Page 11 of Royce
Diana was more than understanding and because of that, I knew I would be here for a long time. I’d been wanting to have a career and flourish for me and my kids, and they granted me the perfect opportunity. I held back my tears that wanted so desperately to fall. Olandria walked back in and handed over the folder.
“We’re all set. Thank you for coming in and we hope to see you soon,” Olandria voiced extending her hand one last time in my direction.
“Thank you for having interest. I’ll see you tomorrow morning bright and early. You two enjoy your day.”
I walked out of the conference room and then the bank altogether on a high. Literally nothing could ruin my day, not even Cojak and his disrespectful ass mouth.
After I left Pledis Bank, I went home, cleaned up, and rested until it was time for me to come here. I figured since I was starting a new job, going to the diner scavenging for tips could wait or better yet, cut me loose. There was something better for me and mine and they were willing to work with me on for the remainder of my pregnancy. It truly didn’t get any better than that.
I removed my hoop earrings and placed them in the cupholder. I turned my phone off, tossed it in my purse, and climbed out the car. The only thing I had in tow was my ID and keys. The day had the nerve to take a turn from being sunny and beautiful to the skies filled with gray clouds. Thankfully, my natural hair was out, and it was a light rain, so it didn’t bother me to get it wet.
They were kind enough to let us in and go through the process. I made it to the waiting room and for some reason, the CO’s kept eyeing each other and whispering as if they knew something I didn’t.
“What?” I asked with annoyance.
“Nothing. He’s ready. Go ahead in.”
I stood with an uneasy feeling coursing through my body. As many visits as I’d attended, this was the first time they looked at me with confusion. I shook it off, but it returned just as fast the second I stepped into the visiting room. It seemed as if everyone in it had eyes on me. That embarrassing feeling washed over me and I quickly realized why. Everyone in this bitch knew what was going on except me.
“Are you fuckin’ serious? Who the fuck is this, Cojak?” I yelled. I never cared for making a scene, but all that classy shit went out the window the second I saw him smiling from ear to ear with the next bitch.
“Ah fuck,” he mumbled.
“Nah, who the fuck are you? CoCo, I know good and goddamn well this bitch ain’t pregnant too!” The girl was just as appalled as I was.
However, I couldn’t get over the fact that she said pregnant, too. I looked down at her stomach and saw nothing but her protruding belly. It looked as if she was just as far along as I was. My heart shattered into pieces that very moment. I dealt with the verbal disrespect since he’d been in here but damn. To think he wouldn’t cheat on me was crazy work. No woman ever came to me over the years we’d been together. I guess I was too blind to notice shit.
Tears streamed down my face from the instant pain I felt. Not only was I struggling to make ends meet, but I had to endure heartache as well. He just wouldn’t stop beating me while I was down. One thing I did realize was how upkept she was. He had atype that was for sure. She wasn’t as cute, but she was brownskin with long weave flowing down her back.
“Baby, it ain’t what it seems,” he said, but the funny thing was, he wasn’t speaking to me at all. He was looking directly at her… reassuring her, not me.
“Then tell me what the fuck it is then, CoCo.” He tried to spit more lies; I was sure of it. Only for her to throw her hand up in his face and look up at me. “How long you been dealing with my nigga? He paying yo’ bills and shit, too?”
Scoffing, my tongue swiped across my teeth to remain calm. Not only was he allowing me to struggle, but he was also making sure this bitch was straight. I had two of his kids and there was no telling how many she had. I was pissed and hurt at the same time.
My blood was boiling, and my fuse had finally blown as the seconds passed. Without thinking twice, I rocked off hitting Cojak dead in his shit. I was tired of being played with and disrespected. He didn’t give a fuck about me or my kids and today was the last time I allowed him to show it.
In that very moment, I didn’t give a fuck about shit except beating his ass. There was no way in hell he thought just because I wasn’t confrontational, I was going to lay the fuck down and be his doormat. The emotional ties I had for him were long gone. I didn’t stop throwing bows until I was snatched up by the CO’s.
“You a bitch ass nigga and I hope yo’ ass don’t never get the fuck out of here. Get the fuck off me!” I shouted snatching my arms from their grip.
I looked around the room with more embarrassment filling me up by the second. It didn’t dawn on me that I was making a fool of myself until I noticedhim. He couldn’t be missed. He was taller than everyone in here, but it was his presence that gave him up. A sympathetic glare along with underlying anger pierced my eyes. That was the last thing I needed. Another man feelinglike he needed to save me. Once again, Cojak put me in a position where more laughs would be thrown at me than shared. I was so tired of being a fool for him.
The guy looked as if he wanted to yolk me up and take me away from here, but he too was in the same boat as my kid's father. The restrictions wouldn’t allow it. I turned to walk away when I was stopped dead in my tracks by a sharp pain. I was bent over clutching my stomach within seconds.
“Ma’am, you have to leave. Now!” she shouted pointing to the door. “Ma’am!”
“Give me a minute. Damn!” I yelled returning the attitude. If I could move, I would. However, this pain wasn’t something to easily disregard.
“You have a child to think of. He’s not worth miscarrying over, trust me. Please, leave and take care of yourself and that baby.” One of the CO’s from earlier had a softer tone with me and was trying to give me some advice.
“I need to sit down for a minute,” I said still clutching my stomach.
She walked me out the visiting room and walked me to a seat in the waiting room. She looked at me with so much sympathy. There was no telling how long Cojak had that girl coming up here to see him. Here I was ready to share my good news, and he was entertaining someone else. I was dumb to believe he was ever any good from the beginning. Seri warned me, and I didn’t listen.
“You are way too pretty to be dealing with his bullshit. Woman to woman, we see a lot of men in here playing their woman and we can’t say shit. Losing a child over someone who constantly shows you disrespect is going to eat you alive. Please, take care of yourself. You can sit here for another five minutes to get yourself together. After that, you really have to leave the premises.”
She walked back into the visiting room leaving me alone. Hurting and all, I wobbled my way out the prison. I was embarrassed enough. I didn’t need everyone in there to finish their visit and see me sitting here looking lost, heartbroken, and unloved.
