ii. Mi Amor {9}

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Omniscient.

Friday, April 2015.

8:06 am.

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2 Weeks Later.

Sahari slept on her side, her head resting on her forearm. She unconsciously inhaled, and it was like something when off in her brain and her eyes flashed open. She sniffed again, and her lips slightly curled up in disgust when she realized she smelled bacon.

She hadn't smelled bacon in years. Everyone in her house hated bacon, well really pork in general. And at the thought of that, she frantically realized she wasn't home. And as she eyed the old fashioned decorated living room, she knew she couldn't be at Cateleya's house either.

Before she could think anything more, she heard the sound of footsteps. "Oh good you're up. Can you take your mother to work? I'm running a little behind" Gail asked, walking down the stairs. Sahari took that as her cue to sit up, but she immediately regretted it as her back ached. 'Yup, definitely not home' she thought, as she rubbed her lower back as she heard the springs from the old coach.

"Eloise did you hear me?" Gail asked, dusting off her black collard uniform shirt. "Sure" Sahari rasped even though the last thing she wanted to do was drive right now. She didn't feel good, she didn't tell her mother that though. Instead she stood up, went to use the restroom then went to go start her car.

On the drive to the laundromat, the mother and daughter didn't speak to each other. The only sound in the car was the Steve Harvey Morning Show, which made Sahari think about her and Jayla's car rides to school before she got her car. As she thought about it, she felt pain coming from her head.

She felt a migraine coming, but that was now a normal occurrence for her since she and Cateleya went on their date. She waited until she pulled up to the laundromat to grab her backpack from the backseat. She reached into her front pocket, and pulled out a Tylenol bottle. She quickly took 2 without any liquids then said bye to her mother.

When she was about to start the car she heard a buzzing sound. Remembering she did have a phone, and that she hasn't touched it since last night. She grabbed it out of the front pouch, and the phone was on 10 percent. The screen was also frozen so she had to restart it.

She drove past two lights by the time her phone turned back on, at the next red light her eyes widened at when she noticed she had 100s of notifications. Juno, Jayla, Cateleya, Rayven and even Rayven's parents.

Someone honking behind her made her pick up her jaw, and press onto the gas. Her first thought was to call Cateleya, so she did.

"Where the fuck are you Sahari?" Sahari flinched at the aggression in Cateleya's voice. "I was with my mom" she lowly answered. She heard Cateleya laugh, but she knew nothing was funny. "So you lied to me?" Cateleya asked and Sahari pouted "it's not like that-" Sahari tried to explain, but Cateleya cut her off.

"Sahari I'm really not in the mood for this shit. Just call Juno and Jayla and tell them you're alright. I lied and said you were with me and accidentally went to sleep" "than- Cateleya hung up and Sahari sighed.

She knew she messed up because the one thing Cateleya has always hated was a lier. "Don't lie to me and I won't lie to you" is what she always says, and from what Sahari knew Cateleya hasn't ever lied to her, but it's been the opposite for Sahari. Lately all she does is lie, and now she has Cateleya lying for her.

When she made it home 20 minutes later, her mouth went dry seeing both Juno and Jayla were home. Today is Saturday and Jayla is usually at the shop on Saturdays.

She slowly unlocked the door, and she immediately heard barking then footsteps. She made contact with Juno and Jayla. "Nice of you to join us this morning" Jayla announced then took a sip of her black coffee in her mug. "I'm so so sorry. I didn't realize how tired I was until I was laying on the couch" Sahari walked up to Jayla, looking apologetic.

"We're not mad- anymore" Jayla corrected "right, anymore. Lee told us what happened and we know how you are" Juno made known, and he rubbed her back unknowingly making Sahari feel even more guilty. "But Rayven might not be as understanding" Jayla mentioned then tilted her head.

It was like Sahari was instantly hit with realization. She was supposed to go with Rayven's mother to pick up Rayven from the airport. Rayven was coming home for spring break. "How mad is she?" "Last I heard she was sobbing" Jayla replied making Sahari's jaw drop. "Babe stop" Juno snickered "that was my little pay back" Jayla giggled. "She's fine. She's just happy you're safe" Juno revealed making Sahari sigh in relief.

