Unconditional Love

Warning:  This chapter may have some content that may be triggering, please proceed with caution.

"What the fuck did you do to her, Kenneth?"

He's having an internal breakdown of his own, but I don't give a fuck. I'm only concerned about my child right now.

"I didn't do anything. We were talking. I told her I want a divorce. She kept asking questions and I answered them. She was hurt and crying, but things were moving along. She was processing everything.

She asked if everyone knew what was going on and I told her the truth, that everyone found out a few days ago. She said that she was just a stand-in until Key got it together. I told her she wasn't and she just zoned out. I called you. I checked her pulse and tried to see if she could breathe okay. Everything was fine but she didn't acknowledge that I was even touching her. She was just fucking frozen in time.

When you all came through the door, you found her the same way repeating that over and over."

That was not my little girl that I saw. Her eyes were almost glazed over, her skin was warm, too warm and she started to look pale.

"We need to call Dr. Jeff."

"No, she needs to get some rest. He said that there would be side effects to the medicine. Remember when she sat straight up in the bed, this seemed similar to me, but she was awake this time."

"YOU FUCKING LIED TO ME!"

We hear her scream like she's talking to someone. Aiden takes off towards the stairs with everyone on his trail.

"He's leaving me. I did everything you said and he's leaving me!"

I don't know who she is talking to but her phone is on the nightstand. Rome notices it too and he looks at me.

"Don't say anything, Just be here for her."

Aiden whispered, but loud enough for all of us to hear. I moved closer to the door.

"I saved myself for him. Got married and had to wait two weeks before I could offer myself to him. It was painful, but I submitted and gave my virtue to him. Now he's going to leave me!

He said that I can't do what she does because she's more experienced. That's your fault because you said wait for him. He's leaving me and won't give me a chance to try to learn how to do better."

I look at Kenneth and he has red eyes, I'm sure he was crying before we got here. I'm angry that my child is suffering but he kept his word and it's killing him just as much. Keli goes over to him and whispers something in his ear and it breaks him down, he starts crying. Just silent tears. He helps him to sit on the bed.

"He never wanted me. You said if I did everything he would never leave me. I swallowed my pride earlier today and finally mailed her those damn plans. I even sent a check to cover all of the cost to get started. I know that's what's holding her back. She's afraid to fail and lose everything and be homeless again. She won't have any idea who it is from. I just gave the bitch my money, my hard work, a guaranteed lucrative future, and my damn husband. 'Be the bigger person Kehla.' I did and what do I get in return, fucking divorce papers."

"She's talking to Maize."

I whisper to Aiden, but I'm sure they all heard me. Keli looks at me with an unreadable expression and this is the first time in fifty-three years I don't know what is going through my brother's mind.

"How long has this been happening?"

"This is the first time I've heard her talk to her out loud. I can recall two other times I suspected she was hearing her. But honestly, I think she is voicing out her thoughts. My mama heard actual voices and this is totally different. I just know that she can't put off therapy anymore."