Sylvia

"Why do I get the feeling that this about to be something that I really don't want to know." I took a seat and my son turned the computer screen in my direction.

My eyes scanned the contents on the screen and smirked shaking my head. "Lawrence is this shit for real?" I asked looking grim.

"Momma I'm afraid so. It's like Desire and August can never get a break, but they don't realize the destruction those two can cause. Sadly they are torn apart right now."

"Yes, unfortunately."

I looked back at the screen and then at my son. I had to come up with a game plan, but first I wanted to see what Camille was up to and what her aim was in stealing August phone.

"So she is married or was married to Jacoby Sanders. She is popular event planner in LA, but where the hell was she coming from when she flew back to LA?"

"Hold a second." Lawrence clicked a few keys and waited for the information to pop up.

"Well it looks like she was actually coming from Atlanta, but that's something I'm going to have to research more."

"And her brother is Derrick Williams, the one that was the head of the English department at GSU."

"Yeah sadly."

"Damn I really don't think that August slept with Camille, but I have a feeling that the reason she is holding on to that phone is because she took pictures of her and August in a very explicit manner. No doubt in my mind she is going to send those pics to Desire and that's gon' make matters worse."

"I feel like its something that we are missing."

"I feel the same way. Hold on let me look up some things on Jacoby."

While he was doing that I got up and looked out my window. All this shit taken place and I know that there is more to this whole situation than what meets the eye. There is a reason that Camille is out to get August, but what reason?

"Momma." Lawrence called out.

I turned and walked back over to the desk and looked at what he had pulled up on the screen. "So he now works at GSU as the head of the English department. He graduated from UCLA the same year that Desire did. Hmm...I think that we may have a connection right here."

"I think so too. I got a friend out in LA that does PI work and I'm going to get him to do some research on Camille and her husband. Just give me a few days and I will have all the info that we need."

"Oh I can't wait because I'm ready to stop whatever this trick is trying to do."

"Momma have you told them about why you are the way you are and what happened?"

"No Lawrence and right now that ain't the issue at hand. My focus is keeping my family out of harms way and stopping irrelevant ho's."

"Say no more."

August

"Bruh what's going on with you?" Twan asked.

"Twan you wouldn't unda'stand because you haven't done anything to hurt your wife or your family period."

"What you do?" He took a sip from his bud light as he looked at me.

"Twan I first left my wife for three months and then I missed the birth of our babygirl. I really fucked up?"

"Damn August what the hell were you thinking?"

"I wasn't, but at the time I thought that it was best because of the way I was feeling and still is."

"What do you mean?"

"I feel so insecure because I cheated on her with La'Asia and when she told me that her ex Jacoby was here, it set me off because he works with her. I feel like she gon' cheat on me if not with him with somebody else because I haven't been the best man or husband, even still Desire put up with me and all my shit."

"August did you break this down to her?"

"No because its hard fa' me to explain this shit knowing it sounds selfish and crazy as fuck. It's like I'm saying its okay fa' me to do my dirt, but if she does it then I can't deal and she will be wrong on all accounts."

"On some real shit. Karma is a bitch that I don't wanna wrestle with because it fucks with you bad, especially when you asked for Karma to come in after inviting the devil in. Temptation is real, but you gotta remember that temptation can ruin everything that you worked so hard to build."

I looked at Twan because he was saying some deep shit. "Well since I'm baring all, I think I may have cheated on Desire again while I was in LA."

Twan looked at me and clenched is jaw and started laughing like shit was funny.

"What tha' fuck is so funny?"

"You nigga. What the hell is wrong with you man? You need to get yo shit together because Desire loves you."

"I know, but in all honesty I don't deserve her."

"So what are you saying, you don't want to better yourself so you can be a better man for your family."

"Twan..." I trailed off because I didn't know what I wanted.

I'm tired of hurting her over and over again, but I don't wanna lose her. I need to get my shit together and fast.

"August you need to talk to your wife and make her understand what you are feeling. Let her know that you need her to be your support system, but you gotta be hers because she needs your strength."

"Right now I'm looking for a condo because she put me out."

"Well I don't blame her because the way you have been going on is like a man that doesn't have a family. Aug I love Ty and Nedra to death and I will never do anything to jeopardize that. Just like I know she won't either."

"I'm going to see a therapist Monday and hopefully that will shed some light on the reason why I feel the way I do. I feel like its something deeper."

"You might be right. I'ma be praying for you and Desire."

"Preciate bruh."

Desire

I sat on the sofa holding Shariah and Ned looked over at me. I looked in her direction and I smiled weakly. My heart was heavy and not matter how much I hated August right now I still loved him to the point of the return. I just wish we could be together, but right now can't and maybe never.

I looked down at my babygirl and she had fallen asleep. "Ned I will be right back. I rose from the sofa and went to lay her down. I checked on Day and Ty. They were in his room playing with there trucks. I made sure I had the monitor turned on so that I could hear if she got fussy.

I walked back downstairs and plopped on the sofa. I had just sat down and out of nowhere Ned blurted words that I thought I would never hear her say.

"Desire I cheated on Twan with a woman....."

Today is a bittersweet day. Today Mel's Birthday and although he is gone he is not forgotten. Happy Birthday Mel. R.I.P. His legacy will forever live on through August because he lives through him. Today also is the one year anniversary of Testimony.

People thought he wouldn't make it this far, but he did and I know Mel is smiling down on him.

Excuse mistakes!