After a few days, Santos has helped me move in and close on my new house. I am proud of what all I have accomplished in the last few days. Lyssa has come around and started working harder on her studies. I believe it's just to get Charli off her back about them. I have also applied for a new job that pays more money than being at Wal-Mart. I am just waiting for them to call me back with either a second interview or saying I have the job. I haven't seen Yakira in a while, but I have seen Vytal in Wal-Mart.
"How is Yakira, Vytal?" I ring up his stuff.
"She is alright. Working herself into an early grave, but she's still here." He whispers.
I stare at him in concern of what is really going on with Yakira, "Are you sure everything is alright with her?"
"Oh yeah," he perks up, "She is just. . . she misses you."
I slide the last thing on the scanner and tell him his total. "I can come and visit her after work."
He swipes his card, "I think she would appreciate that." He takes his bags and puts them in the buggy.
"I will do that."
He smiles and pulls the buggy onward out the store. I never got around to visiting Yakira that day on the grounds that I enrolled in college. The program of choice is Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions-Art Therapy. I remember being able to draw fantastically as a child, it was a way to escape the horrors of my father's abuse. During high school, I was the comic illustration girl, I drew everything by hand and got many request to do live sketches of the students. It helped me through a lot of tough times, sadly it faded a little once I moved into Yakira's place with her parents. But, every once in a while, I find myself doodling on break or when I have nothing else to do.
Walking out of the college building, Santos stands by his car with his arms folded. I amble up to him looking at my schedule, "They had to test me to see where I am at study-wise." I look up from the sheet of paper.
"And?" He opens the door on the passenger side and I hand him the paper as I get in the car. He takes the paper and rounds the car, looking at it. He gets in and studies it more, "You passed all of the areas?"
I nod giggling like a school girl, "I did."
"Oh my Lord, Azaireyah! This is fabulous." He hugs me despite the arm rest being in the way. I hug him back.
Things with Santos and I have been going awesome, though I am not his girlfriend. I know he wants me to be, but something is holding him back and something is definitely holding me back. Mine is my mistrust in men. And his, I don't know.
"We need to go and celebrate this," He carefilly backs out of the parking spot and drives off the campus.
Passing all the houses and trees, the scenery is beautiful around this time of year. When I inhale the sweet smell of flowers that lingers in the wind, my mom comes to mind. "Do you mind if we stop by my mom's house?"
"Sure." He makes a dangerous U-turn after observing if there were any cops around. I steady myself and giggle, he laughs when I lean into the door.
"Thanks," I say as we stop on the curb in front of the house. I unbuckle my seat belt and walk up to the door. Before I knock, I turn my head to see my father's car in the driveway. I look back and Santos gets out of the car and walks up behind me.
I have told him everything about myself. Right down to the abuse my father put me through, but I didn't tell him that the man I thought was my father isn't my father and my real father is out there somewhere. So, I guess it wasn't everything.
Feeling a little more secure now, I knock on the door and anxiously awaits. The door opens and I am staring my horrific nightmare in the face, my blood runs cold and my palms begin to sweat.
"Didn't I tell you that you were not welcomed here, bitch?" He spits.
Santos growls, "She isn't here to see your black ass, sir. She is here to see her mother."
I cover my mouth as Santos pushes his way in the house and I follow behind him. My father just stood there his eyes fixed on the spot I was standing.
"Mama?"
"I am in the kitchen, dear."
I amble into the kitchen with Santos behind me, my mom turns from the sink and I notice the black eye she has. Gasping I go up to her, "Mama, what happened?"
She takes my hand, "It's nothing, Aza. Just me being clumsy is all." and looks directly at Santos. "Hello, I am Azaireyah's mom." She extends her hand.
He shakes it, "Santos a friend of your daughter's."
"Nice to meet you." She looks at me, "This is a pleasant visit. What's going on?"
"I could ask the same of you," I fold my arms. I hope my siblings aren't right about her saying she is going to leave Leo, but doesn't.
"Whatever do you mean?"
My lips part and I look back at Santos. He shrugs his shoulders. "Mom, are you serious?" I ask her looking back at her.
"Dear, please." Her eyes shift from left to right.
Leo is now shadowing over me, his presences is still intimidating but I am no longer that little girl he tortured. I turn to him. "What'd you do to my mama?" I buck up at him, getting in his face. "Huh? What'd you do to my mama!" I bellow. Just as I am about to swing, Santos picks me up and carries me. I am screaming, "You are gonna get yours, you sick fuck! You are gonna get yours!"
ns 15.158.61.54da2
