“Yeah bruh, the shit had me bugging. At first, I thought I was hearing things, but she repeated it. I can’t believe that I didn’t recognize her. It’s been years, but still,” I said, explaining how I found out who Misty really was. I’d never told anyone but Fu about the shit that Rod and I had done fourteen years ago. I tried to put it behind me, and I prayed that they were okay, but my prayers weren’t answered.

After that shit happened, I didn’t even talk to Rod’s ass anymore, and it helped that he was in and out of Juvie. It seemed like every time I finally tried to get over it, it would haunt me again. Images of Mrs. Blue on the ground played out in my mind and tortured me. Misty’s cries when Rod was assaulting her deafened my ears, and deep down inside, I never really forgave myself for not helping her. I called myself getting out of the game and going legit, all to prove that I was a good person, and now the shit was smacking me in the face.

My mind was all over the place wondering if I was the cause of Misty’s unfortunate situation. She hadn’t told me much, but was I the reason that she was homeless? Was her mom alive? Now I needed answers, or I would go fucking crazy.

“Bruh, did you hear me?” Fu said, looking in my face.

“Oh, what? What did you say?”

“I said keep that shit to yourself. Not forever, but now is not the right time to tell her. She’s trying to get herself together and don’t need shit else knocking her back down.”

“Yeah bro, I feel you on that. I’ma give it some time. It’s just so crazy that she doesn’t remember me or who I am. She said she doesn’t remember much from her childhood, but it just seems kind of odd, you know?”

“Yeah man. Who the hell forgets a name like Jahfar? Yo’ mama was straight clowning when she named you that shit bro. But in the meantime, try to stay clear of her,” he suggested with a chuckle.

“You out of your mind. Jahfar is way better than Fuquan. Yo’ mama had to make your name match your daddy’s. Floyd and Fuquan.” Now I was cracking it up.

“Yeah, hold my nutz nigga. And make sure you don’t go falling in love with that girl,” he warned.

“I don’t know about all that. It’s something about her that makes me want to get to know her better, build a friendship, and maybe even something more.”

“Nigga, that’s guilt talking. You think being her savior will right your wrongs, but that girl is broken and needs to heal on her own. Ain’t nothing wrong with being nice, but you can’t get too hung up on this shit. She’s damaged, and she might damage you.”

I thought about the advice that he was giving me and some of it I agreed with, but the damaged part I didn’t. Yeah, she had her flaws like we all did, but damaged usually meant beyond repair, and that wasn’t a label I would have put on her or anyone. Rod, Fu, and I were the only people who knew what happened that night. Rod, of course, because he was there, but Fu simply because he was my right-hand man and I could trust him.

He and I sat outside of Kayla’s spot when I saw who I now knew to be Misty rushing in from work. She wore a Starbucks smock and her ass was sitting right in the khaki pants that she wore. She held a bunch of papers in her hand too.

“Go in there and speak to her nigga. You know you want to,” Fu joked.

He was right. My plan was to avoid her as much as possible, but she intrigued me and part of me thought helping her was what I needed to do.

I got to her just as she was plopping down in a chair. She looked worn out.

“Long day?” I said, startling her.

“You scared me,” she said in a high-pitched laugh. “But yeah, today was long as hell. Someone called in sick, so my nine to three turned into a nine to six, but I won’t complain. What are you doing here?”

“Well, I actually came to apologize about the way I acted the other night. I had just gotten a bad text and kind of overreacted.”

“Is everything okay?” She sounded genuinely concerned.

“Yeah, it was about work. It had nothing to do with you,” I lied.

“Ohhh ok, it’s cool. I enjoyed dinner, but I get the feeling that Ava is not too fond of me.”

“Well, Ava is Ava. She is definitely her mother’s daughter. I apologize for her as well.”

“Don’t worry about it. But before you go, I have something for you. I wanted to give it to you on Christmas but couldn’t.”

She went into a bag that was in the closet and pulled out a little box.

“It isn’t much, but it’s a token of my gratitude.”

I opened the little box and there sat some kind of stone.

“It’s a Chrysocolla Crystal. It is a stone of prosperity, acuteness, and intuitive abilities. When I was little, I was really into crystals for healing and positive energy, but now I only have one from back then,” she said, holding the necklace that was around her neck. Attached to it was a reflective type of stone.

“What does that one mean?” I asked.

“This is a moon stone, one of my favorites. It is a protective stone that offers healing and sacred feminine energy.”

“Ooh, well thank you. This is a very deep gift. I’ve never had someone put so much thought into something for me,” I said, embracing her for a hug.

The shit was crazy because just holding her, I felt a magnetic energy flow through me. Her touch was so delicate, yet so powerful that I didn’t want to let go. I hadn’t felt a thing for a female in years and was just with KoKo to pass the time, but I was feeling this one.