Page 125 of Falling Into Gravity

He leaned back in his chair, pulled the vape around his neck and took a slow hit. “You… ever been…paralyzed…before?”

Aku paused, brows pulling together. “No.”

“I don’t…mean…your legs. I mean…your life. Ever feel like everything you knew got snatched from you in one moment, and you ain’t had time to cry about it yet?”

She swallowed. “Yea.”

“Then you get it.”

The silence between them settled thick. Not uncomfortable—just full.

“I… used…to run,” he said, after a moment. “Fast, I was…good too. Scouts came…out for me. Thought…I’d go pro. Then…some bullets…stopped all that. Caught…tryna protect…something… that…didn’t even…protect itself.” He paused to catch his breath.

Aku studied him. There was pain behind his voice but no bitterness. He wasn’t defeated…just honest.

“He…said you…the one,” Pharoah added. “The one…who gon’ show…him a way…out…without …makin’ him…feel like…he losin’…himself.”

She bit the inside of her cheek. “I’m tryin’. But it’s hard to hold up somebody who keeps pushin’ you off.”

“That’s what…we do. We…used to…bein’ disposable…So when…somebody stay? …We panic…Try to…leave first…so we don’t…feel left.” His words were clear, yet ragged and a little broken. They came out slow, but Aku ain’t have nowhere to be so she didn’t mind.

Aku blinked fast. “I don’t want to leave him.”

“Then don’t.”

She nodded slowly, lips tight. “Thank you…for this, for being real with me.”

Pharoah smiled. It was small, but it hit. “You got…somethin’ special…with that boy. I ain’t never…seen…him light up…the way…he do when he…talk…about you. And…I been around… that nigga through his…darkest nights.”

“I just want him to win.”

“Then…help him believe…he can.”

She nodded again and stood up. Before she could leave, Pharoah held out a fist. “You…met my… sister, Quesha?”

She bumped it gently, but her mind went to the name. It was the same one that flashed across his screen. Aku felt there was a piece of Malik’s story always missing and she’d just found it.

“I’d…stand up and…hug you,” he muttered, “but…that…shit…overrated.”

Aku laughed—really laughed this time. “I’mma come back for you next time, not just for him.”

“I’m here,” Pharoah said, “and…I’m watchin’.”

Aku stood and stepped into the hallway—only to see Quesha posted up by the laundry basket like she’d been listening the whole time.

“You drop the money off?” she asked, without emotion.

“Yea.”

“Then you can go.”

Aku’s jaw ticked. She stepped forward, slow and calm. “I don’t know what you think this is?—”

“It’smyhouse…that’s what it is.”

Aku chuckled. “Cute.”

Quesha rolled her neck. “You one of them bitches that think just ‘cause you fine and got a lil’ money, everybody supposed to bow.”

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