Page 50 of Certified Pressure 2
There was silence on her end. Then I heard her sniff, quiet at first, then another, like she was cryin’. “Thank you,” she whispered.
We hung up, and I sat there with the phone in my hand, starin’ at the screen like it could tell me what the fuck I was supposed to do next.
But my heart knew already…
I went back inside, straight to my room. I showered quick, threw on fresh clothes, and packed a bag. My movements wasfast but clear, like my body knew this was the only decision I could make.
When I was done, I called Renza. He picked up on the second ring. “What’s up, cuz?”
“I’m ‘bout to leave,” I told him. “Let Ka’mari and Kashmere know I’ll be back.”
“Why you can’t tell them yourself, nigga?” Renza asked.
“Because I don’t wanna deal with them right now. I done been through enough shit with they people already.”
He paused, then said, “Say less. I’ll handle it.”
I hung up, called for a driver, and within the hour I was in the backseat, watchin’ the estate lights fade behind me. My jet was waitin’, and so was Pluto. My chest felt tighter, but for the first time in a long time, it wasn’t from stress.
My heart felt full.
Moss Point
Pressure had just texted me letting me know he wasn’t far from the apartment and would be picking me and Zurie up shortly. That alone gave me some relief because I was still moving around the room making sure my baby sister had everything she needed for tomorrow. I laid her favorite blanket at the bottom of her bag, then double-checked the little stuffed bear she couldn’t sleep without, and made sure her hair ties and small toiletries were in a separate pouch. She was sitting on the bed looking at me with those big eyes, quiet, because even though she wasn’t saying anything, I knew she understood this wasn’t just another overnight stay.
“Do you feel okay, sissy?” I asked softly.
Zurie nodded, tugging at her sleeve. “Yeah. You’ll be with me, right?”
“You already know I’m not going nowhere,” I told her, kissing the top of her head. “We’re going to the hotel tonight and in the morning, we’ll be at the hospital early. It’s all set up.”
She gave me a light smile, and it broke my heart how brave she was trying to be. Inside, I wanted to scream. No child should have to face something like this, but Zurie didn’t have a choice. And neither did I.
I heard the front door slam, and my whole body tensed because I already knew what time it was. His voice carried before I even saw him.
“I work all damn day and for what? You blowing my money again!” my father barked. His words dragged out and slurred, which only told me he’d been drinking heavy.
My mother’s voice fired back almost instantly. “What money? You don’t bring home nothing but your drunk ass and excuses. Talking about you work, please. You spend more time at that bar than you do at a job.”
It was the same cycle and same tired, nasty words. I sat on the edge of the bed with my back to the wall, staring at Zurie who looked like she wanted to disappear. The voices in the living room rose higher, bouncing off the thin walls, filling the space where peace should’ve been. I hated that Zurie had to hear it, and that I had to hear it too, especially tonight of all nights.
I tried to tune them out. I told myself to keep packing, to keep calm, but then I heard my father say something that snapped every nerve in my body.
“Maybe if you wasn’t such a sorry excuse for a fuckin’ wife, I wouldn’t have to drink just to come back here!” he shouted, his words hitting hard and cruel.
And then she screamed back, “You think you some man? You ain’t nothin’ but a broke-down drunk who let his whole family down!”
I clenched my fists so tight my nails dug into my palms. Enough was enough. I looked at Zurie, her lip trembling, and her hands clutched together in her lap.
“Stay here,” I told her, trying to sound calm even though my chest was burning. “Don’t move. I’ll be right back.”
Her eyes widened. “Plu?—”
“Stay put,” I repeated firmly, and then I stormed out the room.
The second I hit the living room, I saw them standing across from each other, yelling like the world revolved around their argument. I didn’t even think before the words flew out of my mouth.
“Shut the fuck up! Both of y’all!”
