“Who is that?” She asked innocently.
“Work. I’ll make it quick.”
“Yeah?” I answered.
“Just circling back about the distributors. Nothing I found can come into the price range that you are asking for.” Chris said.
“That’s impossible. You can’t tell me that no one can deliver to us in this area without us retaining at least a 40 percent margin. That’s crazy.” I tried to get up, but Dyami’s soft hand on my leg stopped me. This shit I was going to have to deal with when I got home.
“Look, Chris. I appreciate you. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
“Everything okay?” Dyami asked.
“Yeah, all bullshit left back home. I shouldn’t have even answered.”
“This is beautiful.” She eased into a different conversation. She was perfectly fine not talking about any problems.
“I thought you might like it.”
“When we were growing up. Did you imagine you would be this?”
“Shit, all I wanted to do was make and help you. I loved money. The thrill of it and the lifestyle it provides. I figured I would be doing something like this, but I didn’t imagine amassing this much.” I said, honestly.
“I always knew you would be successful in whatever you chose. You just are that fucking stubborn.”
“That’s one of my best qualities.” I laughed at her. “I always knew you would be a college girl. You were screaming that shit every day.”
“I wasn’t playing either. I knew it was my way out.”
“I guess I felt the same way. We weren’t broke, but I always felt it was more that I wanted.”
“What about now? Do you have everything you want?” She turned to look at me.
“I’m getting closer. I want you to meet my son.”
“Of course. I will. I hope he likes me. I haven’t been around kids in so long.” I could feel her nerves when she replied. Her being so close to me, there wasn’t much she could hide.
“He's a cool lil dude. Trust me, he will love you.”
“I want to get in the water.” She changed the subject. I was going to call her out on being avoidant, but when she pulled her dress over her body, revealing her brown panties and bra set, words were the last thing on my mind. She ran to the water and jumped in. I followed behind as she splashed. She jumped up and down, experiencing the freedom I had known so many times. At night, practically on the beach alone under the stars. No eyes but the ones you wanted on you.
She stopped splashing, and I waded close to her. She lifted her voice and screamed to the heavens. It startled me at first, but when I saw what it did for her, I encouraged her.
“Do it again.”
She looked at me, slightly confused, and screamed again.
“Did it help?” I asked.
“I heard it would. Maybe I didn’t do it loud enough.” She said, shrugging her shoulders.
“It wasn’t enough commitment. Probably because you're swimming and thinking about not dying. Come here.” I took her to the edge of the water, where it was only high enough to go past her knees. I held her hands in mine.
“Close your eyes. I know we said we ain’t talking about it but get that bullshit on of your mind. Whatever it was that bothered you and has been fucking with you for the longest time. I want you to feel that shit down to your toes. You got it?” I checked with her. She nodded her head up and down.
“Good, now I want you to release that shit. Scream as loud as you can. Scream like you are trying to get that shit off you. Scream like you're tired of carrying it and imagine the louder you scream, the faster it leaves.” I felt her hands get tense as I waited for her. “Anytime you are ready.” I encouraged her one last timebefore she opened her mouth and let out a wail that fostered so much pain it was palpable. The scream was guttural, and when I thought it was coming to an end, it continued. Tears slipped from each of her closed lids as I held onto her hand.
She opened her lids and swiped away her tears quickly.
