The Life

Melissa drove home from college with a degree in computer engineering in her small Toyota Camry that she saved for since the start of her college years. She was dreading going back home knowing what was waiting for her when she saw her mother again. She was an entirely different person than who she was when she left. She made sure she was accepted into a college as far away from home as possible to get away from the toxicity of her divorced parents’ relationship. It seemed like all they knew was how to get her hopes up then hurt her or push her away. It was like she was choosing the lesser evil when it came to picking where to return home to.

She decided it was best that she’d go back to her mother’s house being that she wanted to be there for her younger brother. Even if it meant that she would have to deal with the pocket digging of her mother and the drama that came when her mother didn’t get what she wanted. She’d persevere through getting hurt by her mother over and over again just for her brother. She wanted better for him, she wanted to show him how real relationships should be and how successful he could be. In the back of her mind, there was always a fear that he would reject her love, or that her mother would find a way to twist her words and force her brother to hate her.

Putting her fears aside, she went back home to her mom’s house, securing a job at a clothing store. Most companies were obviously behind the times in her small town or just not hiring black females in her degree field. She stacked up her money and worked a nine to five day in and day out. Making sure that she could pay her mom’s rent. Her mom’s rent in full. Why? Because her mother assumed that since her daughter was back at home with a “fancy” degree that she could provide the money for rent and food. Another load of responsibility dumped on her as soon as she returned home.

She was back in the dungeon with the dragon, eating the harsh words and judgements of her mother just to spend time with her brother and help him finish school. One day, she was in the men’s section of her job and a guy walked up to her asking about some dress pants. She didn’t even look up, she just pointed him on his way, expecting him to leave after. But he didn’t, he stayed there and waited for her to guide him to the section. He was tall, with golden brown skin and curly hair, his muddy work boots suggested that this must’ve been his first time in the store.

She smiled and walked him to the section but as she was leaving he grabbed her arm and asked if she could help him pick out an outfit. When she asked why he said, “I’m supposed to be going to an important event with my grandma and honestly I work all the time, so I don’t really have much other than T shirts, basketball shorts and work clothes. I don’t mean to bother you but based off what you’re wearing me tells me that you know a whole lot more about dressing up than I do.” She looked at how nervous he was and listened at how his voice had a hint of embarrassment. “Sure,” she said.

She picked out a few button-down shirts for him to try on once he found his right size in slacks. She was so happy to have this small distraction from her home life. They decided on a decent outfit and she picked out a pair of shoes to go with it while walking with him to the register to check him out. Funny thing is that the clothes weren’t the only thing she was checking out. She bagged his clothes and as she handed him his change he smiled and gave her the number to his beeper.

“Thank you for helping me out today. I’ve been putting off getting these clothes for a long time because every time I come in here you’re busy at the register and I wanted you to help me. My name is Gavin by the way. I’d like to take you on a date, if that’s okay with you.”

“I’ll think about it. I’ll call you and let you know when,” she said. “So that’s a yes?” He asked with a slight grin. “Great!” He smiled at her one more time before he left. This might be just what she needed. A break from her mother and an excuse for her to go enjoy herself. Besides, he was kind of cute anyway. She did in fact go on that date at a small seafood restaurant.

He was a country boy who worked on his family’s farm and he had four siblings. He dreamed to be a professional baseball player but that ended shortly due to a shoulder injury before the start of the college season. He was two years younger than her, but it seemed like his lesson from baseball caused him to have some maturity. Gavin repeatedly complimented her about her beautiful brown skin and dimples throughout the night. She couldn’t help but feel like she was on cloud nine and agreed to go on more dates with him after.

Fast forward and they were about six months into their relationship when Melissa found out that she was pregnant. When she told Gavin, he asked her if she was sure it was his. She looked at him in disgust, not wanting anything to do with him anymore. She knew for a fact that the baby was his. He was the only person she had been with since she came back from college.

She went home and explained the situation to her mother. Her mother told her, “If he’s not ready for you and this baby then find someone who is. Not all men are the same. Find someone who will value you better than he did.” And Melissa did just that, she prayed that God would send someone to her to help get through her pregnancy. A few days later she started dating someone new. He accepted her and was ready to help her raise her child. She was beyond grateful and Zach was a great guy.

