Broken Politics

by Janae Keyes

  “It’s Matt.” I declared clearly.

  It seemed like no time had passed when the door swung open. There Kayla was standing in front of me. She was beautiful as always. She stood wearing a grey spaghetti strap shirt with her black bra just peaking out of the top. She didn’t wear pants at all. I could see the black lace of her panties.

  “What the hell!” she said at once covering herself as she realized Ray, Chris, and Paul were there.

  “Can we have a minute?” I said to the three men. “I’m sure I’m safe here.” They all just gave me a nod and backed away. I walked inside of the small apartment and closed the door behind me. “Kayla.” She simply looked at me. I could see the tears in her eyes. I simply pulled her to me and held her close.

  “I’m sorry.” She whispered.

  “It’s alright Baby. There is no need to apologize.” I said simply to her as I rubbed her back. I heard and felt her choke out a sob onto my chest. My heart hurt for the pain we’d caused one another. I could feel my own tears coming. No matter our differences we still loved one another.

  There was about five minutes where the two of us just held one another in mostly silence and a few tears. When that few minutes were over I looked down at her and pressed my lips to hers. I needed her to know that despite anything she may have said to hurt me that I still loved her past it all. I hoped she could feel that through the kiss. I wanted her to feel it. I needed her to feel it.

  Kayla took me by the hand and she sat on her couch. I sat next to her. I looked around her place. It was nice. The walls were painted in a beige color and the curtains were brown with silver designs. There was a bookshelf that was so packed with books it was overflowing onto the floor and the TV-stand. The couch was soft and a dark brown. Her coffee table was actually a large old chest. This place screamed Kayla. It wasn’t over the top, but it was just enough. It was perfect just like her.

  “I’m sorry that I hit below the belt. I’m sorry for the things I said. I was angry and I hate that I went at you in a fit of anger. I was wrong for that.” She apologized. I laced my fingers with hers.

  “It’s fine. These times will happen. What I do isn’t easy and you are so strong-minded. I know that I will piss you off. I know that things will happen. Your passion is so strong and I admire you for it. Sometimes it comes across a little too strong and feelings are hurt on both sides, but it’s obvious that we get past it.” I just stared at at her as I spoke. She gave me a small, soft smile.

  “I know that you don’t quite understand what it’s like to be black in America. You’ve grown up with the privilege of being rich and from a family that is almost American royalty, but you’ve also had the privilege of being white in America. Things work differently for us of color. When you read the Declaration of Independence and you read those famous words: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. They aren’t really referring to all men. Many of these men who signed the declaration owned human beings. These human beings were black. They were not meant to be equal. We are not equal. The system wasn’t created for us. We continue to live on a lower tier. We work hard and make our way to the top, but that still doesn’t stop of from being profiled or being treated as less than. We were eventually set free, but still not to be equal. We made it to having a black President, but he wasn’t equal. When things happen like what happened in Cincinnati happen we are reminded of this. We go on and we pretend as if we are equal, but something happens and we find that we are back to the beginning. The funny thing is as much as we want things to change, there is no way of re-making the system. Things are how they are, but people like you. White people, white people with power can make subtle changes. You can give thoughts and prayers to the family of a little black boy. You can try to not spread ignorance, and simply include us as if we are equal with no strings attached. We can’t go back and change things, but going forward little things matter. That’s all I ask for. Little things. I think that is all black America asks for. It’s the little things that count.” She looked at me as she spoke.

  I could see the truth and the meaning in her eyes. I’d never thought of it this way before. I’d always heard that the system wasn’t created for people of color and I could see where she was coming from. It was the little things. Small gestures made big ones.

  “I know that I can commit to that. Maybe just my gestures can motivate the American people.” I said to her. She gave me a grin. I knew that is all she wanted from me. She wasn’t asking for anything else.

  “I get that the police were doing their jobs. I know that they have an eighth of a second or less to make the decision to use force. It just sucks that so many people of color seem to be the victims. Yes in some instances I can see that the victim shouldn’t have been doing what they were doing in the first place. Maybe their actions could have changed the outcome, but the fact that they died still doesn’t make it okay in my eyes. Here I guess is where we can agree to disagree.” She pondered before flashing me her gorgeous smile.

  “That I guess is where and for now I no longer want to talk about this. I want to just be here with you. I’ve missed you.” I said to her.

  “I missed you too... You are in my apartment and I answered the door nearly naked.” She said with a laugh.

  “Well you didn’t answer my calls. Maybe next time you can answer the door naked.” I said giving her a wink. She laughed out loud before pressing her lips to mine. She pulled herself to where she was straddling my hips. I loved her body on mine. I loved the way she could take control. My hands held at her hips as she continued to kiss me roughly.

  “I’ve missed this.” She whispered against my mouth. “Me and you. We are like fire and ice, hot and cold, deep and shallow, up and down… We are complete opposites, but somehow we find that medium. I can’t explain why or how I fell in love with you, but I did.” I just looked at her as she spoke to me. Every word she said resonated in my soul. She spoke the truth. There was no way that we weren’t not meant to be in this, but here we were two completely opposite people who were simply in love.

