Page 40 of Impacted by Love

"Excuse me for just a second, sweet baby," I say to Onesti before opening the message.

Pastor Reece:

Good early afternoon, Brother Harrison. I'm just checking on you. How are things?

"See, this is why my pastor is dope," I say, making eye contact with Onesti, whose warm smile causes one of my own.

No matter what's going on, Pastor Reece never ceases to be active with his flock. Pastor Reece is a pastor whose commitment goes beyond Sunday. Having him as an ally in the midst of battles gives me a deeper sense of appreciation for being one of his members.

Me:

Another obstacle this morning. I'll have to catch you up. I'm with my lady at the moment, but I'll hit you up soon.

"Ooh, it's nice to know that you aren't one of those people who take twenty minutes to type," Onesti observes, smirking when I finish my response and lock my phone, placing it face down on the table.

The beam in her eyes causes my chest to pinch, and an old-school Stevie Wonder song starts echoing in my mind. With a smirk and laughter in my chords, I stare intently into Onesti's eyes and serenade her.

"You are the sunshine of my life. That's why I'll always be around. You are the apple of my eye," I sing.

"You better sing then, Asaiah Wonder," Onesti teases, snapping her fingers.

* * *

"As if Mom and Dad's mess wasn't enough in your presence, leaving me bereft of understanding… I walked into their apartment this morning to find my dad holding a camera while my mom was having sex with three men. What's crazy is that it isn't the first time I've seen Mom naked. However, she was high out of her mind yet able to moan like the perfect porn star."

Onesti's gasp stops my words, causing me to turn toward her to see her mouth gaping. Unfortunately, I've become desensitized to the stuff my mom and dad do. We're sitting at one of the benches along the walking trail at Riley Creek. Besides us, I've only seen three people pass us, making this the perfect spot to share the details of my morning with Onesti.

"Th-they were making a video even though she was high," Onesti utters as more of confirmation of my words than a question.

"Mhm. Oddly, one of the men was about four feet, so my mom was holding onto him while giving him oral. He looked like a toddler, which had me vomiting uncontrollably, which ultimately drew attention from the irresponsible adults I am tragically blood-tied to."

Somehow, despite the man's older facial structure, Mom giving him oral triggered me and had me remembering the lengths of her and Dad's neglect concerning me. A warm hand running up and down my arm has me blinking profusely while fighting to erase the image of my first sexual experience.

"At what age did you lose your virginity?" I ask.

"Sixteen. Why do you ask? How old were you?"

My lungs fill with air, and I disconnect my eyes from Onesti, unable to see her expression upon learning my truth.

"Eleven, and she would be labeled a cougar."

Another gasp sounds from Onesti, yet I keep talking because the gravity of my life has me in a chokehold.

"What you and I shared sexually was my first not only enjoying but treasuring a woman's body. For years, sex had been mechanical, but with you, I felt exhilarated by the opportunity to demonstrate my ability to be free in feeling more than guilt." My words are weighty and heavy, yet my truth supplies me with the freedom to move forward with Onesti.

"Look at me, please." Onesti's request is soft and pleading, pulling at my heartstrings because sympathy isn't what I'm seeking.

Onesti's warm hand gently touches my face, and an electric zing flows through me from the contact. Turning my head, a gasp leaves my mouth when I see the bright and glossy expression in Onesti's eyes that makes my stomach flutter.

"Please don't think I'm crazy when I say this, but… I love you, Asaiah. For the man they selfishly cascaded you into becoming and for the man you are today. I also love you for the man you will be tomorrow. Your backstory might be full of hills and valleys, but oh, the joy that fills my soul at the greatness you're going to experience in the future. You are a man whose past isn't worthy of predicting, stopping, or blocking your tomorrow. Thank you for choosing me to be the woman to come alongside you to push you to your best. No need to look back at your past because I'm the woman capable of handling all of you from here."

Pulling Onesti into me, I kiss her passionately as tears pour from my eyes and my chest expands. This moment solidifies why Onesti is the woman I've been missing. Her words are like lightning to my weary soul, causing me to spin her words on a continuous repeat.

"You know what the best thing about choosing me and not the bird from earlier is?" Onesti asks when our kiss ends.

"What?" A smirk upturns my lips, matching the sly grin and twinkling expression Onesti is displaying.

"I can not only fuck you through your storms but pray you through them as well."

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