'At least I don't have to mend that friendship' she thought. "Speaking of Ri just texted me to see if we're still going to get breakfast together" Jayla mentioned and Sahari nodded. "The least I can do" she mumbled and Jayla hummed. "I'll go get ready" Sahari said, then started walking to her room. "We love you Little One" Juno made known and Sahari looked back at them. "I love y'all too"

Sahari went into her closet to find an outfit, as she went through her clothes she kept having to pause from the constant pounding from her head. Eventually she had another pill in her hand, this time she took it with water. Taking pills was now apart of her everyday routine.

She lost track of time, but eventually she found something suitable to wear. She sat it on her bed along with a fresh sports bra and boxers. She put on her shower cap then started her shower.

She couldn't even steady her mind to think about one thing. That was how it's been for the past few months. Her grandmother, Juno, Jayla, her mother, college, track, Cateleya, and lastly and most importantly God. All these things have been in her life for years, but the past months it feels like they're more constant and tripping over each other.

Especially God and Cateleya.

It all has her feeling crowded in her own body. Like she's the one out of place, when in reality she wanted to avoid it all. The pressure in her chest was getting worse, the constant aches from her head and stomach were also.

She had good moments, but they were always overpowered by guilt she had. She just wanted silence.

Silence.

Silence.

Silence.

"OH GOD! BABE. BABE CALL AN AMBULANCE RIGHT NOW" Jayla screamed, going through different emotions. She was getting ready in her bathroom and heard a loud thud. She thought she was tripping, but got a feeling to check on Sahari anyways. She was expecting a bar of soap to had just fallen.

She wasn't expecting to see Sahari unconscious in the shower. Her heart sank and a sob came up immediately.

"Mouse. Baby" she lightly slapped Sahari's cheeks then spashed water on her face, but got nothing in response. "They're coming" Juno made known, phone to his ear, his eyes watering, chest pounding.

"I-It's okay Mouse, you're going to be o-okay" Jayla whispered to Sahari as she cupped her face. "God please be with my baby" she repeated over and over until the paramedics came.

🌊🌊🌊🌊

Hospital Room📍

"We've concluded that her fainting was not because of the pills" the female doctor started. "So she didn't overdose?" Jayla asked, while rubbing Sahari's hand. "No ma'am. While the amount of pills she did take is concerning and needs to be watched carefully. Her fainting is the result of constant stress on her body" the doctors made known.

She then shows them a clip board with a scale on it. "You see the yellow, this is where she should be at her age. Sahari is way up here. She has the stress of an older man which is incredibly concerning. Her body fainting was basically a warning before a bigger issue occurs" the doctor explained. "Like a stroke?" Juno asked, and the doctor nods.

"Please God give me the strength" Jayla mumbled, dropping her head a bit. "She can really have a stroke at her age?" Juno asked, concerned. "Yes sir. The chances are 10 to 15 percent, but it happens. And it's brutal. The body needs to be taken care of, and if it isn't then it's going to take its matters into its own hands" the doctor informed them.

"So how can we make sure it doesn't happened?" Jayla asked, prepared to do anything. "Well first things first, she need to tell us what's stressing her" "good idea. Mouse?" Everyone looked at Sahari who hadn't said anything since she woke up. She was staring at the white ceiling and slowly blinking, she looked exhausted.

"Little One" Juno tapped her arm and she slowly looked down. "What happened?" She lowly asked making Juno and Jayla make eye contact. "Well we were asking about your stressors? Do you mind sharing?" The doctor asked, and Sahari hesitated to open her mouth.

Then everyone looked at the door as it slowly opened. "Hey, I hope I'm not interrupting" Gail announced her arrival. She closed the door back, and Jayla couldn't hold back her distraught face expression. Juno looked like confused, but held himself together well.

Gail didn't bother to introduce herself to the doctor or greet anyone, but her daughter. She walked to Sahari's left side, smoothly removed and grabbed her hand from Jayla's and intertwined theirs instead. Jayla laughed "I know this bi-" "baby" Juno gave her a look, and it took everything in Jayla to hold back. She sucked her teeth, then stood up, making sure to hit Gail in her calf with the leg of the chair then went to Sahari's right side and sat on Juno's lap.

