Braelyn Mariah Taylor. February 1st, 2002. The day I was born. Now here I am, eighteen years old, graduating high school. I won't lie, I'm proud of myself.
My alarm went off at 6:30 AM. Graduation day. I lifted the covers quietly, trying not to wake Kyrie. Grabbed my phone, silenced the alarm.
Got up, headed to the bathroom, stripping my clothes off. Stepped into the shower.
"Brae, where you at?" Kyrie mumbled, half-asleep.
"In the shower. Bout to come out in a few."
"Alright." His sleepy voice. I finished the shower, threw on my all-black Nike jumpsuit. Brushing my teeth, washing my face, I looked at myself in the mirror. I made it. Almost. College… if I even decide to go.
I'm almost finished. My dreams won't be complete until I graduate college if I decide to go.
"Bae, you straight?" Kyrie knocked me out of my thoughts, coming up behind me, hugging me, kissing my neck.
"Congratulations, shawty. I'm proud of you, for real." He looked at me through the mirror.
"Thank you, Ky." I kissed his cheek.
"Alright now, get your ass to your mama’s house before she starts calling me saying I’m holding you hostage. Give me a kiss first."
He turned me around, kissed me on the lips.
"Alright, go Braelyn. Leave my ticket on the counter." He yelled as I walked out, grabbing my pink duffel bag and car keys off the counter.
I got in the car, throwing my bag in the backseat. "Oh my god, I don't want to leave him." I threw my head back on the seat.
"Deep breath, Brae. You got this." I mumbled to myself.
I Bluetooth my phone to the car and played some Rylo Rodriguez. He's all I listen to now, hanging around Ky too much. If it ain't Rylo, it’s YB.
It took forty-five minutes to get to my mom’s house since she lived all the way across town from Kyrie’s apartment.
I pulled in, seeing cars already here. Oh god, here we go. I took my keys out of the engine, grabbed my bags, closed the door.
Walked into the house, full of guests smiling at me. My mom rushed over, greeting me.
"There's my sweet baby Braelyn! Heyyyyy baby!" She yelled, giving me kisses all over my face.
I rolled my eyes. "Hey, Mama." She does this shit all the time, but I secretly love it. Means I’m her favorite child.
My Grandma Ann spoke. "Hey Brae, I got you some money." She smiled at me.
I walked over and gave her a hug. "Hey, Grandma, how you doing?"
"I'm making it, baby." She said weakly.
Sometimes I catch myself tearing up talking to her. She’s getting sick, and I don’t want her to leave me yet.
After talking to my grandma, I went upstairs, heading to my room until my sister Aya bumped into me.
"Damn bitch, watch out."
"Girl, fuck you. You got a diploma and don't know how to act."
"Girl, what? You mad 'cause you ain't graduate high school because you wanted to be fast in the ass and have a baby? You coulda kept going just like anybody else."
Dumb bitch.
"Bitch, wtf you said?" She turned around.
"You heard what the fuck I said. And what you gonna do about it?"
She reached out trying to swing. I punched her right in her shit, making her fall back on the floor.
I ain't gonna lie, we was going toe to toe. She got a few lil licks in, but for some reason I tend to win these little petty fights we have.
I promise Aya’s gonna learn to stop fucking with me one way or another.
This is exactly why I be at Kyrie’s house. Shit like this. Aya never really liked me ever since I was born. It’s like she envies me. I’m always nice to her. She does shit like this to get under my skin when all I want is a bond with my sister.
Here I am fighting on a special day of mine. My mom ran up the steps, pulling us apart.
"I HATE THIS BITCH!" Aya yelled.
"And I hate the fact you don't know who your babydaddy is, hoe." I said throwing her shoe off the floor at her head but missed.
Dammit.
"Y'ALL STOP! I'm tired of this shit. Y'all are sisters, so act like it. There's guests downstairs, and y'all up here showing y'all ass!" My mom yelled.
Aya snatched her arm from my mom’s grip. "Get yo hands off me. I’m grown, I can handle myself." She slammed the door.
"So you gonna let her talk to you like that in your house, Ma? You act like you scared of her. Kick her out the house."
I looked at her like she was crazy. Aya stays disrespecting her in her own house that she pays bills for.
"Then what about Rylee? Where my grandbaby gonna stay, Braelyn?" She tilted her head.
"She can stay here. Just kick Aya out. She don’t even be having Rylee half of the time. If you don't do nothing, I’m moving out for good."
