Alisha & Anaya in MM they're fraternal twins btw 😊

C H A P T E R
S I X T E E N

Etering the well African decorated office, Ahmad took his seat as the man across from him did the same. "I'm Derek, most people call me Dr. Halls, but I prefer Derek." He greeted reaching for a handshake.

Shaking his hand firmly, Ahmad gave a toothless smile. "Ahmad, um quick question .. are you African?"

Laughing he shook his head no, "I am not, full African-American just love my black culture .. wouldn't be the man I am today without it, as you see I have powerful black people on my walls cause they are my motivators, the struggles they faced to earn the rights we have today pushes me to keep striving everyday and everystep I take, they didn't give up so neither am I.."

Ahmad nodded liking his answer, "I feel you,"

"Yeah, well its truly a pleasure to meet you, during our time together whenever we meet I want you to be as comfortable as possible, you can come up here in pajamas whatever the more comfortable you are the more open you will be as well.. now I'm not like most therapists, I don't just nod my head and write down every little thing you say .. I give advice, I crack jokes, I become like your second bestfriend .. I've been in your shoes to where I had to seek therapy for help so trust me I do understand which is why I chose this profession, I love to help others as much as possible and I'm ready to start this journey of helping you." He spoke with straight confidence.

Ahmad nodded, "I'm down for the journey as well."

"Great, now let's start off with the basics .. tell me about yourself? I have a list of shit on this tablet that you wrote on your information form but I like to hear things from the person's mouth and excuse me I do cuss so don't be alarmed."

Chuckling, he relaxed back into the seat. "I'm Twenty-six, middle child out of thre-"

Holding his hand up, he stopped him. "When I said tell me about yourself .. I meant like what are your fears, beliefs, doubts, worries .. goals, what keeps you up at might, whatever the cause may be .. I know who you are by this paper but I don't know who are you in your mind."

"Oh um, I have different fears .."

"Let's talk about em, tell me more."

"Even though sometimes I do feel like dying, that's one of my biggest fears .. I'd hate to leave my brothers and parents behind .. I can't stand the thought of them hurting .. another thing um failing, most of my life I did feel like a failure but I'm doing good for myself now but my fear is that it won't last long .. cause so much bad shit has happened in my life so unexpectedly that I just know the small happiness I just got might not last long."

"It can last but its up to you really,"

"How?"

"We have control of our moods, we have control on what can affect us and what can't .. the power of being happy is in your hands, and once you finally x-out what's hindering that, you'll see.. now tell me somethings you like and dislike."

Smirking, he placed his hands behind his neck. "I like sex,"

Laughing, he nodded. "I have to agree sex is pretty amazing .. especially with the right person."

"Yeah forreal, I've been with a lot of women .. but this woman I'm dealing with now the sex is just different, its like with each stroke, each moan whatever its just filled with so much love and passion."

"That's how it is with my wife, I thought before her that I experienced good sex but with her its amazing sex just like you said its filled with love and passion probably why I been married to her for the past five years, can't let no other man have that." He laughed.

"I hear that, that's how I feel bout Cali .. she ain't mine but she mine."

"Oh shit, don't tell me you're one of those .. If I can't have you, no one will type niggas? Cause if so, your mental state is something I can't help sorry,"

Laughing Ahmad threw his hands up in surrender, "Nah nothing like that, we made an agreement ..I told her I would fix myself mentally to be ready for this relationship that's how bad I want this to work, I knew if I started dating her now those insecurities and jealousy ways would appear and she don't deserve that, she's the one that's been pushing me to help myself so I'm doing this for us."

"I respect that, now I know you're here to seek help, since that is why a lot of people come to me but I want to hear exactly from your mouth why you are here at this moment?"

Sitting up he cleared his throat. "I'm broken inside and for years I tried to act as if I wasn't but I am and it has taken a toll on my life for years and I'm ready for this depression shit to end for once so I can move on in life and be happy .. my goal is to be finally happy, and to change for the better and I must add that I have changed a lot since I met this girl well excuse me since I met this woman, but I know I can be a better man for her."

Nodding his head, he sat his tablet down. "So you suffer with depression, why?"

"A lot of shit has happened in my life to where I became bitter and hated everyone."

"Shit like what?"

Being caught off guard from him cussing still, he chuckled. "Um I was molested at a young age and for years it had me questioning a lot of shit, then I got my heartbroke by this bitch I trusted with my life .. and recently I just lost my baby sister in a car crash .. so yeah just a lot that causes me not to be happy in life."

Staring at Ahmad for a while he read him, he could sense that Ahmad was really seeking help and that made him smile. Most people came in just cause others wanted them to come, it was never for themselves but he could tell from his body language that Ahmad was serious about this and so was he.