"I'm sorry, you are?" The doctor asked, and Gail smiled. "Sahari's mother. The one and ONLY" Gail answered, and Jayla lowly chuckled. "Oh I thought- we're Sahari's guardians. Now please continue, how can we reduce her stress?" Juno asked, caring more about that than Gail and her random hospital visit for the first time ever.

"Right, sorry. Once she states where her stress comes from you can..." as the doctor spoke Jayla tried to listen, but out the corner of her right eye she sees Gail and Sahari mumbling to each other. Which makes Jayla think...

An hour later Sahari is discharged from the hospital. Sahari and Gail go off to the side and say bye, then Gail left with her coworkers who brought her. The car ride home was tense, and quiet, not even the radio was playing. Sahari just had her eyes closed, with the window down.

The moment Juno locked the front door, Jayla was the first one to speak "so when were you gonna tell us?" She asked, while taking off her big gold hoop earrings. No one replied. Juno knew he wasn't hiding anything from her so she was obviously talking to Sahari. And Sahari started daydreaming as she slid off her slides so she barely heard her.

"Bae who are you talking to?" Juno asked, cautiously. "Sahari Eloise Ray" Jayla answered making Sahari's head shoot up. Juno said nothing and looked back and forth between them. Sahari felt herself about to stutter as she opened her mouth so she closed it then moved all of her weight to the right side of her body.

"Are you talking about my mom?" Sahari lowly and hesitantly asked, scared of the answer. "I am, and again I ask when were you going to tell us you've been meeting up with her?" Jayla repeated, Juno's eyes widened and he stared at Sahari with an expression Sahari couldn't read. "What? Is this true?" Juno asked, hoping his longtime girlfriend was simply assuming.

Sahari couldn't bring herself to talk and slowly nodded instead. Juno gasped dramatically, then flinched when Jayla hit his shoulder for almost making her smile. "This is all your damn fault" Jayla rolled her eyes "what? How?" "For being too soft on her. For months I've been telling you something was going on, but you believed what you wanted to believe" Jayla explained.

She noticed every change in Sahari's behavior, but Juno thought she was just being overprotective. 'Making a problem out of nothing' he said.

"How long?" Juno asked Sahari "since I bumped into her in February" she answered, then poked out her lips "I'm sorry" she apologized, then wiped her face. "You've been lying to us for months" Jayla said in disbelief, starting to pace around the living room. Yes every child lies, but Sahari was never the one to really lie. Jayla remembered the few times she did, Sahari would cry and cry, saying how she let God down.

Jayla just wasn't understanding how a child, specifically the child she's raised for years went from that to lying to them continuously for months.

"Did she make you lie to us? Threatened you if you told us?" Jayla asked, probably sounding crazy, but she didn't care. Sahari face slightly scrunched "no. We barely spoke about y'all" Sahari answered, "it was all me" she made known. She didn't want her mother to be the villain in this.

"So you've been meeting up with her since February? You've been taking advantage of the trust we had in you, and have been lying about your whereabouts for months. You've been putting yourself in jeopardy, your life at risk- my mom wasn't going to harm me" Sahari made known, interrupting Juno.

Her eyes went straight to Jayla as she loudly chuckled, throwing her head back as she sat on the edge of the couch. Sahari didn't find anything funny though, she hasn't always felt safe with her mom, but that was the past. Her mother was different now.

"It's not funny. I'm serious" Sahari told Jayla and Jayla immediately looked at her. "Well it's funny to me and I will laugh in the house that I own" the older and younger woman, slightly glared at each other. "Okay how about you tell us why you feel that way?" Juno asked, moving in front of Jayla so the two couldn't stare at each other anymore.

"No. With all due respect, I appreciate y'all concerns about me meeting up with my mother but I think I'm at the age where I can decide if she's a danger to me or not" Sahari told them. Juno head went back, he looked so surprised and displeased.

"Now if you'll excuse me, I'm tired" Sahari continued then started walking to her room. "Oh don't worry, you'll be all rested up by the time you'll be allowed out this house" Jayla made known, folding her hands together and resting them infront of her. Sahari stopped walking and turned to them.

