheated on me w-with my best friend!"

She wiped away the tears that streamed down her cheeks.

"I did this for him," she continued. "I stopped eating, loss a few pounds all for him. He wanted a size 2, I became that and he cheated on me with a size 8. I did everything he wanted and he s-slept with h-her. What did I do wrong?"

She cried again and I soothed her. "That's what you did wrong."

She looked at me confused.

"You did what he wanted, you changed for him. Baby girl be yourself never change for a man. If he loves you he wouldn't want you to change, he will love you no matter what. Love isn't only about buying pricey things, it's about sticking together through thick and thin. You're beautiful just the way you are, never alter yourself for anyone. Okay, baby girl?" she nodded slowly.

"So move on, you can forgive but you'll never forget. Never forgetting will push you to do what you should have done with him and that is be yourself..."

She looked at me and smiled. "Thank you."

I hugged her and whispered. "You're welcome... Now, honey let it all out. Don't bottle up your tears."

As I said that she shrieked and sourced a river on my shoulder down to the hem of my shirt.

I ate her salad and drank her orange juice as she chowed down my burger. I could see that she loved this guy but changing yourself to please a man was not something you should do.

If you're a crazy pop girl be it, if you're an old time kind of girl be it, if you are a hard-core, independent and wild daredevil be it. Whatever you are embrace it never hide or try to change it.

The change should be on both sides not one and it should be something for the best not to please an ill-willed reason.

"Be who you want to be, say what you want to say, do what you want to do. I want to see you be brave." This quote from the song Brave was something I had lived by.

Caring for a baby by myself, I had to be brave.

I had to speak out to get this job at the salon. I had to work as a maid in a hotel before I got that job and I had to leave my baby with Carmen, my neighbour's daughter who wanted a babysitting job. I had to work to pay Carmen, to provide for my baby and pay rent. And you know what? I did it.

I worked through all if that and now look she's a genius, ready for junior high at age 10. I couldn't have been any prouder. I am a fighter, a mother and I will do all it takes to protect my daughter.

When we were finished we paid the waitress and walked out.

"Again Nya, thanks I needed that."

"No problem baby girl," I said. "I know that it feels like honey, to be hurt."

She nodded and walked to the car, I followed her but stopped as someone grabbed my arm.

I looked up and glared. "Let me go!"

"Never Nia, we need to talk," Daniel said as he held on to my arm.

"We did that and it didn't end well, now let go!"

He looked at me with those sorrowful eyes. "Please, just hear me out."

"Fine," I caved in after he stared intensely in my eyes.

I threw the keys to Lucy telling her I'd be there in a few minutes and she opened the door and slipped in.

"What now?" I crossed my arms over my chest.

He breathe out. "I want to be in Shaneil's life."

I looked at him surprise, after 10 years he wanted to be in her life.

He was M.I.A for 12 years and he had the nerve to say he wanted in. Where was he when I was mopping floors to provide for us?

Where he when Shaneil was sick and had to miss work to stay with her?

Where was he when we needed him?

What hasn't he hurt us enough?

Does he want to put her danger, again?

She would have been raped if not for me, if he had just paid that damn debt we could have lived happily but no he had to put his pride first.

Him? In her life? Hell no.

"No," I curtly answer.

He looked at me shocked. Wait did he expect a yes, I mentally laughed.

He finally regained his voice after a few seconds. "Nia, I'm going to ask one more time before, I take legal actions. Can I be in Shaneil's life?"

Legal actions. Legal fucking actions! He must be kidding me...

"Listen here and listen good. If you so much as try to get into my daughter's life or take her away from me. I will spill everything on you and on Kane. The debt, the killings and the tattoo parlour. Don't tempt me, Daniel. I will make your life hell."

He looked at me shocked.

"It already is..." he murmured before looking up at me. "You wouldn't tell."

"For my daughter. I will!"

"You have no proof."

"Oh, I do actually. Try me. This girl is done playing nice, try to take my daughter and I'll mess you up big time."

He grabbed my arm as I walked off and I pulled my hand away from his grasp putting my middle finger in his face and said.

"Boy, bye."

I walked off swing my hips and entered the car.

"You okay?" Lucy asked.

"Just peachy," I said as I pulled out of the parking.