Pieces of Me

by Aubry J.

He closed the space between us and rested his forehead on mine. I wrapped my arms around his neck and closed my eyes. I knew what he wanted me to do without him having to ask. “Cover him, lord. He isn’t perfect, but he was made for me. He is my protector, lover, my other half. I pray to you now just like I do every time he steps away from me. Allow this man to come home to me tonight and every night after. In your name, I pray. Amen.”

Her ass didn’t like surprises at all, and I knew that, but I loved keeping her in her soft girl era. Life had kicked her ass long enough, so being with me, that shit was going to stay easy. My job as her man was to protect her mentally, physically and emotionally. Yeah, I knew she could do all it alone, but what kind of man would I be if I didn’t do it? I couldn’t look in the mirror daily if I played with her.

The DeCortes would show up, show out, and be together, but that’s not what I needed now. I needed space and time to mourn the people who had broken me into tiny pieces because of their addiction. Most of all, I needed the man who had put me back together with just his presence to be here, but he was nowhere to be found.

When Mecca left last night, I thought he would return, and we’d finally talk. To my surprise, when I walked out of the room, instead of finding him, I saw his necklace and a plane ticket on the table. Some couples had safe words that they would say when they needed a break from a situation, but Mecca and I had necklaces. We agreed at the beginning of our relationship that they weren’t ever supposed to come off, but if they did, it meant the other person was finished. There was no argument, fight, or words; all we had to do was remove the necklace and leave it on the table. And that’s what Mecca did. It broke my heart more than finding out my parents were dead, but I would respect his wishes.

Deuce looked up at me and smiled. Gray eyes, identical to his father's, sparkled against the sun. He was the best surprise that came from my worst days. Finding out I was pregnant after Mecca broke up with me put me in a tailspin. I cried, laughed, and then cried some more. It took me losing my parents and Mecca for me to gain the love of my life. I’d attempted to reach out to him once I found out, but Mecca never returned my calls, and a few weeks later, Exodus started mentioning a friend named Nine. That sent me into a tailspin of emotion. I was pissed and hurt that he’d pushed his way into my family’s lives yet wouldn’t return my call. He wanted to be a part of their lives so badly, I would raise our son without him or them knowing.

Woah!