Only You

Chapter Twenty

Michael
I don't know where I'm going, but I just walk. The warm Atlanta air makes me feel claustrophobic with my blazer on. I stop in the middle of the sidewalk to take it off. A couple people stare at me, and give me perverted looks. I'm not that type of guy.

My body takes me to the park where Fallon was taken. I walk down the same trail, and sit in the same bench she must've sat on. I never really spend time with nature. Fallon would encourage me to come jog with her, but I always refused. I should've went with her that night.

Couples, families, and lone joggers pass by me as the minutes go by. I get a couple of weird looks because what is a man with a button-up shirt, tie, and dress shoes doing in the park? I chuckle and loosen up my tie and unbutton a couple buttons from my shirt.

A black woman with a stroller stops at my bench.

"Mind if I sit?" She asks politely.

I scoot over.

"No. Go ahead." I say.

She seems to be in her early thirties. Looks like she's a first-time mother too. Average-looking with a ring on her finger.

"Thank you." She sighs while sitting down.

I watch from the corner of my eye as she carefully removes her baby boy from the stroller and lays him on her lap.

"How many months is he?" I ask.

"Three months," she replies as she unbuttons her blouse.

She stops and looks at me.

"You're not one of those creeps that gets off on this, are you?" She asks directly.

A little stunned at her forwardness, I raise my eyebrows.

"No, I am not." I reply.

"Sorry, it's just that people aren't too open about breastfeeding." She says as she opens her blouse.

"Well, you don't have to worry about me. My late-wife breastfed my daughter and I supported her." I reply.

The child latches on and hungrily eats.

"I'm sorry to hear that. How old was she when she passed if you don't mind." She asks with sympathy.

"She was thirty. Died in a car crash two years ago when my daughter was two."

It's quiet between us. That story usually gets people quiet.

"You married?" I ask striking up another conversation.

"Yes. Three years now." She says brimming.

I smile and nod.

"My name's Michael." I say.

"Sharon and this is Rodney." She says while touching her baby's cheek.

"Nice to meet you." I say.

I check the clock. It's about to be 3.

"Likewise."

I stand up and grab my blazer,"I should get going. I have to pick my daughter up from preschool."

"Aw. Okay. It was nice talking to you, Michael. Hope to see you around here more often." She says.

This place carries a bad memory. I look around and smirk.

"Maybe. Bye." I say while walking away.

While walking back, I slam into a man.

"My bad." I say while turning to look at him.

We make eye contact and I'm face-to-face with the man I despise the most. His dark black orbs stare into my gray ones. Donnell.