I walked to my room, fighting my tears. I hate shit gotta be this way.
I miss my daddy so much. I can't wait to see him today. I should’ve stayed with him anyway.
I'm his only child. Things would’ve been so much better.
When shit like this goes down, I call Kyrie. I can count on him for anything.
Literally my whole heart. We been together since eighth grade, truth be told. We started off as best friends 'cause I was so young at the time, and he was two years older than me.
But eventually, he asked me out my tenth grade year. Even though I don't agree with him dropping out, he was so close to graduating. Of course, I didn’t judge him.
I accept the fact he wanted a better way of living, and of course more money.
These past years with him been nothing but the best. I always felt that Ky was my soulmate.
He was my first everything. He always made sure I was safe. I pressed his contact on my phone waiting on him to pick up.
"Braelyn, what's wrong? You good?"
"No."
"We got into it again." I cried on the phone.
"Listen, Braelyn. When I get done making this play, I'm headed your way. Pack your bags. After your graduation, you're coming with me, alright? I love you. Never forget that. Stop that crybaby shit." Kyrie said.
I smiled, feeling so much better. "Okay, hurry up. I don't want to be late. I love you too." I hung up.
Ending of graduation ceremony
I walked across the grass towards the bleachers, seeing my man looking all good with some flowers and a card, smiling at me, showing all his golds in his mouth.
"Awww, Kyrie. Thank you. I love you." I blushed hard.
"You already know I had to get you a lil somethin’. But that's not the only thing I got you." He winked at me.
"Boy, whatever. Come on." I grabbed his hand, walking over to my family.
Everybody was here except Aya, which I didn’t care for anyway. But at the same time, I did 'cause she's my only sister and, of course, I love her.
But on the bright side, I see my niece. She ran up to me.
"Hey, Auntie, you look so pretty." She looked up at me, cheesing.
"Hey, baby. I missed you so much." I hugged her tight. Letting go of Rylee, I seen my mom and dad standing talking.
I walked over to my mom and dad, raising my eyebrows. "Hey, lovebirds."
"Oh girl, whatever. Don't nobody want your dad." She rolled her eyes.
"Okay 'cause who even said you did?" I mugged her, hugging my dad.
"She just be hating, babygirl." He said digging into his wallet, handing me $1500.
"Here. Thank you for making me proud, baby girl. And oh, stop by my house when you get a chance. Me and Tasha got some gifts for you in your room."
He hugged me, turning his attention to Kyrie. "Even tho I'm not a big fan of you, thank you for being there for my child… well, my big baby now."
I rolled my eyes.
Kyrie nodded his head at my dad. I already knew he wasn’t in the mood for my dad’s bullshit.
"Aight Braelyn, gon head and spend some time with your family. I'll be in the car waiting on you." He said walking backwards.
I instantly got sad a little. It's like he never wanna spend time talking to my family.
"Okay, I'll be at the car in 5mins."
Later that night, 11:53 PM
"Okay bye y'all. I love you." I yelled at my mama and niece, getting inside Kyrie’s car.
"Damn chattermouth, it's getting late as hell."
"I mean I'm at my mama’s house with all these people. What you expect?" I rolled my eyes, getting annoyed.
He so distant around my family. When my family fucks with him and accepts his presence, especially my grandma Ann.
"Aight bra, shut up talking." He turned the music up.
I turned the music back down.
"Don't fucking play with me, Kyrie." I stared at him for a good five minutes before snatching my phone off the backseat.
His ass ignored me and turned into this same corner store.
"Aye, I'm finna hop out real quick, get this gun and put it in your lap and lock the doors. Do you hear me?" I knew something was bout to go down.
With him, you gotta be prepared for whatever.
I nodded my head. He went in the store for 15mins and came out.
I kept seeing this black car riding past twice up and down the street, causing me to become nervous.
"You good?" He said looking at me.
"Yes Kyrie can we go-." Everything went black, hearing gunshots aiming at the store and his car.
I opened my eyes seeing Kyrie speeding off from the store.
One hand was on the steering wheel while the other was holding my hand causing me to feel more relief.
This wasn't the first time this happened to us before. I'm used to it.
It's just I don't know want to lose him to this shit.
I got so much planned, and my biggest fear is losing him. I will be devastated.
"It's okay Braelyn, I got you." He said holding my hand giving a kiss.
"We almost home."