Taste of sin

Bad luck

•Song; Girl on Fire by Alicia Keys•

Curtis and my parents are waiting for me at foot of the steps. Curtis looks up with this awe on his face. I finally get close and it feels like prom all over again.

The only difference was my father and I was in speaking terms not like now. We step out to his car; he was showing a complete gentle side of him but I still didn't trust him. We drive in silence and head to a classy restaurant before I can get out of the car there was an incoming call from Gia, "Curtis do you mind if I take this and I'll l met you inside?"

"Sure I'll see you inside."

"Hey."
"Can you Call Emma on three-way?"
"Yea holds on,Emma? I have Gia on the phone."
"Hey, girls.... I have some bad news and good news.... To be honest this is the worse way of doing this.. I apologize ... Well, ladies, I accepted a job in New Orleans. The bad news I start Next Monday. The Good news... I will be a director to Hospital and if Y'all want to move down with me you can.."
"Wow," I didn't know what else to say, that was all that came out of my mouth. I wanted to yell because she sounds selfish, kind of like when you break up with someone over the phone.

"Gia, really you couldn't tell us weeks ago, shit I knew you didn't want to be here but if you start Monday that meant you knew about this long time ago, we were your fucking best friends more like fucking sisters. You couldn't just be, 'Hey I put an application in New Orleans hospital' No you FUCKING COULDN'T. Do you know why they another staff cannot stand working with you because you're fucking selfish? Has nothing to do with being demanding, NO it has to do that you're selfish you push people away and you don't care"

Emma snared at her with a hurtful tone. She hangs up. I didn't know what to say so I hang up too.

I sat in Curtis car wanting to cry out of frustration, I was not mad that Emma chewed out Gia, that's the most I've ever heard Emma say. I'm starting to feel like coming to Houston was a bad idea, first problems at own home and now this. What am I supposed to do, let us just get this over with?

I finally walk into the restaurant, spot Curtis he stood up, pulled out my chair and we sat in silence. I wanted to fucking cry I lost James and now Gia forever.

It was hitting me like a train. I sat there with a blank expression on my face while Curtis was talking away and I had no clue what in the world he was talking about. I was lost in my downward thoughts.
Hey"
I look up and Curtis has he had he's hand on top of mine.
"Are you ok?"
I was speechless.
I was scared that if I spoke I would lose my cool with Curtis.
"Can you take me home, I don't feel well." I didn't even apologize to him, we just drove home in silence, I look at my phone and Emma was blowing it with angry emojis and then crying ones.

I ran straight upstairs; rip all pictures of Curtis up.

Everything about my trip seemed to be a strain of bad luck. The tears and all the insecurities came back with a force. I couldn't stop crying for the place two days in a row, my mom would knock on my door and I wouldn't respond. Finally on my last day I went took a shower and went downstairs. Fucking Curtis is here again! The fuck was going on? I finally yelled, "What is going on? Why is that every time I'm in this fucking Kitchen you're here!"

"Joyce Anna King! Language!" My mom hasn't fully said my name since I was a kid. "Well Joyce..." father started talking

".... If you must know Curtis was made partner and ask for my permission in your hand in marriage....I agree .... You should do it, I mean darling you are not getting any younger and that little job of yours in the ER well, its run its course hasn't it?.... Where are you going to find another successful African American with good family roots?...........I hope you weren't thinking about setting down with that white boy you have on your phone... I don't approve of dating outside your own race."

I can feel all the blood rushing into my head, it was ready to explode. I yelled at my father which I have never done my whole life.

"Let me tell you something about your partner, future wanna be son in law, do you know the reason we broke up?
Should you tell him Curtis or should I?
Well, let's see I'm not black enough for him or woman enough OR should I say MAN enough.
See, I knew all these years we dated his been GAY! He only touches me once the whole time and I caught he giving Johnny boy a fucking blow job at our campus library, Oh and his a white boy!!!
I don't know why I stayed with him.. The man I love is A FUCKING WHITE MAN, not a BOY! He made me feel alive, not once did he make me feel like I wasn't good enough for him! This little job in the ER! I save FUCKING LIVES every day with my boss who happened to be a MEXICAN. I love her to pieces she been more a family than any of you!! All this family has ever done has made me feel like I wasn't good enough."

I made a huge sigh, went upstairs to grab my clothes and storm out. Never looking back.

My parents kept blowing up my phone with calls, voicemails, and text messages.

I return home, and to the ER. It wasn't the same. Even Emma cold personality seem colder, at least when Gia was around Emma would warm up with jokes. Nope. We both worked in complete silence for three weeks till I decide to tell Emma I couldn't do any longer.
"I need Gia back or I need to move to New Orleans. She's the only family I have." Emma smiled, "I was waiting for you say something."

That was it, I told HR I was quitting and Emma was going wait for the right time to join us in New Orleans. She stated something was holding her back but she's a lady with dark secrets and refuses to talk about certain things in her life. I was ecstatic in seeing Gia it was going to be a surprise.