KATHRYN

"Don't let this shit happen again Kathryn," Darnell mumbled.

He placed the hospital covers over me. I rolled my eyes. He was so 'worried'. Apparently he came into the room to kiss me goodnight, which he never do, and he saw I was gone. I'm about to take him off the visitors list. He's not my husband.

"Listen Kathryn. Things like this can get the hospital a lawsuit. You forgot three weeks before the incident, not your whole memory. Stop acting like you forgot everything. You know how I a-"

"Who the fuck is this bitch Darnell?"I shouted at him.

"Stop screaming baby. This my cousin wife. Her name is Laurel."

"You really think I believe that bullshit? Boy don't fucking try me!"

"Kathryn, you're overreacting,"He mumbled under his breath.

I rolled my eyes as hard as I could. I was going through some of my things at the house. I was moving out within the next week. While searching for my shit I found a phone. A trap phone, with a whole bunch of bitches in it.

"Who the fuck is Risha?"I shouted, "You fucking with bitches named Risha?"

"Calm down Kathryn. I'm not gonna tell you agai-"

I grabbed the phone and threw it at his head. He caught it easily. I hate the fact that his ass used to play football. I could've taken him out with one good hit.

He began to grab a suitcase packing my shit. I snatched it back. This is MY house as much as it is his. We went half on the house. Then we went half on the bills. I made enough money to pay for half of this shit. He made enough money to pay for this times three.

Darnell was the head of the surgery department of the ER. He also wrote three books, taught as a professor, and did TV appearances. He was really known around these parts.

We lived next to high class rich people like Tyler Perry, Nene Leakes, Teyana Taylor, and Amber Rose. He knew a lot of them. I didn't because they're all really snobby.

"Put my fucking shit down! I hate you! I hate you so fucking m-"

"You gotta go Kathryn. I'm sorry but it's time for you to leave. I'm not put-"

"That's why we getting a fucking divorce bitch! Fuck this fucking marriage! You've been nothing but boring and unfaithful! Fuck you!"I shouted.

"Stop cussing. The neighborhood can hear you,"He whispered.

I went over to the window. I stuck my head out.

"Can y'all hear me now? That's right I said fuck Darnell Stevens. He cheated on me with dirty bitches and shit! This the man y'all let take y'all organs out and shit!"I screamed.

Lights began to turn on in other houses. One of our neighbors was sitting on the porch. Her head snapped towards my direction so fast. She took out her phone as I continued to shout.

"Kathryn! Get back in this house!"He shouted.

He grabbed my waist and pulled me back in. I shouted out some more words. By now the whole neighborhood was awake listening to my indecency.

He looked me in my eyes. I grabbed the collar to his shirt. Wow Darnell was fine. I won't even lie. His dark skin complimented his light colored eyes. His hair was little grey but that's because of the stress. To be this old he looked great. Black really don't crack.

"Damn Zaddy,"I mumbled.

I kissed along his jawline.

"Kathryn look at me!"He shouted.

He grabbed my chin and looked into my eyes. I continued to giggle and laugh in his face. He shook his head and placed me on the bed.

"You're high,"He said.

"No! The girls and I only hit twi-"

"Yeah can I talk to Mrs. Smith please."

I squinted my eyes at him. He was really not about to call my egg donor for something so simplistic.

"Are you calling that bitch?"I asked.

He pushed me to the side and left out the room. I got up and pushed my clothes to the side. Damn it was really starting to hit me that we were actually getting a divorce. A whole four years down the drain.

I picked up the little trap phone. I started to go through some of the messages.

Laurel: You want me to send the flowers to her desk right?

Me: Yes please. She doesn't know, so please do not tell anyone.

Laurel: You know I'm not cuz. I'll have them there by 2. Have a nice day.

Me: Thank you so much!

My mouth fell open. Wow I just caused a scene over some flowers. The rest of the numbers were work numbers. This was his business phone. Damn I really blew this out of proportion. I put the phone back in the drawer.

