The Mixtape

by Brittainy C. Cherry

“And you know what? Your mama is good too. She’s so, so good, Reese. And she loves you so much, no matter what. Okay? I just need you to know your mama loves you. She’s trying her best. I promise you, she’s trying her best.”

“I want to go home, Emery. I don’t want this life. I need Mama and Daddy. I need them. I can’t do this. I can’t,” she kept repeating.

“Hey, Mama?”

“Yes, sweetheart?”

“I don’t think you’re a disap...

“Thank you,...

“Right now she’s good, she’s safe, she’s okay, Emery. So, now it’s time for you to be taken care of.”

“I . . .” My words faded as I crossed my arms and shook my head slightly. “I’ve never had anyone take care of me before. I don’t even know what that looks like.”

“It’s different every time, but tonight it’s ...

“Yes?” “Do you feel for me what I feel for you?” “More,” he whispered, inching his face closer to mine, resting our foreheads against one another. “I feel more.” “Does it scare you?” “No.”

“You found me when my heartbeats were hardly there, and you stamped them. You stamped my heart, and that’s why it’s still beating.”

“Ask me to be yours, and I’ll be yours. If you let me stay, I’ll stay forever.”

He kissed me as if he’d missed me for decades before we’d met. His kiss felt like a promise that I needed to feel. As he pulled back, I met his stare and gave him a small smile.

“I’m yours, please stay, and please kiss me again,”

“Yeah, he’s Oliver Mith, and he’s my friend!”

“Mr. Mith?” “Yeah, kid?” “You’re my best friend.”

“These two abandoned you at your lowest point, Sammie. They turned their backs on you after something horrific occurred. These people are not your family.”

“Why is Mr. Mith in your bed?” She smiled from cheek to cheek. “Are you two in love?” She went back to jumping on the bed, shaking both Oliver and me from our slumber.

“Yes, I love her,” Oliver cut in, giving Reese his smile that made me feel everything all at once. I turned his way, my eyes widened from shock. He gave me his dopey, tired grin and took my hands into his and squeezed ever so lightly. “I love every part of you, Em.”

“What about me, Mr. Mith? Do you love me, too?” Reese asked. Oliver smirked big and pulled Reese into a hug. “Yeah, kid, I love you too.”

“No, Mama. I want Mr. Mith to make me the waffles this time.” I raised an eyebrow. “I thought you loved my waffles.” “I do, but I want to love Mr. Mith’s too,”

“I’m going to be honest, kid—I don’t know the last time I cooked waffles.” “It’s okay. Even if they are nasty, I’ll still eat them because I love you now,” Reese said.

“Oliver, stop. Please. You’re making this harder than it has to be.” “You’re breaking my fucking heart, so please excuse me if I am making this hard,” I snapped, and I instantly felt like an asshole for doing such a thing, but dammit.

“What did you say?” she whispered, her voice coarse and cracking. I slid my hands into my pockets as I took a few steps toward her. “I said it’s not your fault. What that man did to you—it wasn’t your fault. What he took from you—it wasn’t your fault. Everything that took place afterward wasn’t you playing the victim card. You are the victim of a disgusting act, and I know your parents have told you that you could’ve avoided what happened to you, but that’s not true. You are not to blame. You were abused. You are the victim, and none of this is your fault.”

“Kid!” he exclaimed, spinning her around. She snuggled closer to him and held on tight. “I missed you, Mr. Mith.” “I missed you, too, kid.” “Mama missed you too. She’d been crying a lot since you left.” She moved her mouth toward his ear and whispered—but a loud whisper because my daughter didn’t know how to lower her voice. “But she pretended she had allergies.”

“It is. At least, I hope so. I’m going to be honest: I’m really nervous. I haven’t performed in a long time without my brother, and I’m not sure how it’s going to go.” “Well, can’t he just watch you from heaven?” she said. Her question seemed so matter of fact, and it made everyone in the room tear up. “So don’t worry, he’s still here. Come here.”

“Mr. Mith, you can do anything because you’re my best friend, and that means you can do anything.”

“I know! I know! Okay. If you’re just going to yell at me, I can just go—” She began to stand, and I reached across to her and grabbed her arm. “No,” I said sternly. “You have to stop running, and I’m guessing you came because you’re tired of that.” “I don’t need to be yelled at and hear how you hate me.”

Reese smiled at Sammie, who began to cry. Reese frowned at the sight, walked over to Sammie, and hugged her. “Don’t be sad. It’s okay,” she said, giving her comfort. “Thank you, Reese,” Sammie said, bending down to meet her eye to eye. “Oh my gosh, you’re beautiful.”

He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a half of a heart necklace. Alex’s heart. “This was my brother’s, and it means the world to me, so I wanted to give it to the little girl who means the world to me too. I wanted you to know that you have half of my heartbeats, and I’d spend forever protecting you if you’ll have me.”

Families came in all shapes, forms, and sizes. Some were tied together by blood, and others by heartbeats. At the end of the day, it didn’t matter how you came together; it only mattered that you stayed together. That you looked out for one another and loved in an unconditional way.