"What does that mean?" She asked "you're grounded" Jayla informed her. Sahari's face immediately scrunched "I'm grounded for wanting to stay in contact with my mom? She's my mother, not you. No matter how hard- Sahari she gets it" Juno cut off Sahari, completely shocked, disgusted, and angry.

He knew Jayla wasn't "soft" on Sahari like he was, Jayla was raised off of tough love, but the toughness never came before the love she expressed. She didn't deserve to be disrespected like this, especially when she wasn't the one doing wrong.

"Nah let her speak her mind. Her and her mother clearly believe I've been overstepping" Jayla said as she tried to push Juno to the side, but he didn't let her. Instead he sighed as he ran his hand over his face.

"Sahari you're grounded for lying to us for months. You probably weren't even with Cateleya last night now that I'm thinking on it" Juno explained to her.

Sahari's eyes started watering when she realized Juno said her government name. He hadn't called her that since a couple months after they met. She eyed his pained face and eyes, and blinked repeatedly as her vision blurred. "I wasn't" she admitted.

Sahari couldn't bring herself to say anything else and turned back around. When she made it to her room, she slid down on the door and continued to cry.

That was until she heard footsteps, and someone sniffling. "I don't think I deserved that from her or her mother. What the fuck did I do?" "Nothing baby- well it doesn't feel like it" Jayla cried as they walked to their bedroom.

When Sahari heard their door closed, she stopped crying and quickly stood up. She changed out of the pajamas they brought for her at the hospital and put on sweats and a hoodie. She slowly opened her door then put her head out while looking around, seeing the coast was clear. She closed the door back then slowly opened her window.

After a confusing bus ride, she made it to Cateleya's house. She just didn't know if Cateleya was home, and if she was then would she even want to talk to her. She knocked on the door, and looked around, while fidgeting with the ends of her sleeve.

"Our food- is not here. I lied" Ace announced as she looked back and forth from the house to Sahari, blocking Sahari's view of the living room. "Ace?" Sahari questionably asked, "in the flesh, wassup Lil Flo?" Ace smiled, eyeing her "um where's Lee?" "Oh- uh" Ace barely turned around before shrugging. "The shower...?" she replied, then started rubbing her right eyebrow.

Sahari didn't know if that was an indication that Ace didn't know or that she was being sneaky. "Okay well I need to talk to her" Sahari made known, taking a step forward. "I don't think- "move" Sahari cut her off and Ace's face scrunched up. "Yo calm-" she stopped talking when Sahari pushed open the door and walked upstairs. Sahari knew Ace didn't deserve that aggression, but she desperately needed to talk to Cateleya.

But as she walked up to Cateleya's room, she had a horrible feeling in her stomach, and froze before she opened the door. 'Am I prepared to see what she could be doing in here?' Sahari had to ask herself before taking a deep breath and opening it.

When she walked in, Cateleya was facing the wall while putting on a sports bra with her towel hanging off her waist. Mila was sleep in the bed, but was fully clothed. "Why is she in your bed?" Sahari asked, and Cateleya jumped and looked like she was about to reach for something, but stopped herself and turned around.

She tilted her head as she stared at Sahari. "Esperar" she mumbled then went in the restroom to finish getting dressed. When she walked out, she started speaking "it's nothing like that. She's on her period and wanted to take a nap. That's it, that's all. Now what's wrong?" She explained, while putting away her stuff.

"Nothings wrong" Sahari mumbled, while fighting a mental battle on whether to believe Cateleya or not. "Are you sure? You don't look too good" Cateleya asked, while finally sitting on the chair she kept in her room.

"Well..." Sahari started, but couldn't continue as she looked around the room. She didn't want to talk about everything while a stranger that was also her enemy, but didn't know she was her enemy was there. And Sahari didn't need to vocally tell Cateleya that, because she knew just by Sahari's hesitation.

"C'mon" Cateleya mumbled, and Sahari immediately followed behind as they walked to Cateleya's younger brother's empty room. Cateleya sat in his gaming chair, and waited for Sahari to start pacing like she always did when recalling something. And like clockwork she started fidgeting with her fingers, as she paces vertically.

