After Mother Died, the Don Followed Her
Tonight Daddy said he was going out with Auntie Benita, and Mommy didn’t fight him about it.
She had a handkerchief balled up in her hand, soaked through with the blood she kept coughing up.
I knew Mommy was going to heaven soon.
That was how Grandpa told me it would be, back when Grandma coughed up blood like this.
Daddy looked at Mommy, narrowed his eyes, and his voice went cold.
“Isa needs a whole family. A smart woman learns to look the other way.”
Mommy didn’t shield me and argue back the way she used to.
She just said, softly, “Fine. I’ll charge by the visit. Every night you spend with her is one million.”
Daddy laughed and wired her the money.
After that night, Daddy went out a lot, and every time, Mommy reminded him to send the money.
Mommy got so thin that her cheeks caved in, but her eyes were still bright.
She took me lots of places, introduced me to lots of people, and made me write my own name over and over.
She said she was going to leave everything to me.
I held her tight.
“I don’t want your things, Mommy. I just want you.”