The Decks and the Road
book 1- Freeborn
Chapter 4
Dr. Kat Shepherd- I got the
text from my sister late on a Friday night.
We hadn’t spoken much in recent months.
We always seemed to go a distance between calls. It wasn’t because I led a busy life, but
because we led such different lives. She
was older, and my progress had become offensive to her. I wanted her to do better. We all wanted her to do better, but something
great pulled her to see her life in a simplistic way. Anyway, the text was simple. It read, “You’re going to meet someone. Put aside everything you think you know.” I didn’t respond. She never needed my feedback, and besides, it
got me all in my veins. I was
useless. Almost instantaneously hope raised
its head. That was the thing about hope—
it’s light-hearted that way. Naturally,
my mind wandered, but not too far. My heart
wasn’t as light-hearted, and I didn’t let it go off all alone. I kept my heart close to me. It was the thing I didn’t recommend, but it
worked for me. Besides, I was somewhat
distracted by my newest assignment. It
had been in limbo for more than a year. I’d only gotten two names, and I was waiting
for the third. Everything always began
with three names. I could feel something
telling me this time it would be a little different, but I didn’t know if I
could trust it. After all, since the
beginning, it had always been done this way.
These changes kept me on my toes; kept me asking questions and waiting
for answers, but it was all the more exciting.
I kept thinking about the card I’d been prompted to leave behind at this
major party I attended just over two years ago now. It was an unlikely invite. Mr. Simpleton had passed on his invite to me plus one. I was dating
Richard at the time. I thought we would
stick out, but our attire hid us well. I
gave away a few cards that night, but I only left one purple card behind. The nudge and the invite together made me
think something powerful would come of it, but up until now, it hadn’t found its
way back to me.
Chapter 5
Kayla- I wasn’t
sure if I would get a call, or if I would just hear about it in some off-beat
way, but the call came. I had stayed
away from the issue. It represented
three elephants that I didn’t feel big enough to confront all at once. When I heard Taye’s voice it took me back to
the place and time of our last conversation.
Now given the circumstances, it meant nothing. His voice was stern, and I couldn’t figure
out if he was angry or just grieving. I
also didn’t know if he knew who I was.
It seemed obvious, but it remained unspoken. I appreciated the call, and I extended my
sympathies. I did ask how Kaylin was
holding up. His answer startled me, “Like
a giant.” I thought about his answer for
days. It was quite the spade; pointed
and piercing. It felt as though it was
asking me to see myself smaller, but I couldn’t. I’d fought too hard for the height I had, but
I did take note of Kaylin’s height. I
was happy to know she could handle it, and I hoped it was her height he was
looking at and not a wall she built. I
thought a lot about her, and I wanted to help, but I wasn’t sure I was
conditioned to help. After all, I’d
never confronted my father, and had never made peace with my mother. What did I really have to offer that anyone
else couldn’t? Instead, I thought, “If
Nora was right, it will be revealed.”
Chapter 6
Jennifer- I left as
Camie. I returned as Jennifer. It felt good to be back, but I was not happy
about the road that had led me back. It
was a hurtful road. Yes, there had been
joyful stretches, but those last few miles, I didn’t enjoy. Nevertheless, I was more bountiful than when
I’d left Miami. Lily and Hannah were
both treasures to me, but the latch to my chest remained broken for a while. Hannah was a little distant at first. Perhaps she thought she’d caused it all. I was sure to tell her different, but I
understood time would be needed. Anyway,
I didn’t let my pain get in the way of the beauty I could see in front of
me. I’d always known how to hold a
picture in mind, and so I did. I wasn’t
sure if it was working, but then Derek called to let me know he’d come. I knew I wasn’t ready, but the last time I
wasn’t ready, something magical happened.
So, I carried on, but we talked.
In fact, there was a lot of this happening. I’d begun speaking with my mother who had been
in prison since I was fourteen. I don’t
know why but my soul resurrected her. It
was tough to admit, but I’d almost forgotten about her. I think it was the grace I’d received that
opened my eyes up to her. We’d tried to
speak on the phone at first, but there were so many dead ends, and we couldn’t
seem to get anywhere. So, I began to
write her. I was surprised at how we’d
both began to blossom. At first, I just
thought to reach out to her. I had no
expectations, but she spoke to me as if she knew me. I mean I guess she remembered me. I remember her too, but not like she does
me. Funny, sometimes I think she has a
pretty good handle on more than the past.
And she’s funny. That I certainly
don’t remember. I guess my grandmother
was always more up front, but it’s been a joy to know that she was always paying
attention. I thought she would be
certain to ask me why I’d never even visited her, but she continues to pass on
that card. The only time her voice ever
seemed to change was when I mentioned my sister, and she found ways to let me
know, to keep the focus on us— that was in the beginning; when I was trying to
find my way around the conversation.
Now, I’m happy to keep the focus on us.
Freeborn, a novel
Freeborn
© Grace Call Communications,
LLC
Copyright © 2017
by Natisha Renee Williams
All
rights reserved
Comments
Post a Comment