by Lucinda John
“Girl, fuck Jerecho bitch ass; he is the least of my worries.” she spat.
Jerecho, my boyfriend and child’s father, and I have been together for seven years now. Naria wasn’t a big fan of our relationship since he was controlling, a cheater, and had a problem with keeping his hands to himself. Naria was so over me and Jerecho that in her mind, he didn’t exist. Being my best friend since kindergarten, I know she wanted me to leave him, but that was easier said than done. That is why she tried her best to keep her mouth shut when it came to him.
“I know you ain’t worried about him, but I am.” I stressed.
“If you would just leave his good for nothing ass, then you would have no reason to be worried.” she shot back with the roll of her eyes.
“Let’s not do this tonight.”
“Let’s not; I’m trying to turn up and enjoy our time together.” she replied, before waltzing off to the bathroom.
Picking up my phone, I sat on the bed and stared at the family picture of me, Jerecho, and Tyreek that was displayed as my lock screen. I couldn’t deny the love I had for him; I still got those butterflies and anticipated being around him despite his ugly ways.
“I’m ready to turn the fuck up!” Jordynn, Naria’s, cousin yelled, as she walked in the room. “You look cute.” She smirked, checking me out from head to toe. “I’m surprised your master let you out.” She chuckled.
“Shut the fuck up.” I snapped.
“Ohhh, I hit a nerve.” She smiled, licking her front teeth.
For some reason, Jordynn and I couldn’t get along. Every time she would come down to Naria’s house for summer vacations, we would bump heads. For starters, she just turned nineteen, had a baby, and was still childish as fuck. She called herself moving down here for school, but I doubt she even enrolled in any classes yet.
“Nah, lil’ mama, you ain’t hit shit. Take yo ass home and play with your child, because I ain’t the one.” I snapped.
“Dang, my bad. I was just fucking with you. You always gotta be so serious.” She waved me off.
Reaching into her purse, she pulled out a black lipstick and applied it to her lips. Jordynn was a pretty, light bright girl with a small frame. She often thought she was popping, because she was what Fetti Wap considered “slim thick”, but little did she know the real thick girls were winning.
Leaving nothing to the imagination, Jordynn wore a pair of shorts that rode up her ass like a thong and a crop top that showed the sides and bottom of her breast, with a pair of heeled boots. Her curly lace frontal was laid and pulled into a high ponytail with a few strands of hair purposely left out on the sides. Jordynn had the capabilities of being a baddie, but the way she carried herself took away from her looks. She thought wearing little clothing was sexy, and it was real sad.
“Uh-uh, bitch where is your clothes?” Naria asked, walking out of the bathroom dressed in a black, fitted, knee-length dress with a mesh front.
“On my body.” Jordynn replied, making her ass clap in the mirror. “I’m ready to twerk some shit, and you wanna sit here and lecture me about my clothes like you my mama. Hell, if I wanted to hear her aggy ass voice, I’d still be in Orlando with her.” She sucked her teeth.
“See, you ain’t about to fuck up my night so bring your thot ass on and let’s go.” Naria said, as she ran her fingers through her long, straight hair that rested perfectly at the tip of her ass.
“You ain’t said shit; I been ready to go.” Jordynn said leading the way.
We piled in Naria’s 2015 metallic gray Mustang and headed to our destination with the top dropped. Beyonce’s, “Sorry” blasted through Naria’s speakers as we breezed down I-95 with a blunt in rotation and our middle fingers in the air. Naria avoided eye contact with me as she pulled into Club Fate. I specifically told her I’d do dinner at a hip-hop bar, but a night club wasn’t a part of the agreement.
“Chill, Ty, and enjoy yourself.” She said before I could chew her head off.
“I’m not tryna be in no club, Naria.” I fussed.
“Girl, that nigga got yo head so far gone that you scared to sneeze too loud.” Jordynn sucked her teeth.
“Stay your slutty ass back there, looking like you about to go in here and find you a pimp.” I shot at her.
“Y’all chill. We already here, so we minus well stay. Ty, just chill out and have some fun. You deserve it.” Naria said with pleading eyes.
“Man, ok.” I gave in. Taking a final pull of the blunt, we got out the car and headed towards the entrance.
***
“Ayyy, this my motherfucking song!” Jordynn shouted, popping her ass the moment we walked through the doors.
Drake, “For Free” vibrated off the club walls as we made our way to our VIP section. The deeper I walked in, the more I prayed that I didn’t run into any of Jerecho’s friends. I was able to breathe out a sigh of relief as we took a seat at our table which was located at the back of the club.
“Ohhhh, we gotta fuck it up one time.” Naria said, as Kodak Black’s hot single “Skrilla” blasted through the speakers.
Naria was on the floor doing the Kodak Bop. Taking a shot of Hennessey, I decided to let loose and joined her. Three shots later, I was feeling myself and even started twerking when Trick Daddy’s “J.O.D.D.” played. The more I drank, the more I let loose and started enjoying myself. I allowed Naria to talk me into heading out to the dancefloor where I let loose and danced with a few guys.
