{Unedited}

"Ok baby I'll see you later." I kissed my man passionately, then snaked my arms around him tight.

"Aight, call me when you get home, and your Aunt is taking KJ to school today right?" Michael asked.

"Yep, she told me she would since I was with you and she didn't want me rushing back on that side of town."

"Aight give me another kiss so I can go." He poked out his lips. I kissed him repeatedly not wanting to stop. He retorted by pecking my lips a few more times.

Michael and I always had the most amazing chemistry ever. Kissing him before now always made me feel like I was doing something wrong. It lead me to feel like that was all I was never going to be for him. His kissing friend.

After kissing me a few more times he stared at me intensely grabbing my full attention. He had a very serious expression on his face.

"What's wrong?"

He took a moment before he spoke saying the completely unexpected, "I know this might seem sudden to you because we just made it official. —But who am I kidding I love you Leah. I always have."

I gasped feeling a lump form in my throat. "I love you too."

He smiled pridefully, biting down on his bottom lip. He didn't say another word. He turned on his heel then walked away to get in his vehicle.

I smiled walking over to my car. After getting my seatbelt fastened I noticed a small envelope that read To Leah Joi Harrison. It was seated in the passenger seat, I retrieved and opened it. Inside the envelope, I saw a black MasterCard.

The hell?

I quickly looked out the window, looking into Michaels car. He was smiling, he then waved me off before driving off.

The nerve of him, I started my car and immediately dialed his number on the in-car system.

"Hello, you miss me already?" He spoke in a jittery tone.

"Don't hello me, why did you do this?" I yelled.

"Do what babe?"

"Why did you get me this card, I don't need nor do I want your money." I spatted pissed off.

"Listen we're not having this conversation right now. You're only at the club bartending for your last two weeks and you already agreed to no more dancing. So I don't want to hear it. It's a temporary card the real one is on its way. "

"I have money saved, KJ and I will be fine. We will always be fine. I got us, financially that is not your problem. It's mine." I said tearing up a bit.

"I understand its been the two of you for so long, trust me I get that. Just keep the card just in case, that's all I ask. We're together now so we're in this together."

I sighed and spoke calmly. "I will keep the card but I'm not using it, thank you."

"Also thank you for giving me the courage to pursue my dreams, and helping me believe that it's still possible," I added.

"Nah, that was all you baby, you've always been a go-getter. You just had your focus on KJ and forgot about you. I just want to make sure you're fulfilled. KJ will love you more for it, he wants to see his mom happy."

I smiled, I love the way he always thinks of my child first as well.

"You still there?"

"Yes, —well I'm going to let you go. I know you should be close to your school now. You're not slick either, how long have you had this card? You just knew I was going to give you a shot." I continued to smile.

"I was planning to give you that card regardless if you gave me a shot or not. I love you and I want to make sure you and KJ are straight. So you can stop cheesing so damn hard now. I can hear that smile in your voice." He chuckled.

"Bye silly, I love you too."

"Mmm, I love the way that sounds." He made kissing sounds into the phone then hung up. I shook my head giggling to myself.

I got home and texted Michael letting him know I made it. I started rearranging my furniture, I just get tired of looking at the same thing. Plus this gave me time to think. I'm feeling a little overwhelmed about taking this leap. Quitting my job, and pursuing my dreams as a professional choreographer. I used to help out mama Laurie at one of her dance studios, the one right here in Atlanta.

I danced ballet and hip hop growing up. Those were some of my best childhood memories. I built some great relationships along the way and was extremely competitive.

Everything was going so well back then until my then boyfriend and I found out I was pregnant. Everything changed for me, I started seeing people for who they really were. It seemed like everybody started disappearing one by one. My ex Khalil stayed by my side all throughout my pregnancy. We had agreed on naming our son after him. We had a plan and I thought it was going to work. At least he had me fooled thinking we had a plan. We were going to get jobs and go to college together wherever he got a scholarship at.

After my first week of being home from having our son KJ, he dumped me. His parents were helping me out in the beginning but then that faded. Khalil said this was all too much for him, and he wanted to put KJ up for adoption. I didn't understand how he could want to just give him up.

He held him a few times but he didn't really express any type of emotion. He would just stare at him then give him back to me. I told him I would never give our son up. He said he wasn't interested in being a father. Saying we were both sixteen and we had so much more to do before we could think about being parents. I told him its too late for that. I kept trying to reach out to him, he avoided me at school and eventually changed his number. I had to figure something out financially, the only income I had was from my job at a local food store I got when I was three months pregnant.

So when Khalil's parents stopped helping me, I went back to work. Which was after KJ turned two months. I had to go full time because my mom said she couldn't help me. I felt alone and helpless. I was struggling, trying to juggle school, a daycare fee, and my job. Then on top of that, I would always notice little things about KJ. As a mom, you just know when something isn't right with your child. I was stressed, I took him to the doctor they said he seemed pretty healthy and that maybe I should give him a little more time. They said he might have a slight delay and that it's normal.

KJ was almost a one year old when I ended up dropping out of high school mainly because my expenses were just piling up. I had to figure something else out for us. Oh, and my dear mother gave me a 30-day notice to leave. A real written notice, I still have today.

I didn't want to fail my child, I had to figure something out quick. I reached out to one of my co-workers, she was nice. She let me and KJ stay with her. She also told me about this club she was working at. I told her whatever it is I'm in, I was desperate. I was seventeen with a baby, and I needed more money right then. So she got me this fake ID and I was able to dance there.

Her mom helped me out with KJ while I worked. I picked up whatever shifts they had available. I was still working at the food store during the day. It was hard spending that time away from my son but I knew it was temporary.

By my nineteenth birthday I finally saved up enough money for KJ and I to move.