"Kathryn, I don't know what's wrong with you, but you need to get it together. I would never cheat on you. You're everything I could've ever asked for. You know how I am with the cheating scandals,"He spoke.

"Kathryn! Can you hear me?" Darnell shouted into my ear.

I pushed his head away. I'm going to go deaf if he keep screaming in my ear like that.

"I just had a flash back,"I mumbled.

"What happened? Did you rem-"

"Give ha some time ta process it Darnell. She fine; she just need a lil time,"I heard a voice say.

Andre stepped into the room. I smiled. Even though I had no clue who this man was, I just felt a special connection. He was like a friend I've been feigning for. He was so great in so many ways.

"Please leave Mr. Harper. You have caused enough damage,"Darnell said.

"Excuse me? He brought me back when he could've done anything else. Do not feed him that bullshit Darnell."

"Baby I'm just tr-"

"Matter of fact, you leave. You have caused enough damage already."

Darnell shook his head. He didn't even say anything. He grabbed his lab coat and left out. Andre was in the corner chuckling. The door slammed. I rolled my eyes.

"Why ya so mean ta tha man? He ain't did shit ta ya,"Andre said.

He pulled out a cup of ice cream from under his jacket. I told him I wanted some earlier and he came through. Thank God for him cause I would've been eating ice at this point.

"All he does is get on my damn nerves Andre. You just don't understand,"I said through the mouthful of ice cream.

Cookie dough with some whipped cream. It was heaven on earth.

"What was ya lil flashback 'bout?"

"Crazy story, I found Darnell's trap phone. I thought he was texting other hoes but turns out he was getting flowers sent to me. I cussed him out and caused a whole scene."

He busted out laughing.

"I saw that ma'. Ya ass was crazy. I don't know why they ain't fi'e ya'."

I looked at him. How he see the argument? I know he wasn't there.

"Wait what?"

He pulled out his phone and started to type in some letters. He showed me his screen. It was TMZ in big red letters. Why did TMZ know my business? In the video you could clearly see my face and Darnell in the background shaking his head.

"My neighbors are so damn nosey. Ugh I cannot stand them."

"I woulda recorded it ta'. Ya got ya lil two minutes of fame tha,"He spoke while wiping his mouth.

He threw a whole scoop of ice cream in his mouth, swallowed it, and threw the cup in the trash can. I could only imagine his brain freeze.

"Amber probably recorded that shit. I can't wait until I see he-"

"Who Amber?"He asked.

I rolled my eyes. I could not stand Amber Rose. There's been multiple times where she's tried to get with Darnell in front of me. We've had a few altercations.

"Amber...Amber Rose."

"Hol' up. Y'all rich asses live next ta ma wife?"

I rolled my eyes. I could not stand Amber seriously. Everyone was in love with her fake ass. I have no problem with plastic surgery, because I got surgery to reconstruct my nose. It's just when you start acting like having those altered features are all natural. It puts a wrong image in others minds.

"Do not call that girl your wife. She is far from wifey material."

"Ya hatin-"

The door slightly opened. My nurse walked in with a few visitors. I looked up and saw my pastor and her husband.

ANDRE

"Hello sista Kathryn,"Tha woman said.

I looked tha lady up and down. She was about ma height with a little boy. He was about as short as Kathryn. Kathryn sat up and gave them hugs. The lady came ova ta hug me.

"Hello young man. I'm pastor Carol Fowler down at the southern baptist church,"Tha lady said ta me.

I shook ha hand.

"Wha's up? I'm Andre Harper."

"Very nice too meet you Andre," She said. "Kathryn baby how's everything going?"

Kathryn began ta speak ta ha. They talked about everything from tha divorce ta some church folk who had been acting up.

It's been awhile since I went ta church. I think tha last time I went was when I was like thirteen. My mama never liked tha church setting. They always tried ta get ha ta stop drinking and she wasn't havin it. So we stopped going.

