"I know my nigga made it to heaven, I know it. Wish I could call his phone and tell him how it's going."
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AMIR TURNER.
DREAMS. Where do we really go once we close our eyes? Another land? Another time? Do we unlock out deepest fears or do we unlock images of our past life? Future life? An alternative life? No one understands it. Our nightmares haunt us and our dreams keep us afloat. But once we wake up and can't remember some, where did it all go?
Droplets of sweat started to form on Amir's body as she laid on a beach chair with a Strawberry Lemonade Vodka slushee in hand. She had finally gotten around to texting Hue back but received no response. It wasn't like him. She had to relax her mind or she'd lose it even more. She had also gotten the phone call that Gino and Chi were shot to death on the I-95 on their way home from the studio. Her heart was so heavy. Not for her but for Hue. He was losing childhood friends left and right.
"Mir." Ouni voice said snapping her out of her thoughts. She peeked out from under her big sun hat.
"Huh?"
"I said your phone is ringing." Amir looked down and damn near dropped her drink trying to answer her phone.
"Herbert? I'm so sorry I've been ignoring you. Where are you? Can I come where you are? Please?" She said all in one breath with tears instantly coming to her eyes.
"Nah.. I need you to stay with Ouni and I need you to listen to me, Ight? I love you, you know that right? Since I've met you, you've been the one thing to hold me together. My best friend for sure. The only girl I've ever loved more than myself and did anything for. After tonight, I don't think I'll be coming back—"
"You're leaving me?" She croaked out. She could almost feel every part of her heart breaking. It was a feeling that couldn't be described. "Herbert you can not leave me! I need you! How could you even think about leaving me? After all I've cried to you about, you wanna leave me too?"
"You wouldn't understand it now but I made a promise. If you ever hear about your boy on the news just know I did all this shit for you and I'd do it a million times again. I love you." That was five years ago and the last time that she heard from him. No text. No call. No trace. He was gone and dead for all she knew.
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HERBERT "HUE" WRIGHT.
"Ayo, bring my car around the front." Hue yelled to his child's mother. "Don't fuck up my shit either!" She rolled her eyes and went to go get the car. He turned around and continued his conversation.
"You got her trained."
"You want me to slap the shit out of you? Don't ever fix your mouth to say no shit like that 'bout her." Hue took jokes about a lot of shit but would never take anything about his child, her mother and his dead homies.
The man threw his hands up on defense. "My bad, dawg."
"Give me my shit." He said snatching his bag out the man hand and walking around him as he seen Rylie pull up with his car. He got into the passenger side of the car and tossed the bag in the backseat. Hue sighed deeply while letting his seat back.
"What's wrong?" Rylie asked him. He took her right hand into his and closed his eyes. "I'm talking to you."
"I'm tired, Rylie. Just drive, yo."
"Who the fuck are you talking to, Herbert? I really don't have time for your some timing ass attitude tonight." She snatched her hand away from him and pushed the gas a little harder. She wanted to get away from him at this point. They were having such a good night and now he was about to start his bullshit. They pulled up to the house that they had been sharing for the last year and a half.
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Rylie got out the car, making sure to slam the door behind her. Hue laughed to himself while getting out of the car. He locked the doors with his second car key then went inside behind her. "Daddy, daddy!" His four year old daughter chanted while running over to him.
He scooped her up in his arms. "Why you ain't sleeping?" He asked her while kissing the side of her face.
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"Genny." She said, quietly while referring to Hue's mother. One thing about Kunahi? She was going to snitch on any and everybody once her daddy asked her a question.
"Don't go on telling stories on Genny. I tried to put her to bed but she wasn't going without a story from her daddy." Hue chuckled to himself while staring at his creation. She was her mama's twin. From the features to the attitude, they were literally a reflection of each other.
"Come on, Li." Rylie said reaching for her. Kunahi poked her bottom lip out but Hue knew that Rylie already wasn't in the mood and he didn't feel like hearing his baby girl cry.
"If you go with mommy I'll take you to seashores tomorrow." Her face lit up and she immediately went to Rylie.
"Goodnight, mama." Rylie said as Genny kissed her forehead then Kunahi's.
"Good night, my loves."
After a while of sitting in silence, "What's wrong with you boy?" His mom asked.
Hue sighed while sitting down on the couch. "I'm just tired. I been on the road for the last few weeks. My body hurt, my mind is all over the place. I just wanna rest."
"You think that gives you a reason to keep treating that girl like she's a burden to you? I mean she only carried your child for nine months, pushed you to pursue your dreams and loved you without conditions. What really is it, Herbert? You scared that you'll do her how you did—"
"Don't even say her name." Hue snapped then quickly gathered himself. "Don't ever say her name in this house or around me!" He stood up from the couch.
"Have you lost your damn mind boy? I'm your mama. You will talk to me as such and damn respect me. I don't know which city you left your damn mind in but you better go find it before I beat you a new one." Her thick accent was starting to come out.
He ran his hand down his face and apologized. "I'm sorry, ma. I love you alright? Ima go make sure Rylie is good."
"Mhm." She kissed the side of his face. He was still the same mamas boy. Nothing changed about that. "I love you too."
Upstairs, Rylie laid in bed with Kunahi with tears filling her eyes. Something about Hue had changed in the last few months. He was still gentle with Harli but he wasn't that way with her anymore. He would yell at her for no reason, call her names and ignore her then he'd act like himself again. She had no idea what she had done to him.
"Check me out." She heard Hue's voice. She looked up and he was standing in the doorway. She carefully removed herself from the bed and followed behind him. She closed their room door behind them and sat down on the bed. "Why are you crying?"
"I'm crying?" Rylie asked while wiping her face. She thought she had wiped all her tears when she heard him coming up the stairs.
"Stop acting dumb yo." His tone was harsh and this is the type of stuff she was talking about.
"Look at the way you talk to me and treat me all of a sudden. A year ago you would've never raised your voice at me, called me names, let me walk to get your car alone at 1 in the morning. What the fuck is your problem?" She was so tired of holding everything in. Hue sat down next to her on the bed.
"You right. You're so right. I'm so sorry. I'm fucking up I know. Ima get back right for you. I just got so much stuff on my brain and ion know how to deal with it. Ima be better for you, alright?" He wrapped his arm around her and pulled her closer to him.