***
“Oh my gosh; he’s calling again.” I giggled as I threw my phone.
“Ty, you tripping.” Naria said, picking up my phone. “You want to sleep off the liquor at my house?” She asked.
“Nah, take me home. I want some dick.” I blushed, thinking of all the nasty things I wanted to do to Jerecho.
“Are you sure?” She asked.
“Girl, bring me home to my man.” I slurred.
When we made it to the front of my apartment complex, Naria got out the car to walk me to the door. I snickered at Jordynn, who was in the back seat knocked out cold. I was able to capture a few disturbing pictures and videos of her throwing up that I was going to enjoy posting on all my social media accounts.
“Give me your key.” Naria said, holding her hand out.
“It’s in my bag.” I replied, dropping my Tory Burch clutch on the floor.
“Ugh, I ain’t fucking with your ass no mo, I swear. You can’t hold no type of liquor!” Naria vented, as she fished through my clutch for the keys.
The jiggling of the keys caused me to burst into a fit of laughter, as I watched Naria try her best to hold me up while unlocking the door at the same time. A cool mist of fresh air invaded my nostrils as she navigated me through my dark apartment. Since she was a regular at my place, she was able to locate my peanut butter colored sectional without turning the light on.
“You good?” She asked, once I was laying on the couch.
“Yes, I’m fine. Where is Jerecho?” I asked.
“He probably in the room sleep; get you some rest. I’ll call you later.” She said, placing a fleece blanket over me before leaving.
“What about Tyreek?” I asked.
“You know my mama don’t mind keeping him. Tyreek is the closest thing to a grandson she’ll ever get cuz I ain’t popping out no babies.” She chuckled.
“Mm, that’s what you say.” I lazily replied.
“Girl, bye! I’ll lock up behind myself.” She waved me off.
Just as I was getting off the couch, I felt a strong urge to throw up. Running towards the bathroom, I pushed open the door and made it to the toilette in the nick of time. The moment I threw up my whole insides, I started to sober up a bit. Lifting my body off the floor, I headed towards the sink and grabbed a handful of cold water to splash over my face. Grabbing my toothbrush, I quickly handled my hygiene before making my way to Jerecho.
WHAM!
“Ouch!” I yelled as I held my mouth.
“Where the fuck you been?�
�� Jerecho asked, looking at me with his piercing green eyes.
Jerecho, my man who normally looked so sexy, was now looking rough. His sandy brown hair courtesy of him being mixed was all over his head. His beard was in dying need of a trim. His bright honey-colored, chiseled chest was bare, only displaying the tattoos he had of me, and Tyreek’s name, along with a few pieces of art.
“You don’t hear me talking to your ass!”
Standing at 5’9, Jerecho towered over me, while looking down as if he was trying to murder me with his eyes. He wasn’t a big guy, but he was in shape. He had a nice six-pack going for himself, with toned arms and legs. He often reminded me of an older version of Robert Richard.
“I was out with Naria; I told you that.” I cried, holding onto my now busted lip.
“Where the fuck did you tell me y’all was going?” He questioned.
“Out to dinner?”
“So how your ass end up shaking your ass in a club? Coming in the house four in the fucking morning all drunk and shit! What the fuck is wrong with you?!” He yelled, hemming me up to the wall.
WHAP!
He slapped me hard, causing me to fall to the floor.
“Where the fuck is my son, Tyreema?!” He asked, with malice dancing in his eyes. His face was now red with anger, causing an ounce of fear to run through my spine.
“He’s with Naria’s mom?”
“I swear, you asking for me to fuck you up! Since when was it ok for my son to sleep away from home! Dawg, I swear yo ass slow or some shit!” He spat, bending down to slap me a few more times. “I know what it is; it’s this long hair. You think you sexy and shit because you got hair down your back? Huh?!” He yelled.
“No.” I cried.
“Yes, it’s this fucking hair. Look how your ass dressed! You out here feeling yourself.” He chuckled, walking away from me and into the bathroom. “I’m about to nip all this shit in the bud.” He said, walking over to me with scissors in his hand.
“Nooooo!!!!” I yelled, trying my best to run towards the door.
Wham!
He slapped me hard to the ground.
“Nooo, please stop.” I screamed, kicking my legs wildly.
“Stay still before I lose my mind and stab your hoe ass!” He snapped.
“Baby, I’m sorry. I won’t go out anymore. Don’t do this, please.” I sobbed.
“Shut the fuck up! Hair is lustful. All this long ass hair got these nigga around here gassing your head up and shit.” He spat. “You think somebody gonna want your ass after you done pushed my baby out of your pussy? Don’t nobody want a tainted bitch that done already gave birth and shit.”
“There is no nigga gassing my head up, I swear.”
“So who the fuck that nigga was you was practically fucking on the dance floor?” He quizzed.
“We were just dancing.” I pleaded.
“Fuck all this shit.” He said, flipping me over on my stomach.