My mothers' sister Dawn reached out to me. We started conversing back and forth here and there. She helped me out with KJ. My aunt was always good to me, she just traveled a lot and didn't have much time. She moved and settled in Atlanta to be closer to us.

I set myself up financially so I could afford to take KJ to see a specialist about seeking further information. By the time KJ turned three, I knew specifically what was going on with him. Impaired communication and social interaction, autism spectrum disorder, also known as ASD. Some of his symptoms were pretty spot on, it made his diagnosis a bit easier. He now has a speech therapist, psychiatrist, and a neurologist he goes to for testing. He's in school, in a program that was recommended by his therapist specifically for autism. They're developing new ways to communicate with the kids, I love it.

I have things in my house labeled and color coded. I'm changing around in my living room area only. My son doesn't do well with change but this living area space doesn't bother him. Mainly the kitchen, his bathroom, and bedroom are what I don't really change.

He's also learning to play the piano and learning the notes pretty quickly. KJ will be eight years old soon, my baby is growing up so fast.

KJ spoke his first word when he was five. Me, KJ and Michael were all over my auntie Dawns house. He was building LEGOs and Michael was reading a book to him at the time. His first word was Mike. We were all shocked because it was so random. I wasn't able to truly express to him how I felt, but I was one proud mama. My aunt was in tears, and Michaels' mouth was still wide open in shock. I called the speech therapist and informed her. She built a bond with KJ over the years, so she was excited as well. He's talking a lot more now but only when he chooses to.

He inspired me to go back and get my high school diploma, I really felt like I was a failure. So getting that was important to me. I was the kid who actually loved school and was pretty smart too. I hated that about myself not finishing with my class. I had the support of mama Laurie, Mike, his sister and my aunt they helped me every step of the way. I was embarrassed about it at first but after seeing the support I had and my son trying his best every day, that was all I needed.

After rearranging and cleaning I went on to prepare KJs snacks and meals for the next three days. Knowing that it would be time to pick him up in a few hours.

****

"KJ, good job baby," I said to him, he was putting his homework in his backpack.

"I made our favorite, rice, baked chicken and asparagus. I put your diced sweet potatoes on a separate plate with your cornbread." I made sure to place everything neatly on his plate.

"No corn, this is KJs plate?"

"No KJ you had corn today at school, lets try it and see how it is."

He slowly took a bite then continued eating, I smiled. Small victories excite me. Dinner time some days can be very challenging. Some nights I just call Michael over, he's usually able to get him to either change his mind or he would make him something else.

My phone started ringing, I answered it.

"Hey love." Michael greeted.

"Hey, how was work, are you home yet?" I asked him in a stale and distant tone. I still feel a way about him giving me this card for some reason.

"Yeah and it was good, I had labs all day. What's going on with you and my little man?"

"We're just finishing up dinner, so I'd say everything is great over here. I just did a little cleaning today." I replied in a bland monotone.

"That's what Rai's doing right now. She got home before me. Her tutoring session was canceled and her rehearsals were cut short today. So she decided to come straight home and clean."

"Tell her I said hi," I replied dryly.

"Everything ok?" He asked sensing my energy.

"Yeah I'm ok, —still thinking about the new black card I received today."

"Leah-"

"I know, I can't help it." I interrupted.

"You're taking it the wrong way. I know you just like you know me. —Please just work with me."

"I feel like I just quit dancing and now I'm taking your money. I'm not trying to lose myself."

"I want you to focus on your dreams. You don't have to continue to strip to get there."

"But I can and was able to get there on my own with doing so. You can dislike it all you want but that's how I've provided for KJ and myself."

He blew out the air roughly, "Are we seriously doing this again?"

"Yes," I stated irritatedly.

He sighed. "I don't want to argue, and this is leading to it."

"You can't expect all of this to go smoothly either, I feel like you're being selfish and I don't—"

"How am I being selfish Leah?

"What are you giving up? You don't know what it's like. You don't have a kid." I yelled into the phone, walking away from KJ a little.

He paused. "You're unbelievable."

"I gave up my job to be with you and now you're giving me your card. I think you have things mixed up. I will always provide for my son and I. Maybe I shouldn't quit, because I'm getting the feeling you're thinking I'm going to depend on you. —That ain't happening."

"I'll take the card back, pretend I never gave it to you. If it's bothering you so fucking much. Just fuck it Leah." He gritted filled with anger.

"Oh, I had planned to give it back to you," I stated matter factly.

"Good, anything else?" He spat.

"I'm not making myself clear, —I'm not quitting."

He didn't say anything.

"Until I find something paying what I need or get my career off the ground I will be dancing or as you call it stripping."

"Do whatever you want to do Leah." He scuffed.

"Like I said you don't have a child you wouldn't understand. I can't depend on people. I've done that and look where that got me. I have to feel secure for myself."

"I guess I'll see you around then. Since you believe this is your only way. Just make sure I'm still able to be there for KJ."

"So your ending things?"

"What you thought? —Oh, you thought you would get with me and I would later change my mind about you working there?" He asked angrily with a little dry humor.

"No, I just thought you loved me. —So me wanting to secure my finances is wrong?" I started choking up.

"You're really thinking I'm trying to take away your independence?" He scoffed. "You say one thing and now do another. You said you were quitting —and don't start that crying shit."

"Now you're being unbelievable." I yelled out as tears started coming down my face.

"Bye Leah."

"Bye." I shot back ending the call quickly.

__________________________

{Unedited}

{So..., thoughts?}

{Song: "Red" by Daniel Merriweather}

{Things got a little heated quickly!! Curious to see how the rest of this play out with Mike and Leah.}

Thanks a bunch✌🏾.