Page 58 of Awakening
“You left me,” I snapped, my voice cracking, “You moved on, made a new family, and forgot me.”
Yanna reached out, but David held up a hand.
“No, she needs to speak what’s on her heart,” he said gently. “Kimberly needs to hear this. She deserves to hear it.”
Kimberly was full-on bawling at this point. “I didn’t tell David or the kids about you. I was ashamed, afraid, but I never forgot you, Ajaih. Not a single day.”
I took a deep breath, fighting back the storm in my chest.
“You don’t get to erase me and then expect me to act like nothing happened. Not having you mattered. I felt lost for so much of my life. It’s only now, in my 40s, that I’m finding the strength to be the woman I know I am, feeling worthy of love and belonging without fear of the people I love abandoning me. And now I’m here, ready to be a big sister, show up, even amid my abandonment issues, and extend you grace?”
David walked to me and put a steady hand on my shoulder. “No one’s asking for grace, sweetheart. Just your truth. You give it to her—unfiltered. That’s the only way any of this can heal.”
So I did. This was the first time it felt like she was ready to listen without giving me excuse after tired excuse.
Kimberly wiped her tears and took a shaky breath. “Would you consider family therapy? With me, with us. I know I have a lot to work through, and I know I’ve hurt you more than I can ever make up for, but I want to try. I want to build something new, if you’ll let me.”
I was silent for a moment, looking around the room at the faces of my siblings, hope shining in their eyes as they waited for me to answer.
“Yeah,” I said quietly, “I’ll go, and I’ll ask Dro to come too. He’s part of my story; he deserves to be part of the healing.”
Kimberly nodded, her face crumpling with emotion. I exchanged contact info with Lena, DJ, David, and, after a hesitant pause, Kimberly. Promises were made: to talk, to meet again, to take the following steps forward together.
As we stepped outside, the late-afternoon sun cast bold amber hues as it prepared to set; my crew waited for me, never letting me forget that I had an army coming behind me.
Caleb pulled me into a hug. “You were strong as fuck in there, Freckles.”
Ahmir nodded, “Brave, too.”
Yanna kissed my cheek. “And loved. Deeply.”
Knox slid his arm around my waist. “And soon to be swept off your feet.”
I raised an eyebrow, “You’re all being way too smug.”
Dana grinned, “Because we know something you don’t,” she teased, sticking her tongue out, causing me to giggle.
Maverick chuckled, “You’ll see. Just be ready, baby.”
I rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t hide the smile stretching across my face. Allowing love in without being guarded or waiting for the other shoe to drop was proving to be the most rewarding part of my self-discovery journey.
I woke up this morning, reminded that Knox and I had a flight to catch, but to where? I had yet to be told. Wrappedin one of his oversized button-downs, I leaned against the doorway, watching him pour coffee like he was born to do it.
“You always hum when you’re up to something,” I said, voice still raspy with sleep.
Knox turned, his smile pure mischief. “And you always look sexy when you’re trying to put two and two together.”
I narrowed my eyes. “What are you planning? Tell meeeee,” I whined in fully bratty mode.
He slid a mug toward me. “Just get dressed so we can head to the airport. Passport, sunglasses, and something red.”
“Red?” I blinked, “Knox—”
“We’re going to Monaco.”
I almost dropped my favorite Mario Go-Kart mug, “Monaco?!”
“Mhmm.”
