Page 40 of Hood Legacy

I ran my hand over my hair and dropped my head back to look at the ceiling to think. I didn’t have a legit answer because I hadn’t given myself time to think. I’d gone from worrying about her to looking after Legacy.

“I’ono,” I answered with a shrug, and she nodded. “I just want you to be okay.”

“And how would that look to you?” she questioned. “Doing chemo, sick and tired all the time?”

“Nah,” I replied. “Shit, to be truthful, I don’t know how I expected you to look. We have been fighting this shit my entire life, it feels like.”

“We have,” she agreed with a nod. “When I was first diagnosed, you were a toddler, so full of life and energy, and that kept me going. Fighting then was a no-brainer because you needed me.”

“I still need you,” I said, and she patted my leg. “I’m a grown-ass man, but Mama, I’m still your son. It’s shit I’ve never experienced that I’m going to need your help navigating.”

“Like what?” she laughed.

“Me being in love,” I shrugged. “I don’t know how to navigate this shit for real.” I pointed to the window in the direction of my bungalow. “That girl over there got my heart, and I swear I’d do everything in my power plus some to make sure she’s good. But, I know I’ma fuck up eventually, and if you ain’t here, who am I supposed to go to for advice.”

“Yo Daddy,” she replied, and I shook my head. “Bowlin will know what to say.”

“It ain’t the same.” I shook my head. “Pop can only tell me from a man’s perspective. I need a woman’s advice, and Bright doesn’t know anything, so don’t even mention her.”

“She’s a woman, Hood.”

“It’s Bright.” I cut my eyes at her and kissed my teeth. “She is still coming to you for advice, so that’s the blind leading the blind.”

“True,” she agreed. “But I think you’ll be surprised with what she knows.”

“Bright ass don’t know shit,” I denied.

“Hood, baby, I’m tired,” she sighed, and I nodded because I knew she was. Mama’s fight was coming to an end. I knew that without all the medical knowledge I had. She wasn’t gaining weight; her skin was pale, and she slept more than she was awake. Her body couldn’t handle any more chemo, and even though I hated it, I had to respect her decision. “If I could fight more, I would.”

“I know,” I said, nodding as I wiped my hand over my face. “Shit ain’t fair, but I know.”

“Life isn’t fair, Hood, and that’s okay, too. We had a good ass run, though, didn’t we? We laughed, joked, fought, loved, and enjoyed it.” I rested my head on her shoulder and nodded. “You’re a big baby; how will that girl handle you when you start pouting?”

“She doesn’t pay me no attention,” I chuckled. “Shit, mama, I don’t even think she realizes how obsessed I am with her.”

“Have you told her?”

“Every chance I get,” I answered with a nod. “You remember what you told me when I was a little nigga running behind a girl?”

“Wear a condom?”

“That,” I laughed. “But you also said tell her she’s pretty because if I don’t, then some other nigga is going to come and remind her of what I failed to do.”

“Do you hide your emotions?” she asked.

“Nah,” I denied. “When I leave here and go back to the room, I’ma climb in the bed with her, and she gonna wrap her arms around me and let me cry. No questions asked, no judgment.” I looked up to see her smiling with tears in her eyes. “She doesn’t know you’re sick. I haven’t told her yet.”

“Why not?”

“Her biological mama died of cancer when she was little, and the woman that raised her is fucked up,” I answered. “I want her to meet you and not know that I’ma lose you the same way she lost her mama. I want her to love you for you – because you raised the man who loves her. I ain’t ready to see her cry yet.”

“Tell her later,” Mama said, nodding in understanding. “Let her enjoy this time together and feel the love of a family.”

“Right,” I agreed. Pop entered the living room and sat on the couch beside Mama.

“You a spoiled ass nigga, Hood,” he said as he pulled mama to him. I moved my head to her lap, and she snuggled into Pop's embrace. “Go get your woman and lay up under her.”

“I’ma go get her and bring her back here,” I laughed. “She gonna curl up under me and try to hog mama’s attention, and we both gonna be pissed cuz you ain’t give mama a daughter, and I did.”

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