my wristwat

ut I had taken the day off. All because my sister and

red nurse at St. Ca

g for nearly ten minutes, doing absolutely n

Where can I even go tonig

taying home was clearly a bad idea. I was gett

! Ri

ee table. I reached for it

thout energy.

Let us party. I know you do not wan

the universe had finally sensed that I

I asked e

eded. That is why I loved her

et 9. Le

it for me th

t to find something to wear. I picked a bold red fitted dress, sleeveles

went straight to the bathroom. I stripped

eyes, letting my thoughts drift. I was ti

you gettin

ou give us a

moved on fro

ick of it. It felt like I was always being humiliated, always

just to shut them up? Was that the

I do not want a husband. I am not ready f

orever. A mother without a man. That sounds much better than

could fill the emptiness I feel inside. The lack of love. The lac

ster is not her beauty or her per

child deeply, even if I do not get along with her pa

that bring me joy. They are the only ones

got dressed. I did my makeup and fixed my hair. Jus

ght, I was going out. Not just to party. But maybe... to take t

the bottom of the stairs, I heard the sweetest s

just as quickly when Dad's eyes met mine. Everyone was in the

hat a

theart?" Dad asked, his vo

tone was full of anger. Now he sou

colding me like I had committed a crime. The next, they were being ni

Party stuff. I want to enjoy

ly knowing I had no desire t

Take care,

ughter, how plastic of me, honestly. I also kissed baby Vivienne on

or the front door, but just as I st

There are so many bad guys

shook my head, and wal

tarted the engine, and s

had been daydreaming about more and more often

t feel to hear a tiny

about myself will slowly fade. Maybe the jealousy

ides, I have saved enough. I can afford to raise a child on

tes of driving, I final

stepped out, I was greeted by the sight of a

d quickly l

ched. And yes, my whole

al. My life has always been about work..work, work, and more work. I pour all my ener

ing part of their healing,

antly, loud and wild. The scent inside was a mix of ci

und for Keturah. Before I could

and ther

I asked as she pulled me forward

s catch up and relax first before we rea

t friend since high school. My ride-or-d

as we walked properly now, thankfully, she

is friends," she sa

," I said as we headed upstairs. I was planning to tell her about wha

a grin. Keturah was the only person I trusted wit

opened the door, I was greeted by a group of four guys, including Prince,

od up to greet me wit

urning his greeting. I waved at

id the guy wi

one added with a bright smile. His brace

. He had fair skin and soft eye

e of the girls. She h

Kyo's girlfrien

. And here I was planning to flirt later

th all of them. "Nice meeti

all later. I just need to talk to my best friend. You know, girl stu

ntly pulled Keturah toward a sofa far enou

a mini-bar setup, several sofas, its own restroom, and ev

ted, Keturah tur

ret? What is going on?" she

e, I got so annoyed. Mom and Dad brought up my past again. They asked me why I still do no

while recalling every fru

not just arrive?" she

t in front of Ate, Lucien, and baby Vivienn

eep sigh, her eyes

to do about it?" she asked

es and said, "I have made up my