Jerecho held me down as if he was an officer putting me under arrest. Twisting my hand behind my back, he held me tightly in place as he chopped off my natural hair. I wailed uncontrollably as the sharp sounds of the scissors echoed through my ear. All my long hair that I inherited from my mother was being chopped off because my over jealous boyfriend was intimidated by my beauty.
The sounds of the scissors chopping off my hair stopped. He stood up and looked down at me as if I was scum on the bottom of his shoe. Just as he was going to pull his fist back and punch me, his phone started to ring.
“I want my son home when I come back home, or I’m fucking your ass up. I let your ass go out, and this how you repay me? Fuck that shit. From now on, you ain’t leaving this house without my approval.” He said, dropping the scissors on the floor next to me and stepping over my body.
I laid on the floor staring at the ceiling wondering how shit between Jerecho and I got so bad. When I met him at the age of sixteen, it was love at first sight. At least, for me, it was. I was the typical good girl, and he was the terrorist of the school. Jerecho was known around the school for getting into trouble. In fact, he never stayed in school for a full week without getting suspended.
When my parents found out about me dating him, they did everything in their power to keep us separated but to no avail. When I graduated high school and decided not to pursue a college degree, it enraged my parents. Since I no longer wished to further my education, they basically threw me out and told me to fend for myself.
Since then, Jerecho had been by my side giving me the royal treatment. Jerecho provided me with my first apartment and even allowed me to chill out at home while he brought home the bacon. He took such great care of me that I was too naïve to see the control he was slowly taking over my life.
When I gave birth to Tyreek three years ago, that was when things went downhill. In his mind, since I gave him his first offspring, I was officially his. The hoes he was so securely hiding, slowly started surfacing. Bitches started getting bold enough to confront me over him, and he would just shrug it off. It wasn’t until I threatened to take Tyreek and leave him that he started putting hands on me.
Honestly, I didn’t love Jerecho any less; I just hated his ways. When things between Jerecho and I were good, he had the ability to have me feeling as if I was floating on cloud nine, but then, he would flip out on me for small things. If guys looked at me too long, then I get treated with a swift slap to the face for encouraging the guys to look.
With a face filled with tears, I reached down and picked up my hair off the floor. The fact that I was too embarrassed to tell anyone about the abuse had me left with no one to talk to. Naria knew of Jerecho’s hoeish ways, but if she ever found out he was hitting me, she would personally end our relationship with a bullet to his head.
Walking to the bathroom, I dropped all of my beautiful hair in the toilette and washed in agony as I flushed it. Walking over to the since, I examined the damage that was done to my once beautiful mane. Thanks to Jerecho, I had a choppy cut that reached my shoulder blade.
Grabbing the scissors and a few rubber bands, I decided to cut the rest of my hair into a blunt bob. In the morning, I could flat-iron it, and make it look nice, then convince Naria that this was a new cut I was dying to try.
As I stared back at my reflection, I couldn’t understand how someone who claimed they loved you could treat you so bad. My now pretty, brown skin that glowed without bronzer was dull. My once big doe eyes that held a sparkle of it’s on, looked lost. I hated myself for loving someone like Jerecho. I even hated myself more because the thought of leaving him made me cringe. Not only did I love him with all my heart, but I was also afraid of him. I mean, how could I leave him? He was the father of my child… the only real family I’d ever known.
***
“Hello?” I answered my ringing phone, as I tried my best to perfect my new blunt bob.
“I’m coming home in an hour, and my son better be there, too.” Jerecho snapped, before hanging up in my face.
The nerve of this nigga? I thought, as I stared at my wallpaper. He hadn’t been home all night, but had the nerves to call me on some crazy shit. Grabbing the Argon Oil, I rubbed some in the palm of my hands and smoothed it over my new haircut. Although I was still salty over Jerecho chopping my hair off, I couldn’t help but admire how the new due made my eyes pop. The sharp edge cut gave me a more sophisticated look that I was digging.
Walking over to my vanity, I expected my face before applying foundation to my skin. I didn’t want to alarm Naria’s mom by showing up to her house with bruises on my face, therefore, I had no choice but to beat my face as if I was actually going somewhere. Once I was ready, with any traces of abuse erased, I grabbed my bag and keys then headed out.
~~~~~~
“Oh my God, Ty, whyyyyyyyyy?!” Naria’s mom, Chelly, exclaimed with her hands over her mouth.
“You don’t like it?” I shyly asked, running my fingers through my now short hair.
“I love this look
on you, but you didn’t chop off all your hair! My God! You had some beautiful hair.” She replied.
“I know, but it was getting hard to manage, so I decided to cut it. I’ve been battling with this decision for a while.” I spoke.
“All that gorgeous hair?” She shook her head.
“How was Jerecho?” I asked, changing the subject.
“He was a good baby for me; he always is. He back there taking a nap. Would you like to come in and sit until he finished? I made some lunch.”
“Actually, Jerecho is taking us out, and I have to head home to get him dressed.” I lied.
