"Do you need help?" I asked her as she hung from the monkey bars. Her little arms couldn't quite reach the other bar so she just hung, swinging her legs. She nodded and I lifted her from bar to bar until we got to the end. She then went over to the rock wall and climbed her way to the top of the platform.

"Look mommy," she said struggling over the last rock. When she stood, she made a beeline for the biggest slide. She didn't want to ride down the smaller one, no, she had to do the bigger one.

I stood at the bottom of the slide and watched as she slid down uncontrollably. I tried not to laugh as she basically flew into my arms. I thought she was going to start crying, but her little adventurous ass started laughing.

"Maybe the smaller slide next time." She only nodded. I sat her back down on her feet and she stumbled a bit trying to get her footing. I snorted way too loud at her goofiness. She was indeed in a really good mood today. Her confidence just radiates when she's in a comfortable environment.

"Are you hungry yet?" I asked her.

"Yes."

This weekend we were just chilling since last weekend we took a mini road trip. Between work and Royce going to school, we don't get as much girl time, so I planned a picnic for us today. We walked further down the way, away from the playground. I found a good spot under some shade and I placed down a thick blanket followed by a towel. Thankfully, there weren't many bugs or flies.

We took our shoes off and sat on the blanket. I placed all of the food spread out on the towel in front of us. Royce's eyes were big as she eyed the food. I woke up hella early this morning just to make all of it, so she better like it.

"Let me see your hands." She held her hands out to me as I dug in the bag for some wet wipes and hand sanitizer. I cleaned both of our hands and started opening containers.

"What do you want?"

"I want...I want a sandwich."

"What else?"

"Strawberry."

I put her food on a napkin in front of her and she dug in. I had a sandwich myself, some grapes, a small bag of lays, and I poured myself some wine. We just sat and ate for a while before I started asking her questions about her birthday. I still didn't have anything planned yet.

"What do you wanna do for your birthday?"

"The park."

"The park? We can do that any day. It has to be something cool. I got something in mind, but I wanna know what you want to do."

She was at a loss for words. I laughed at how confused she looked. I guess that was a lot to ask of a four almost five year old.

"Do you want me to just surprise you?" She nodded eagerly.

"Okay, that's fine." She continued eating as I watched her. I grabbed two homemade chocolate chip cookies and handed her one. I munched on a few of them as I scrolled on my phone.

"Hello," I said answering my phone. There was static on the other end.

"Hellooooo." Still no answer. I hung up.

"Do you want to go back to the playground?"

"Yes!"

"Okay, finish eating." She finished eating and she helped me repack everything. I dusted off the blanket and folded it back up before stuffing it in the duffle bag that I carried everything in.

"First, I need to take everything to the car so that I don't have to keep lugging it around."

"Okay." I held my hand out and she took it as we headed back to the car. I parked maybe two blocks up the street. We got to the car and my phone rung again. I let go of Royce's hand as I reached in my pocket.

"Hello?" No answer. What the fuck. I hung up and blocked the number. It was probably some scammer anyway. I stuffed the bag in the trunk, careful not to smash anything.

"Royce, do you want a capri sun before I close the trunk?" I was met with silence.

"Royce?" I turned around and she was gone. I sped around the side of the car, she wasn't there. I did the same on the other side and she wasn't there either. I looked in the car to make sure she hadn't got in it. I slammed the trunk closed and started panicking.

"Royce!" This is unlike her. She never runs off. I retraced my steps, calling for her. I looked all over, but there was nothing but side walk and street.

"Royce, where are you?!" I ran all the way back to the crowded park.

"Are you okay?" A random person asked me as I searched around like a crazy person.

"No, my baby. I can't find her."

"What does she look like?"

"She's small, has five big twists in her head that hang down with barrettes at the ends. She has on a blue shirt with black jeans and tennis shoes. Carmel skin, light brown eyes, and a beautiful smile."

"Okay, okay," a few people said.

"Wait, is that her!?" I looked to where the person was pointing across the park.

"Yes! Oh my god, thank you!" I ran to her. She was with some kid about her age. A woman was also talking to her.

"Imani!" I yelled. She jumped, but smiled as our eyes met.

"Look mommy, a dog—"

"No!" I yelled dismissing her. I practically fell at her feet when I got to her. I snatched her little ass to me and shook her.

"You do not run away from me!" Her smile quickly faded and she started crying, but I didn't care. Something could've happened to her and that would've been the end of me.

"Relax, I was just showing her my dog," a woman said. I turned my head so fast.

"Bitch I don't know you! You don't lure anyone's child away for no fucking reason." Her weird looking ass blew out some smoke from her cigarette. She looked away nervously, and I stood up hoisting Royce up as well.

"Don't let me catch you around my child again, dumb bitch." She didn't say anything, so I stormed off, but not before remembering every single detail about her.

