Page 7 of Defect
“Okay, I’m done. Can we go to school now?” He walked out of the stall with a smile.
“Let’s put on your new clothes, then you can go.” I helped him out of his old clothes and into his new ones. I put the old ones in a Target bag and then rushed him out of the door. It wasn’t until I took time to watch him getting into the passenger side of my car did I realize the angry red scratches stretching around his neck, marring his beautiful skin. I swallowed back all the toxic, jagged obscenities I wanted to hurl at his father. I didn’t notice the marks before we left his house because the sun was just starting to rise and we were rushing. Seeing them now made me sick. I pulled off with tense muscles and a ticking jaw that refused to calm down no matter how much deep breathing I did.
We pulled up to his elementary school at nine on the dot. I rushed him out of the car and hand delivered him to class with a soft smile. Malachi walked through the doors like nothing was wrong. He greeted his teachers and his friends with grins and adorable laughter that I wouldn’t have been able to muster at his age and in his situation.
Before he disappeared into the routine of his day, he stopped in his tracks, turned around, and ran full-force to me with open arms. “I love you, Solo. Thank you.”
“I love you too, Malachi. Have a good day and try to stay safe.” I bent down and kissed his forehead then he rushed back to class.
I didn’t leave the school right away. I went to the principal’s office. I knew she was getting ready to start on announcements but I needed to talk to her.
“Principal Monroe, are you busy?” I walked into her office like I lived there and had a seat. The smell of fresh orchids on her desk made me smile.
“Damn, Solana. You don’t live here. You know that right?”
“Listen, I addressed you professionally.”
“But you’re still a pain in my ass like you have been since you were born.”
My big sister, Amaris Monroe, was the principal at Malachi’s school and she was well aware of his circumstances. She was my only ally when it came to helping him. She was sitting across from me, shooting daggers at me with her eyes but she still loved me.
“I have to do announcements. Wait,” she snapped. She aimed her French manicured nail at me and I held my hands up. I would behave while she did her principal thing. She already knew why I was there anyway. She just hated when I walked into her office without knocking, which I always made sure to do because I’m her little sister and it’s my right to annoy her.
Once Amaris was finished with the announcements and the pledge and all that jazz, she cut off the PA system and looked at me incredulously. “You brought Malachi to school today?”
“Yeah. He sent me a few texts last night saying he was lonely and he couldn’t sleep. Amaris, I couldn’t let him sleep alone knowing he was terrified. He shouldn’t have even been at home alone. I just…” I shook my head and tugged at the hem of my t-shirt. Where I’d wet it to wash Malachi’s face was dry and stiff.
Amaris took a glance at me and the corners of her mouth turned down. “Solana, you have to be very careful with what you’re doing. Not only is it in violation of the restraining order you have against Vince but you’re breaking into this man’s house whenever Malachi calls for you. You have to be more careful.” She was right but I didn’t care. Being careful wasn’t the first thing on my mind when a child was in danger.
Vince and I had been together for a year when he got a call to come pick up his son, Malachi, from child protective services. I didn’t know my boyfriend had a son. He never mentioned the little boy. I never saw pictures either. When I found out, I was floored. I was pissed. I was confused.
He told me he never wanted to be a dad. So Malachi’s maternal grandmother stepped in, since her daughter was an unfit addict, and decided to raise him. She promised Vince he’d never have to look at Malachi as long as she got to take care of him. He agreed because evidently, he was a walking, talking piece of shit.
There were no courts involved. Only Vince’s blind eye to responsibility. Never once did his stupid ass think Malachi’s grandmother would die at some point. Well, she did. It was the worst thing to ever happen to Malachi as a result.
I rolled with the punches when I found out about Vince having a son. I should have run the other way because any man that wouldn’t voluntarily take care of a child he created is a piece of trash. I had to learn that the hard way. I thought I was in love with Vince and there was nothing our love couldn’t withstand.
Yeah.
Right.
The moment Malachi moved in with Vince, I bonded with him. He was the sweetest child and god he was smart. I’d never seen a child so smart. He was already reading. He loved music. His sense of humor was sharp. I couldn’t have loved him more if he were my own.
After I bonded with Malachi, the abuse started. I called Vince out once I noticed he was completely hands-off with his own son. I was the one figuring out which school he should go to based on our district. I was the one buying him clothes and toys and taking him out. I was the one bathing him, cooking for him, and reading him bedtime stories. Vince went to work, came home and barely spoke to Malachi. He became increasingly agitated and pushy.
One night he called Malachi a whiny bitch because he was crying. I lost my shit. We had a shouting match in front of Malachi and it wasn’t my proudest moment but I would go to bat for that little boy any day.
The fight lasted off and on all night and once Malachi was in bed, Vince shoved me then slapped me. I thought I was losing my mind. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d be in an abusive relationship. I hit him back and we had our first physical fight. It went on and on for months. He even hit his son. I stayed as long as I could to protect Malachi but eventually, I had to leave. I still found ways to help though.
That’s why I was sitting in Amaris’ office after breaking into Vince’s house and violating the restraining order I had against him. How could I turn my back on that innocent baby? He had my entire heart.
“Look, Amaris, I’ll deal with all that stuff later. I just need to know if you’ve heard from CPS yet.”
“No, not yet. You know I’ll let you know immediately when I do. Malachi is still in the queue.” She looked down at her folded hands then back up at me. “How bad is it at home for him, Solana?”
“The house is filthy. There’s only junk food and I could hear Malachi’s stomach growling in his sleep last night. He has scratches on his neck and they look fresh. I don’t understand how the fuck Vince could do such a thing. Malachi is a child. He didn’t ask to be born and he didn’t do anything to deserve the shit that happens to him.” I buried my face in my hands and let out a frustrated growl. “Also, he said he had to eat a cheese sandwich because his lunch account is zeroed out. What the fuck, Amaris?”
“I’ll make sure to pack extra food in his book bag today before he gets on the bus. The accounts are automatic but I usually make sure his account has money in it. I try to do that with all the kids that don’t have money and don’t bring lunch.” I knew she was doing the best she could and I also knew that Malachi wasn’t the only student dealing with a tough home situation but he was my baby and my priorities lied with him. “Solana, please be careful. Do you know how dangerous it is to give Malachi a phone? What if Vince found it?”