Church wasn't something that determined if I was a Christian or not. I mean I still did tha Christian things like praying, reading ma bible, and preaching tha gospel. Then Marah came and I just gave up. I didn't wanna have false hope in something I couldn't see.

Ma mama always told me ta have faith. I couldn't believe in something I can't see. Like what if life was ova and ain't no heaven? I believed in a whole bunch of shit, and I couldn't live ma life because of some shit people made up. I would be pissed in whateva afta life the'e is.

"Oh Pastor! Girl Andre over there is a hot mess! He not letting me eat no ice girl,"Kathryn laughed.

The pastor joined in with ha. They continued ta talk fa a couple of minutes. Tha man that came with tha lady stood in tha corna checking his watch. I stood up and walked towards him.

"Hey, I'm Kathryn friend, Andre Harper,"I said.

He looked up at me, "Ain't you Mariah son?"

I nodded.

"We went to school together back in the day. Lawd I remember when she was pregnant with you. She was one crazy pregnant lady,"He laughed.

I chuckled, "Ha ass still is too."

"She getting along alright? I haven't heard from her in months."

"She getting by. She still drinking and stuff but she doing alright."

"That's crazy. I remember when she started drinking. Alcohol really messes with a person."

Kathryn looked ova at me. She was about ta speak but tha pastor stopped ha

"Do you want us to pray for you Kathryn?"

Kathryn nodded. The guy went ova and held hands with them.

"Andre? Would you like to join us?"Kathryn asked me.

I shook ma head, "Ion believe in God."

Kathryn looked kind of disappointed. Tha pastor mumbled something and started to pray.

"Dear Heavenly fatha up above, I ask that you continue to watch over your daughter right her God. We are so thankful that you dif not let her depart from us so early God. You have amazing plans for her father. Please continue to lead and guide her to these plans. Without you she cannot do it. We thank you for your son Jesus Christ who died our sins. Please let the young man find you. He needs you-"

"Yo what tha fuck?"I mumbled.

Everyone turned they heads and looked at me. I snatched ma phone and jacket off tha couch. Kathryn called ma name out multiple times. I opened tha door and slammed it shut.

I told that lady I didn't believe in God. She really tried ta pull some shit like that? What tha fuck man?

I swung ma car down open and got in. I felt tea's streaming down ma eyes. This shit crazy. One day I'm praying ta God ta give me answers. The next day I'm a atheist living by Christian principles. I don't really know what I am. I don't know what I wanna do.

My phone began ta ring. I picked it up.

"Hey daddy! Guess wha-"

"Marah it's 10:00! What ya doing up so late? Ya got school in tha morning!"I shouted inta tha phone.

"Ya got school in tha morning," She mocked. "Phrey let me stay up later."

"Mock me again and I'm gon beat ya ass. Ya know I don't play that shit Marah,"I spoke.

"Yeah, yeah, I know Andre."

What tha fuck they feeding ha? She done got real bold lately. I calmed myself down. I wasn't about ta stress ova ha smart mouth right now.

"What ya been up ta Marah?"

"PJ baked brownies and they were soooo good. I put icing on mine and I wish you could have some. They were so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so s-"

"What I tell ya about going on and on?"

"I'm sorry. I just have to tell you how good it is!"

"Marah why ya got ma phone! Get ya black butt in tha bed! I told ya it was bed time a hour ago!"Phrey shouted.

I busted out laughing. I knew she had a bed time. Ian crazy. Phrey wouldn't let ha stay up this late.

"Ugh! Bye daddy. I love you,"She spoke.

I heard the phone get thrown down. That's ma dramatic ass child. Phrey told ha goodnight one more time.

"Ya child absolutely nuts Dre. She been driving me crazy and she only been hea' fa a couple of hours."

"That's my child for ya'."

Ma phone began ta vibrate in ma hands. I told Phrey I would call him back.

"Helluh?"

"Please come back..."