Page 16 of Mark My Words

“Why?”

“Well, I don’t know, she’s busy, I suppose.” His mom ventured down her hallway and passed old pictures in traditional frames of his father in military uniform against the wall.

“So you two just stopped talking?”

She shrugged. “Somewhat.”

“Mom.”

He reached out and touched her shoulder, and she paused, then turned to him, and strands of gray hair fell from the bonnet covering her head.

“Tell me the truth.”

Mrs. Jernigan braced herself. “You know I’ve always wanted what was best for you, right?”

“Of course.”

“Well, when you left, I went to Destiny and…”

His gaze bore into hers. “You what, Ma?”

“I asked her to let you go so you could focus on your career in the army.”

Malik’s eyes grew wide. “So it’s true,” he whispered.

“I only wanted what was best for you.”

“Mom, Destiny is the love of my life! Do you know what I went through being away from her with no understanding why she left me? Do you?”

“No, but—”

“In the army, the only people you have are the soldiers around you. The life as you once knew it is gone for as long as you’re stationed wherever you are. It’s important to have your loved ones in your life. Not to mention, something that might seem as simple as a breakup can mess with one’s psychological health.”

“I never meant for any of that.”

“Of course you didn’t, but while you claim you were thinking of me, your actions hurt me to my core. All of this time, I thought Destiny was seeing someone else. Do you know what it’s like to be in love with someone and they cut ties with you out of the blue? You’re reduced to someone who couldn’t provide the love that person needed. That they found it in someone else. It almost killed me, Mom.”

Ms. Jernigan’s eyes watered. “Son, I’m so, so sorry.”

“Didn’t you believe in me enough to know that I would fulfill my duties? You didn’t think I could give my heart to Destiny and focus on my career, my studies?”

Ms. Jernigan opened her mouth. “I… I just thought you would be distracted.”

There was that word again. He heard Destiny’s voice.

“I don’t wantto be a distraction.”

Malik shut his eyes,his chest tightening as he remembered the pain that splintered through him that day. Seconds ticked by when he thought of the sting Destiny must have felt and the immense pressure she was under to appease his mother and grant her wishes.

Malik shook his head and pivoted, heading toward the door.

“Malik!”

He paused.

“Don’t leave. I’m sorry, okay?”

He turned toward her. “No. It’s not okay, Mom. Something you did didn’t just change my life. It changed hers, too. And you know what, if she ever finds it in her heart to forgive me for what you’ve done, she’ll be my wife.”

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