"You ever blame yourself?"

"Blame myself for what?"

"The events that occured in your life .. did you ever feel it was your fault?"

Sighing, he nodded his head. "And that's your problem, we can't control anything that happens to us .. you getting molested was not your fault, or getting your heart broke or the lost of your sister none of those were your fault."

Not saying anything, he decided to continue.. "Tell me on each event why you blame yourself.."

"Well when I was molested .. I could've prevented it from happening for so long by speaking up so that's my fault, I chose to keep quiet."

"And the heartbreak?"

He sighed, "I should've noticed the signs .. the signs were there that she was out doing me dirty but I ignored the signs, I chose to trust her rather than follow my gut so its my fault I got played like a fool."

Nodding, he wrote it down. "Okay and now to the death of your sister .. why do you think thats your fault?"

Looking down, he played with his fingers. "That night I had a dream .. I was standing in front of a toombstone, I couldn't point out the name cause it was blurry but that morning I woke up, all day I had a gut feeling something was going to happen .. I went to work and even then it was still that feeling so that night I left to go see my girlfriend I guess I can call her that, and when I was getting dressed I just kept feeling the need to tell her I love her.. she was suppose to be at home all night, but apparently she snuck out, I should've listened to my heart and gut and stayed home .. she'd still be here with me if I had." He mumbled wiping his eyes.

"Okay let's rewind .. I'm going to start off and flat out say you are not the blame for any of those situations .. now I'm going to give you the rundown on how you're not."

Sitting his tablet beside him, he took a sip of his tea then focused on Ahmad who was ready to hear what he had to say. "No one is at fault when they are molested except the molestor .. you were a kid, you barely even knew what was going on and I'm sure you didn't speak up out of fear and she used that against you, you did what most people do .. cause for one I'm sure you thought it was embarrassing, the world is quick to tell kids to speak up but don't tell them how, its hard to speak up about something so traumatising as that so again like I said that is not your fault."

Listening to everything he said, Ahmad listened closely. "Okay and for getting your heart broke that isn't your fault either .. when people are in love we tend to ignore the bad and focus on the good in the people, the person could be trash to everyone else but when you're in love that person is a diamond, its crazy but its human .. whoever she may be used the love you had for her against you, she took you for granted, she messed up not you, you did what you had to do as a boyfriend, she didn't step up and do what she needed to do as a girlfriend.. so in a way you won, got rid of something that you didn't even need."

"Now I'm sure the death of your sister is something that really broke you but you can't walk around blaming yourself for it either. Okay so you had a gut feeling, we all have gut feelings and ignore them .. like you said you thought she was at home but instead she was out, how is that your fault?"

Shrugging his shoulders, Derek smiled. "Exactly, we probably have about twenty minutes or so left but I really did enjoy talking to you .. I can see the pain and hurt in your eyes but by the end of this whole transformation that pain will be gone. We have a long way to go because once you stop blaming yourself for things we'll be getting somewhere. I want to meet Monday's, Wednesday's and Friday's same time .. but even if you really need to just come in to talk you can call or just show up and I'll help."

Reaching out to shake his hand, he smiled. "Really lookin' forward to this journey of seeking happiness Mr. Ahmad."

"Same here,"

After talking for a few more minutes and exchanging personal numbers, Ahmad left out feeling a whole lot better just the thought of becoming one step closer to that happiness he oso wanted brought joy inside him.

He was ready and determined to get rid of all the toxic things in his life that hindered his growth, he knew it wasn't going to be easy but he knew it would be worth it in the end.

-

Cali stood in front of her full body mirror as Ahmad stood behind her with his arms wrapped securely around her waist planting small kisses on her shoulders.

She shivered at the coldness of his lips, but she felt all warm inside just from his touch. Placing her hand on top of his she turned a little kissing him on the lips. "You ready?" She asked and he nodded stepping back admiring her outfit.

She wore one of Alisha's and Anaya's dresses they designed and Ahmad had to admit, she looked good enough to eat. Her dark chocolate skin tied in well with the color of the dress and her jet black straight hair that he loved pulling on just flowed effortlessly as she walked around the room making sure she had everything.

The dress hugged her in all the right places lowkey wanting him to say to hell with this triple date, but they planned this weeks in advance so he had to go.

As he was eyeing her, Cali was eyein' him. He wore a button up shirt similar to color of her dress with navy blue bottoms but the shirt was short sleeved so his tatts were on display just making her mouth water.

Ahmad was just too fine for his own good, somedays she'd just wake up and admire him cause he was simply just a beautiful creation.