  AFTER HEARING KAYLA out I knew what I needed to do not just for Kayla or the family of Demarcus Wilson, but for our nation. I flew to Cincinnati and had a private meeting with the Wilson family. I was able to give them my thoughts and prayers as well as let them know I was deeply sorry for the loss of their 11-year-old son.

  My party was for sure not happy with me. Victor spent most of his time bitching at me about how I was killing my chance for re-election, but I was doing what I knew in my mind was right. I could fix it with the party later on other issues. I knew I was going to have an uphill battle, but in the end I felt like America could thank me.

  The weeks seem to pass quickly. Much quicker than I wanted them to pass because that meant getting closer to three weeks without Kayla. Any chance we got Kayla and I were together. Tonight was no exception. Though I had work to do I was happy that Kayla was around. I sat on the couch going over some documents. I looked up to Kayla who sat curled in an armchair with a book. I watched as one of her curls fell across her face. She wore leggings and an oversized sweater. She also had no makeup on, but she was gorgeous as she sat there lost in another world.

  We’d spent the last night together celebrating my birthday. There was a huge party thrown for me over the weekend and it was great, but not as great as it could have been because I couldn’t spend the party with Kayla. I watched her from across the room all night. I just wanted to hold her and dance with her, but that would cause a stir. Last night Kayla came over with cupcakes from Missy’s and we had our own birthday celebration; it was a million times better than a huge party. Last night it was just the woman I love and myself celebrating in a simple way.

  As much as I should be working I couldn’t help, but watch her. I loved watching her in her element. She was as intelligent as they come a
nd her thirst for knowledge was unyielding and the most attractive thing I could think of.

  She looked up from her book and caught me starring. She simply gave me a smile. When we weren’t debating with one another things were easy and relaxed. I knew that I could love her forever.

  “I can’t believe there are only two days until Christmas.” She squealed in pure delight as she closed her book. “I am so excited for my mom to get here tomorrow.” I watch as her eyes light up. I had a few plans up my sleeve for Christmas, but I knew just having her mom here would be enough for her.

  “What are your plans with her tomorrow?” I asked as I put down the report I had been reading on the terror group The Alliance. They were of course making threats, so far all they had been were threats of violence, but there was no intelligence of an actual attack coming from them anytime in the near future.

  “She gets here in the morning. I’m going to take her to her hotel and we will do a little sightseeing. The last time she was here I had my appendix taken out and she was just here to take care of me and she didn’t get any sightseeing in.” she explained to me.

  “I wish I could come with you.” I commented to her.

  This was one of those times where being in a secret relationship was very difficult because there was no way that I could go out with Kayla and be a normal couple, we would never be a normal couple even when the time came that we were open with our relationship; I was still the President.

  Kayla stood from her spot on the chair. She sat her book down and came over to me. She looked very comfortable in her relaxed outfit. Much more comfortable than I in my slacks, collared shirt, and tie; I had one more late meeting today. She sat herself on my lap and put her arms around my neck.

  “I wish too.” She whispered softly against my lips. I fully pressed my mouth to hers. After a moment she swiftly pulled back. “You have a meeting to get to soon…Mr. President.”

  “The meeting doesn’t start until I get there. I am the President and all.” I hinted before I stood up holding her in my arms. She giggled as I carried her way towards my bedroom.

  Kayla

  I FELT LIKE a kid on Christmas morning as I waited for my mom’s flight to land. I stood in baggage claim just waiting for people from my mom’s flight to arrive. As soon as people started to approach the carousel I knew she was coming soon. I was jittery with excitement. Just then I saw her turn the corner. She looked the same as when I saw her before; milk chocolate skin, dark brown curly hair like mine, and a huge smile spread across her face. I knew she spotted me by the way her smile widened.

  “My Kayla!” she said happily as she reached me. She pulled me into a strong hug, only the type of hug a mother could give.

  “How was your flight?” I asked her.

  “A little bumpy, but good. I’m so happy to finally be here with my baby girl.” She said looking me over it. It had been a year since I’d last seen her. I’d gone home for Christmas and that was the last time.

  “Matt says hi by the way. We’re going to have dinner with him tomorrow.” I gushed to her as I waved to the driver who’d just walked in. Matthew had made sure that my mom and I were taken care of for the whole day. He’d gotten us a car and a driver to take us wherever we wanted to go all day including a very nice lunch at the Four Seasons. He even reserved a room for my mom at the Four Seasons instead of the budget place she’d reserved for herself.

  “Just point out your bags for me ma’am.” The driver announced to my mom.

  My mom deserved to be treated like a queen, but I simply couldn’t afford it writing for MetroGirl. I liked that Matthew felt the need to spoil my mom in the way she deserved. It meant the world to me that he was willing to go out of his way to make my mom feel pampered.

  It’d just started to snow as my mom and I walked along the reflection pool at the Lincoln Memorial. This was going to be our last stop of the day. We’d done so much since she arrived in the morning. I hadn’t seen Matthew and I missed him so much though I was having a great time with my mom. Since college I was used to not seeing her too often, but when I did we were inseparable.

