Page 66 of Falling Into Gravity

There was no need to sugarcoat anything with Aku. She was an adult now.

“Give me the real. I’m grown now.”

Solar chuckled, nodding. “Alright. French was broken when I met him. Not like damaged goods… but cracked. He had a Mama and Granny that he loved too damn much if you ask me, but life didn’t treat him kind. He ain’t have no daddy. He grew up fast. We all did.”

Aku stayed silent, her chest tightening, thinking about her daddy being anything but the greatest daddy ever.

“He didn’t know how to love nobody without protectin’ ‘em. And I…I was the kinda girl who wanted to be seen, not saved. We clashed, but we also held on.”

“Why?” Aku asked. “Why hold on to somebody who don’t even know how to love you yet?”

“’Cause I saw the boy in him,” Solar said softly in that dreamy way she always got when she thought of her long life with French. “The little boy that just wanted peace, wanted to be chosen without bein’ used. He was loud back then, but his soul was so quiet. I knew I could fill him up without losin’ myself.”

Aku swallowed hard. “And he healed?”

“He still healin’. But that man shows up for me every single day. He had to teach himself what love looked like, and I had to be patient.”

There was a pause. Solar smiled like she could feel the question lingering through the screen. “So,” she said slowly, “what’s his name?”

Aku blinked, lips parting—but she didn’t say anything.

“Mm hmm,” Solar nodded knowingly. “You don’t gotta tell me nothin’. But I see it all in your face.”

Aku shifted. “I don’t even know what it is yet. We’re just…we’re building somethin’. He got this… darkness. It don’t scare me though.”

“Darkness don’t mean danger, sometimes it just mean depth.”

That hit too deep. Aku looked away. “You think I’m pickin’ somebody like Daddy?”

Solar smiled. “We all do, baby, in one way or another.”

Aku stared at her Mama for a long time. Saw herself in her Mama’s eyes - the softness, the strength, the way love never made her weak…it made her radiant. Her skin was always flawless with a sheen that told everyone who came into contact with her, that she was loved and celebrated.

“I ain’t tryna save nobody,” Aku said quietly, thinking about Malik’s words.

“And you shouldn’t. Just love him honest. Let him meet you where you are. If he’s worth it, he will.”

They sat in silence. Just looking at each other. Two women from the same bloodline, trying to make love last in a world that tried to steal it daily.

“But remind that nigga that you are that muthafuckin’ girl! You a daddy’s girl, but you my daughter and one thing I know how to do is make a nigga sweat. Don’t stop dating causeyou think you found your one…that leaves you lonely and with questions. Have fun, you’re still just a baby, Aku.”

“I miss you,” Aku said.

“I miss you more.”

“Tell Daddy I love him.”

“You tell him. He talkin’ ‘bout flyin’ out there soon anyway.”

Aku smiled. “Not if I come home first.”

“Nowthatwould be the real flex. Let me know so I can gas up the jet, baby…ain’t no commercial round here,” Solar wagged her tongue.

Aku laughed. “Ma, you swear you her.”

“Little girl, please. I am that girl. You know why?”

Aku shook her head. “Why mama?”

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