Grabbing her clutch, she grabbed a hold of his hand as they walked down the stairs together. The tv could be heard as the theme song of spongebob played throughout the house.

Reaching the living room, Cali walked over to the couch to see Marquette eating chips and drinking a capri sun. "You excited to be going to daddy's?" She asked picking him up.

Shaking his head no he reached for Ahmad, who gladly took him. "What's wrong lil man? You don't wanna spend time with ya daddy?"

"No, I wanna be with you." He pouted laying his head on Ahmad's shoulder.

"But baby you can't come with us .. and daddy is excited to see you, you want to make daddy sad?"

Shrugging his shoulders, not really caring how his daddy felt .. he just wanted to go with his bestfriend. "I'll be good mama,"

Sighing, she smiled small. "Do you want him to come?" She asked Ahmad, she knew Marquette could get overbearing with his clingy ways and didn't want Ahmad to get tired of him.

"You know I don't mind," He told her honestly. "Let's go get you dress little boy, you coming with me and mama."

Smiling widely, Cali watched as they disappeared up the stairs then grabbed her phone to call up Reggie to cancel.

As the phone rung, she played with her nails making a noise with her mouth, on the third ring he answered. "Hello? Y'all on y'all way?"

"There's been a change of plans, Marq wants to come out with us tonight so we're letting him, I'll drop him off in the morning."

"Who is us?"

Rolling her eyes, she sighed. "Ahmad, who else."

Smacking his teeth, he frowned. "Bring my son over here Cali, I don't care what he wants to do .. I already planned stuff for us to do."

"You know that's only going to make him mad Reg,"

"Okay so? He's two, he'll get over it."

Laughing she shook her head, "You know if I had cancelled before I had a man you wouldn't trip but since Ahmad has been in the picture you've really been showing your ass! If my baby wants to go with us that's what he's going to do, he didn't want to go with you tonight and I don't blame him cause you're fucking boring .. so again like I said I'll bring him tomorrow, have a good night!" Hanging up the phone, she slipped it in her clutch then walked upstairs to see what they were doing.

Standing in the doorway she smiled as Ahmad was squatted down brushing Marquette's head. Brushing off his shoulders they did this cute little handshake then dabbed at the end.

"You ready now boy, the ladies gon' go crazy when you step on the scene. You too clean for me."

"Ladies go crazy," He repeated excitedly.

After tying his shoe, he stood up lifting him up in the process then turned to the door jumping when he saw Cali. "How long you been there?"

"Not long, ready to go?"

Nodding his head, he turned out the light in his room then walked out the door shutting it behind him. Walking down the stairs, Marquette talked Ahmad's ear off about non-sense, but Ahmad acted as if he was so interested which made Cali heart melt.

She fell in love with their relationship, somenights Ahmad would come over strictly for Marquette and sleep in his room as well.

They'd make tents and watch movies all night, while eating junk food. Ahmad loved Marquette, he filled that void and thought of Amira being gone, since this was stuff he did for her when she was little.

Marquette kinda kept his mind off the whole situation and sorta helped him cope with it, he wasn't tryna forget about her just when he thought about it, it always brought his mood down, he just had to believe that she was in a better place.

Getting inside his truck, Ahmad buckled him in his car seat, handed him his toy truck then hopped in his seat pulling out her driveway.

The ride to dinner was quiet only thing that could be heard was the radio and Marquette's chatter in the back.

Pulling up to the place, Ahmad drove around until he found a parking space. Getting out he opened his back door getting Marquette carrying him inside.

Holding Cali's hand with his free hand people who passed them smiled loving how well they looked together. Entering the restuarant, the hostess went to speak and show them a table but Ahmad held his hand up pointing to the table that their friends sat.

Walking over they greeted everybody with hand slaps and hugs before taking their seats. "Sorry, little man wanted to tag along."

Anaya looked over at Cali and smiled as they both gawked over on how good he was with her son. "Girl you lucked up and got you a good one." She whispered to her.

"Yeah, I did .." She sighed.

She had no clue what direction they were going but for now everything was smooth sailing, and she hoped it stayed that way.

She's never been this happy with a man before, and she felt he felt the same well at least she hoped he did.

The whole dinner they all made small talk being sure to add Marquette in the conversation or else he would get salty.

The vibe in the air was filled with happiness, for once Ahmad was feeling content with his life and with him being on the journey of seeking true happiness, he felt life was only going to get better.

He just wished Amira could have seen this side of him.

-

Hey sexy muthafuckas ☺

Thanks for the love babes!!
- Denise 💕

#DrinkCumAndChoke 😏