  “So things are going well with you and Matt?” she asked me as we walked. I turned to her and I smiled. I knew that I was beaming.

  “They are going great! It’s all so complicated, but we make it work. We have no choice, but to do so. We love each other too much for it to not work.” I said my voice burning with truth. At this point I couldn’t imagine going on without Matthew and therefore we had to find our common ground and find ways we could make it work.

  “You seem happy. A lot happier than you were with Andrew.” She scoffed referring to my ex-fiance. I had been happy with Andrew, but things were a lot different than they are with Matthew. Andrew thrived on being the dominate personality in the relationship he thrived on taking the role of being the man when I just wanted us to be partners, but he could never see us as equal. My mom never warmed to Andrew, but she tried to keep her opinions to herself when it came to my relationship with him.

  “Did I tell you I saw Andrew?”

  “No when?”

  “Right before Paris. At my friend Julie’s wedding. He told me he missed me, but I told him I was seeing someone.” I said with a shrug thinking back to when Andrew had approached me at Julie’s wedding. It was the last thing I expected to happen and the funny thing was through the last two years I’d thought of him and wondered if it was a mistake that I’d ended things with him, but in that moment there with Matthew I knew ending things with Andrew had been the right thing. “He was a bit flustered after. I guess he didn’t expect that I’d moved on.”

  “Well he’s the one who screwed up. As long as you are happy that’s all that matters anyway.” She gave me a smile. I knew it was true. I felt like I oozed happiness at times.

  CHRISTMAS EVE HAD been great. My mom and I pretty much had a pajama party in her hotel room. We ate junk food and watched Christmas movies on TV. Simone even joined us for part of the evening. It was great to have my mom who besides Simone was my other best friend.

  As much fun as we had on Christmas Eve it was Christmas morning. I led my mom through the White House on a private tour. When we were finished the two of us headed to the residence where I knew Matthew was waiting. I opened the door and allowed my mom to walk inside ahead of me. I followed her in and there was Matthew giving the two of us a grin. I could tell he was in relaxed mode for sure. He wore a pair of khaki pants with a red collared shirt and evergreen pullover sweater. I walked to him quickly and he pulled me close giving me a strong kiss.

  “Merry Christmas Baby.” He whispered against my lips.

  “Merry Christmas.” I whispered back.

  He let go of me and gave my mom a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

  “Merry Christmas Ms. Johnson.” He said sweetly to my mom.

  “Merry Christmas Matthew.” She said to him, as she seemed to take in the room. My mom was already over the moon to be in the White House, but to be in the actual residence of the President was another thing. I knew what she was feeling because I felt it my first couple times in here, but now it had become my home away from home. Nowadays I was rarely in my apartment. I spent all my free time here at the White House and I slept here most nights.

  “The chef is cooking us up a fantastic meal, but until then I have wine and a few snacks.” Matthew noted. I looked to see all the goodies on the coffee table along with wine and three glasses.

  “Wine yes… Snacks maybe not. Mom and I snacked a ton last night.” I said thinking about all the snacks we gorged on in our pajama party.

  “So you ladies had a great time?” Matthew questioned as he started to pour all of us a glass. I took a glance at the bottle to see that it was a merlot.

  “A great time. Thank you so much Matthew for everything.” My mom said to him. I knew she was grateful for all he’d done for her and us this trip and I was too.

  “You are more than welcome. Anything for my girl and her mom.” He sa
id as he handed my mom a glass of wine before handing me one.

  My mom sat down in my favorite armchair across from the couch. I sat with Matthew on the couch and leaned into his arms. This was the perfect Christmas already. This day didn’t need anything more.

  “Your parents aren’t coming?” My mom questioned.

  “No, not this year. We spent last year back home in Connecticut, but this year they decided that Christmas was to be spent at their vacation home in Anguilla. I figured I’d stay in DC.” Matthew explained. I was glad he stayed around.

  This was our first Christmas together. I thought back to the spring when he and I met for the first time. He’d surprised me by being nothing like I’d anticipated him to be. I figured he was like the rest of them and sometimes he could be, but through that I saw his heart.

  Everyone, especially in this town, had their own ideas about what was really in someone’s heart and I know I had plenty of ideas about Matthew’s and I was wrong. I got to know him and see him for who he really was. He was kind, caring, sweet, dedicated, hardworking, and motivated. I never expected that and was glad I was able to see it. He changed my perspective of conservatives and the Republican Party and I’m sure I changed his mind when it came to us liberals. We were all human beings who just wanted the best. Our ideas of the best might differ, but somewhere there was common ground. That common ground for Matthew and I was the love we found for one another.

  “Maybe while we wait for dinner we can open a few gifts.” Matthew said as he nodded over to the beautiful Christmas tree that was in the corner.

  My mom picked up the gift bag she’s brought with her and walked over to Matthew and handed it to him.

  “It isn’t much.” She announced. Matthew pulled out the red and white tissue paper before pulling out a crimson and white scarf. “I made it, Kayla said you were a Harvard man so I thought Harvard colors would be appropriate.” She said giving him a smile. Matthew beamed up at her. He quickly stood and gave her a huge hug.