I got some worried looks from nosy ass people, but I ignored them. Royce was damn near screaming in my ear, but I kept my pace as I went straight to the car. I fumbled around looking for the keys. They just so happened to be on the ground by the car. I cursed to myself. I picked them up and opened the back door. I put Royce in her seat. She was still screaming bloody murder.

"Imani, you need to stop." Hell, I'm the one that should be screaming.

"Baby, look at mommy. Look at me." I tried wiping her tears but they kept coming. I shook my head as she started coughing. I closed the door and jogged over to the other side. I got in the car and locked the doors before pulling her into my lap. I rubbed her back as she laid her head on my chest sobbing.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have yelled at you and grabbed you the way I did." She gripped my shirt so hard that my heart broke. I've never yelled at her like that, nor have we ever been in a situation like this. I thought she knew better than to run off like that. I didn't mean to make her so upset, but she needs to know that strangers are dangerous. It doesn't matter if it's a woman or not, I don't trust anyone. Women are just as sneaky and dangerous as men, sometimes even more so. For example, the way that woman used her kid and that damn dog to lure Royce out. It's easier for women to look and act all nice and innocent, whereas for men, people are just weary of them regardless of how they look and act.

Even as Royce's cries reduced to hiccups, I kept her on my chest until she fell asleep. I carefully put her back in her seat and strapped her in. I went around to the drivers side and got in. I started the car, not even caring to make sure I had everything. As long as I had my keys, phone, wallet, and most importantly, Imani, I didn't care about anything else. Imani was in the back seat sleep, my phone was in my pocket, my wallet was hopefully still under the seat, and the keys in the ignition. I guess that was everything.

I pulled off and made a mental note to never come back to this particular park again.

When we got home, I carried Royce to my room and took her shoes off. I made sure she was okay before bringing all our picnic stuff in. I poured myself multiple glasses of wine. I needed something much stronger, but with the way I was feeling, it would take nothing for me to get wasted. I decided to call Penny instead. Out of everyone, I knew she wouldn't judge. She answered on the third ring.

"You rang?" She asked skeptically.

"Yes."

"Why do you sound like that? What happened?"

"Being a mommy is hard," I mumbled.

"I bet. That's why I don't want any kids."

"How do people do it? I almost had a heart attack today."

"Why? What happened?"

"First, you gotta promise not to tell anyone, especially Meech."

"I won't." I took a deep breath and began telling her everything that happened today. From leaving the house, Royce going on the big slide, the weird phones calls, our picnic, the trip back to the car, and to the interaction with that woman.

"That's so weird," she said.

"I know. It just happened out of nowhere. I should've never had my back turned to Royce, but it was as if she just disappeared. I thought my life was over."

"Did that bitch say anything?"

"I think she said something to Royce before I got to her, but I'm not sure. She barely said anything to me though, she just stood there looking dumb smoking a cigarette and shit."

"And you sure you've never seen her before?"

"No. Not a day in my life. I don't know if I'm just being paranoid, but it seemed as if she was targeting us. Like, we weren't even at the damn park, but two blocks up the street at my car. Like, what the fuck!" I was getting angry all over again.

"That's hella sus."

"I know," I ran my hand over my face as I stood in the kitchen.

"Damn, how is Imani now?"

"Taking a nap, but it's still early. I was thinking about taking her to get some ice cream if she's up for it."

"That might be good for her."

"Yeah, but she might not want to go. She was so upset. I regret yelling at her."

"Imani will be fine. Don't ever apologize for being a good parent. You're human." I nodded even though she couldn't see me. I don't give Penny enough credit, but she is a good friend. I would even say she's a close second to Briana.

I could've called Ashanti but she got two kids now, and she has enough to worry about since her baby daddy in jail. And no, her baby daddy isn't Derek. Her and Derek stopped talking when he went off to college. Shit, we all basically stopped talking to the guys. April just isn't here, so she misses out on a lot. Brandon still comes around every blue moon, but you know, shit happens and people grow a part. Speaking of Briana though.

"Do not tell Briana! I know y'all still in some situationship." Briana is one of the main ones that got mad when I left. She will take any opportunity to tell me she told me so, and beg me to come back.

"I won't, but if you see that bitch again, it's not a coincidence and you need to tell Meech."

"Ugh, fine."

We talked for a little longer until Royce woke up. Just like I thought, she didn't want to go get ice cream. Instead, we watched movies for the rest of the night, but I could tell she was still upset. I tried to explain to her why I got so mad. She told me she was sorry and wouldn't do it again. I accepted her apology and I also apologized for making her upset and she forgave me. I hope this is not a set back for her when it comes to socializing. I just want her to know the difference between an honest interaction with someone, especially when mommy's around, versus a stranger that has no business talking to her.

But people are hella deceptive, and that might be too much to ask for a kid her age. I just need to do better so that something like that doesn't happen again.