She began telling Cateleya everything that's happened since she walked into her house this morning. Cateleya doesn't interrupt her, but her facial expressions are saying everything for her. When Sahari is finished, Cateleya stands and silently eyes Sahari. This time she notices the bags under her eyes and a hospital bracelet on her right wrist.

"Do you want a hug?" She asked and Sahari nodded, walked to Cateleya and laid her head against Cateleya's ribs. Cateleya felt so warm and smooth to Sahari, the hug almost made her forget that Cateleya was still mad at her. "I'm sorry for making you lie for me" Sahari apologized while looking up.

Cateleya looked down at Sahari and felt so guilty. She was mad that she had to lie for Sahari, but she was also mad that she couldn't tell Sahari about her own secrets and the things she had to do to keep them. Sahari had enough going in her life, she didn't need Cateleya's problems also.

Plus she knew Sahari wouldn't approve, and the last thing she needed right now was judgement.

"Don't focus on that right now, you need some sleep" Cateleya told her, and Sahari poked out her lips for a kiss. Cateleya bent down and pecked her lips, the tip of her nose, then her forehead. She wrapped her arms tightly around Sahari's lower back, and it felt so comforting to Sahari.

After another minute of hugging neither made the first move to pull away. Cateleya actually started to slowly sway, Sahari closed her eyes and clasped her hands together. She didn't want to let Cateleya go, and she hoped Cateleya felt the same way about her.

They stood there embracing each other for a long while. Cateleya rested her head on top of Sahari's and thought about everything, but nothing at the same time. Sahari on the other hand was sleep, the feeling of Cateleya's lower stomach rising and falling made her feel safe.

Safe enough to relax, to decompress, to let herself finally allow her exhaustion take over.

Cateleya noticed the change in Sahari's breathing, but falling asleep while standing would be a new one for Sahari. When Cateleya looked down she lowly called Sahari's name and got neither a verbal nor physical response. Sahari was out cold.

Cateleya chuckled and shook her head. She took a few seconds to decide think how she was gonna handle this. 1st step was to lay Sahari down and she needed to decide if she was gonna just bend down and pick up Sahari but when she tried to, she barely could move from Sahari's tight grip.

So she knew she could only do one thing, and that was to very slowly walk to her brothers bed. Luckily their heights weren't too far off so Sahari could fit.

Cateleya very slowly walked, looking down every step to ensure Sahari was still sleeping. When she made it 2 steps away, the room door opened, startling her and making her fall forward.

"OH- SHHHHHH" Cateleya shush and glared at her best friend who then immediately covered her eyes and slowly tried to back out of the room, she tripped on Cateleya's younger brother's shoe and fell on her butt. The two teenagers silently laughed while covering their faces.

When they calmed down Cateleya asked for help because Sahari was now halfway on the bed, but Cateleya was scared of moving so she needed Ace to help her slide Sahari onto the bed.

Ace helped her and when they knew Sahari was good Cateleya lightly groaned as she stretched. "Damn nigga is your middle name NyQuil?" Ace asked as they walked out of the room. "We ain't do nun..." Cateleya made known, Sahari didn't know but Ace did know about them.

It was hard to explain why seeing Sahari was apart of their daily routine after a while. Especially when track and flag football used to slow down their friendship.

"Aye don't defend yourself to me, I ain't the one with uh killa for a brotha" Ace shook her head at the mess her best friend got herself into. "What she don't know won't get me killed" Cateleya laughed off her actual feelings about the situation. She went in her room, grabbed her phone and called Juno.

He was putting a sleeping Sahari into his car 20 minutes later.

The whole ride home, he just thought about what Sahari said to Jayla and how this was all his fault. If Sahari said something so foul to Jayla, and Jayla's part in this whole thing was so tiny. Juno could only imagine how she would feel or the things she's going to say to him when he tells her the truth about everything.

He had to make sure it was the done in the right timing or he would lose Sahari forever.

💟💟

Hii Lovess. Thank you for all the birthday wishes 🫶🏾 I promise not to drag the reveal of all the secrets till the end of the book this time y'all lol. It's coming 😭🫣 Bye Byee 💛🧡❤️🤎

09/24/2025