Butterfly

by Ashley Antoinette

“If you were my girl, I’d give you the passcode, the safe code, the social security number, the ATM pin, all’at,” he replied.

She didn’t want to be the girl trying to train a dog because at the end of a day, a dog was going to do what a dog was designed to do … chase pussy.

“Some people like to watch themselves have sex. My dancing is like sex, and I like to see myself cum. You want to slide to the side?”

Her mother had taught her long ago that men were built to hunt. Aria knew the game. If she was too accessible, too interested, too approachable, men would come fast and leave with even more haste,

“I would be lying if I said I’m not afraid of you, Isa.” He placed a finger to her chin, turning her head toward him. “You should be, baby, I’m a fucking monster.”

“The day it starts to hurt you, leave it alone, and that’s with whatever. Men, friends, whoever. The moment it hurts, you cancel niggas. You hear me?”

“God, thank you for waking us up to see another day. We know that it wasn’t guaranteed, and we appreciate the gift of this moment, the gift of those that are present in this moment. We thank you for this meal. May it be nourishing to our bodies, and may the company we keep be nourishing for our souls. Thank you for this company, Big Homie. It’s appreciated. In Jesus’s name. Amen.”

“You’re gonna what?” he pushed. “Fuck you! I’m going to fuck you, Ahmeek. You’re going to turn me into a whole hoe, and I don’t want to be a hoe! I’m already a little hoe-ish for the shit you did to me at your loft. I don’t want to be a whole hoe. Right now, I’m half a hoe, and I need to keep some self-respect.”

“And you went through it by yourself? Chemo? Radiation?” Ethic asked. “I ain’t got nobody, man,” Messiah said. He was broken as he dropped his head and tears fell from his eyes. He sniffed loudly, pinching the bridge of his nose. Ethic advanced on him, giving him a strong pat on the back followed by a strong embrace.

need her, man. I went through all that. So much pain just to get back to her. I can’t not have her. I need her back.” Messiah broke down.

“I’ll do whatever it takes, whatever you say. I need you to help me, OG. I need you to help me come home to her. Help me, man. Nobody ever helped me. I was little as fuck, man, and nobody did shit!” Messiah cried. “Don’t leave me stuck, man. Just help me get her back. She the only one that ever loved me, man. I got to get her back.”

Messiah’s head landed in the center of Ethic’s chest as he sobbed, and Ethic tightened his face as he placed his hands on Messiah’s head. He knew Messiah wasn’t talking about Morgan anymore. He was talking about his childhood, about surviving molestation, about abuse confusing him, making him angry. He was talking about every single adult in his life that was supposed to protect him inflicting harm or disregard. Ethic couldn’t be another. Somebody had to step up. “I got you,” Ethic said. “I got you.”