She reached out to Gavin one more time two weeks before her due date. She finally built up the strength and drove to his house. His mom answered the door and she walked in. “Hi Mrs. Brown. Do you know where Gavin is? He hasn’t been answering any of my calls,” she asked looking back at his mom.

“Honey, Gavin isn’t ready for a baby, he’s not ready for a relationship either, his mind is off to other things right now,” his mom said with a hint of superiority. Melissa pretended she didn’t care though. She swallowed those hurtful words and walked towards his room. Just as she was about to open the door a female walked out and had the audacity to ask Gavin, “Who is this?”

“Who is this?” Melissa laughed angrily and said, “I’m the woman carrying his child.” The girl looked back at Gavin and said, “You didn’t tell me you had a baby.” The girl walked out and left the house in a rush. Melissa told him not to worry about coming to the delivery. She told him that she found someone who’s going to be a better father to her baby than he would ever be. Just as she’s walking out of the house it starts raining. She gets in her car and prepares herself for this thirty-minute drive back home through the downpour.

Melissa cried so hard that her shirt was drenched, not from the rain, but from her tears. How could he? And better yet how could his mom speak to her like that? She didn’t want any part of him or his family anymore. As she’s driving back home, the rain slows down and finally stops. Just as she’s about to turn on her street, the slick roads didn’t let her turn. Her car flipped and she passed out from all of the adrenaline that was pumping through her child-bearing body. She feels someone unbuckling her out of her seat and pulling her out of the car, but she hasn’t gained her vision back yet.

She tries to open her eyes, but her body won’t let her feel anything. She loses consciousness again but this time when she wakes up she’s in a hospital sleeping with a baby next to her. When she turns her head to look at the other side of the room she sees Zach. She smiles and tries to lift herself up. He warns her not to. He explained everything to her. He told her that he was on his way to her house when he saw her car flipped over on the side of the road. He pulled her out and rushed her to the hospital. When he made it to the hospital the doctors took her to the delivery room, and she had a C-section to deliver her baby.

She cried as he told her what happened, and he handed her daughter to her. “Gabrielle, that’s the name I choose for you,” Melissa says as she brushes her fingers across her newborn’s lips.

“Why would you choose that name for her?” Zach says in curiosity.

“Because most of my favorite stories of the Bible were the stories of Gabriel and how he always delivered good news and responses to prayers. His name means “God is my strength” and I can’t thank anyone but God for sending you to me in my time of need. Showing up at the right time and right place along with your super-human ability to move me out of a flipped car on your own.” Tears of joy rolled down her face as her contagious laughter fills the room.

She looks down again at her first born, she was beautiful, she was healthy. Just as Melissa’s admiring her daughter’s facial features Zach hands her a small black notebook. The weight of it was almost too much to bear for her weak body to hold. She placed the notebook on her lap and flipped through it. The first few pages were blank, but when she flips to the final blank page her eyes dart to a cut out opening of money in hundred-dollar bills. There had to be at least $20,000 in the notebook from the weight of it. Just as she looks up her child’s father walks into the room and her boyfriend Zach steps out.

She immediately closes the black notebook and places it on the hospital bed. Still in shock, Melissa shows the baby to Gavin and his face is giving off that he’s scared to hold her. When he finally holds her in his arms, he sits down in a chair next to the hospital bed and caresses Gabrielle’s face, as if she is made out of porcelain. He tells Melissa that he loves his daughter’s squinted eyes and big cheeks. After that day, Melissa never saw Zach again. She called him, went to his house, and even went to his job. He was nowhere to be found.

It didn’t matter though, because Gavin was back, and she knew Gabrielle needed him. Melissa finally felt like she had a family, she felt complete, but the fears of Gavin’s history and family always crept in her mind during her moments of happiness. God gave her the comfort to know everything was going to be okay. But for now, her daughter was her priority, she was going to protect her from the cruel world, and let no one hurt her, no matter what.