𝕮𝖔𝖓𝖙𝖊𝖘𝖙 𝖇𝖞: Coffee Community

𝕿𝖎𝖙𝖑𝖊: Coffee With Mom

𝖂𝖔𝖗𝖉 𝕮𝖔𝖚𝖓𝖙: 773

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The silence that plagued our hearts was an enormous difference from the muttering and chattering of people in the neighbouring booths of the café. Our cups of coffee satat our table, abandoned and forgotten; an insignificant ordeal compared to the unopened letter that was in my mother's hand.

After taking in one deep breath, she found the courage she was searching for and opened it.

Having read the contents of the letter myself, I sat still watching her and gauging her expression to know which part of the letter she had gotten to.

Hey Mom,

I hope this letter meets you very well, even though that sounds hypocritical coming from me considering the last words I said to you. How can I possibly apologize to you for every pain my actions and words caused you and it will be enough? I can't but I must.

I am very sorry, mom for not believing in the strength of your love but in my blind self and hopeless capability. To think you were ready to leave everything; the fame and money, just to be with me and yet I believed that everyone but Iniko and myself were in the wrong.

Even after the truth was dropped onto my lap and my eyes finally opened, I still wasn't bold enough to face you and apologize. I really didn't think dad would send you and Makayla out for taking sides with me. When I heard about it, I was consumed with so much guilt, I couldn't face you.

I know you will hate me so much right now and I want so badly for you to forgive me but it is too late for me to ask for that. Rather, I want to plead for your mercy and go as far as to ask for your unfailing love for her.

The doctor said the pregnancy is risky, and I would have to choose between myself and my child. After everything that happened because of this little angel, I can't bring myself to trade her life for my worthless own. And for that reason, by the time you're reading this... I would be no more.

"No!" she screamed; her voice trembled with vigorous vibration. People's attention snapped to us, but her eyes were locked onto the letter, tears streaming down from them as she read and re-read that paragraph all over again.

My heart sank at the sound of her voice. It was why I hadn't given her the letter immediately after I received it. I knew it would break her even more than Tanisha's scandal did. There was no way it was going to be easy hearing about one's daughter, much less through a letter. I wanted to hug her and tell her I was there for her but  I couldn't leave my side of the booth until she finished the letter.

I'm so sorry, mother. So sorry for being this cruel and telling you about my death in a letter. Selfish, I know, but I had to. I had to be selfish for a singular reason. I told the doctor to send her to Makayla, who I hoped would give her to you at the right time. With my self-centred attitude, I hadn't allowed myself to enjoy your unfailing love and so I hoped my daughter, Imani Jada Antonne, would.

Yes, I shamelessly named her after you. She has her father's last name, but I wanted her to have a connection with you all the same. I hope you would look past my mistake, mother and shower little Imani with all the love I failed to receive. I'm really sorry mother and thank you very much.

Your unfilial daughter,

Tanisha.

Her eyes remained frozen on the letter for a few more minutes. The only thing moving was the tears running down her cheeks. She looked up at me, my eyes already matching her glistened down.

"Where is she, Makay?"

With no further question, I turned around and pulled out the baby chair I had been hiding since she walked in.

Little Imani jolted awake at the movement of her seat wailing and my mother immediately picked her up, cooing her back to sleep.

Tanisha had been wrong. Mother never hated her, not for one bit, and she would never hate her little one. Not when those pure honey eyes seemed to get a bit of their spark back as she stared at her grandchild. My heart softened for the first time since I got the letter a few weeks ago as I watched the duo. Imani Jada Johnson had found a reason to love again.

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𝕻𝖚𝖇𝖑𝖎𝖘𝖍𝖊𝖉: 27/05/22