Chapter 1
November 27, 2020
A bright flash of lightening shone through the thin window curtains and lit up the dark room. Maia lie curled up in her bed; the covers tossed about from restlessness. Raindrops were hitting heavily upon her window and a boom of thunder rattled a glass of water sitting on the nightstand next to her bed. A storm to match the tumultuous emotions wreaking havoc on Maia’s spirit — the tears streaming down her face were as plentiful as the rain puddling up on her front lawn.
In her head, Maia spent many hours sifting through the timeline of events leading to the horrendous reality she faces today. Somewhere in her life she took a wrong turn that led her down a dead end road to hell. Although she had put a lot of effort into trying to make something of her life, she felt like a complete failure. Her greatest aspirations had eluded her and all the goals she did manage to attain ended up as merely plaques on the wall. Just a few years ago, things seemed to be on track professionally and there was even love in her world. Today, though, desolation was her bedfellow. Nothing about her life was recognizable at this point and her gut instincts were screaming and shouting something she could not quite comprehend. Her rational mind and spiritual essence were at odds and the resulting anxiety threatened her peace of mind.
Tired of being plagued by mental and emotional anguish, she could not bear the thought of waking up to another day of this miserable life. There was not a day that passed that did not bring about strange experiences that would cause her to question her sanity. Though she yearned incessantly for freedom from the bondage of her mental anguish, she could not bring herself to do anything tragically permanent to end it. Nevertheless, her soul had all but died from neglect. No one saw her; she had somehow become a ghost amongst the living. The people who share her DNA, whose blood has a similar composition, do not hear the resignation in her voice or see the horrible sadness in her eyes. Perhaps they were consumed with their own problems and could not find the energy to care about the cancerous darkness eating away at her spirit.
Her grey-eyed fur baby stares at her with concern and sits at her bedroom door as if he is guarding her from the despair that somehow continues to creep into bed with her each night. Grateful for the bit of protective love her canine companion so eagerly offers daily, she knows that only an act of God could bring the comfort she needs but there’s no more hope, no more faith. There is just the stench of desperation resulting from the slow, agonizing death of her spirit. A stench that has rendered her toxic, abominable.
On this stormy, humid evening, in the midst of tussling with her clingy bed sheets and flipping over her pillow to rest her mahogany face on the side without a puddle of tears, she silently called out to God. If He loved her, He would heed her cry and grant her a peaceful homecoming tonight as she slept to no tomorrow. With all she had left, she pleaded for a permanent reprieve. For hours, she shifted restlessly in bed. The pain in her heart was too deep to be contained mentally and she could not find comfort. Every aspect of her being ached in the most excruciating way.
As she continued to toss and turn, trying to make sense of what was happening in her life, her mental battle began to fatigue her physical body and her eyes became heavy. She was exhausted in every way. As she finally drifted off to sleep, she mustered up enough faith to believe God to answer her prayer. Tonight, she would rest in peace.
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It was warm, but the breeze from the ocean brought a delightful chill on this lovely Spring evening. The two of them sat cozily on a large pink towel on the grayed sand and stared out at the glistening ocean. The splashing of the oscillating waves created the most pleasant ambience. Every single star in existence sparkled brightly over their heads and there was not a cloud to be found in the indigo sky. Completely enthralled by the beauty of God’s creation, they sat silently as they were serenaded by the ocean’s melodic tune. Holding hands, they turned and glanced at each other briefly. No words were necessary; their eyes held the most beautiful conversation. The way he looked at her made her feel like she was the only woman in the universe. Seconds felt like eternity as they became entangled in their spiritual connection. The energy between them could power the whole Pacific coast but the attraction was not lustful; their fiery connection was fueled by unconditional love.
Simply enjoying each other’s company with a beautiful celestial backdrop, the couple sat with their bare feet intertwined on the sand. After a while, he arose and helped Maia up by gently taking her hand in his and placing his other hand on her back. Once she was standing firmly on two feet, he brought her close to him for an embrace. Maia felt safe with his arms around her body. Both her heart and physical body felt secure and she was comforted. With her head rested on his muscular chest, she inhaled deeply and took in the scent of his enchanting cologne; subsequently releasing a long, soft exhale. They stood there, melting into each other, for a while as the waves rolled gently onto their feet. Maia pulled her head from his chest to look at his chocolate face. He was extremely attractive in her view; from the way his hair was cut to the shape of his full lips, it all seemed customized to her taste. His eyes opened slowly after he felt the weight of her head lift from his chest and he saw her gazing up at him with her sultry coffee-colored, almond shaped eyes. Something in his eyes spoke to her in an unknown language, but she translated clearly and reached for a chocolate covered kiss from his lips. He bent down to meet her and alchemy ensued at the joining of their lips. They lost seconds of time as they visited another dimension, lost in love. Upon returning to this realm, Maia bent down to gather the beach towel from the ground and was suddenly swept off her feet into his arms. He carried her across the sand towards their beach-front condo just a few feet from where they were sitting.
Settling into their exquisitely decorated living room, he walked up behind Maia and draped his muscular arms around her before planting the most endearing kiss on the back of her mahogany colored neck. He then gently grabbed her hand and guided her around the glass coffee table to have seat on a glowing white couch. When he saw that she was nice and comfortable, he walked into the kitchen and poured her a tall glass of pink lemonade.
As he finished pouring the light pink liquid into a flowered drinking glass, Maia playfully patted the spot next to herself on the couch as to summon his presence. He walked over and leaned down for a long kiss on her red painted lips before handing her the glass of lemonade. She removed a fluffy white pillow to make room for him and then he sat under her with his arm around her shoulders. For a moment, they glanced out through one of the many large, uncurtained windows to enjoy another view of the shimmering moonlit ocean. Maia took a few sips of lemonade, then grabbed her brawny beau’s feet for a massage. He closed his eyes as she tenderly rubbed his feet and she leaned in to plant a tender red kiss on his lightly bearded cheek. He opened his eyes and stared into hers and, again, the non-verbal conversation ensued. Their telepathic connection was otherworldly; they were always in tune with each other’s emotions without speaking a word.
There was nothing but love there between them; no words to get in the way. No lust to transmute their powerful energy into an untamable wildfire. She was at peace.
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Startled by her buzzing, vibrating cell phone, Maia nearly ejected herself from bed the way she popped up in search of the source of the raucous, which had inconveniently fallen behind the nightstand. Without all her faculties yet in sync, she clumsily fell out of bed as she scrambled to reach for the loud rectangular object and finally had it in her grasp. She frantically pressed the tiny ‘stop’ button on the phone at least five times before the blaring ceased. Silence at last.
In that dramatic introduction to Monday morning, she had yet to realize that last night’s prayer was obviously not answered since she was still breathing oxygen. It took a minute to remember where she was but when reality hit, so did the anguish. Why, God?
“I can’t survive another day, I just can’t,” she said mournfully.
She found it even more difficult to pry herself out of bed that morning after recalling last night’s dream. Sitting on the edge of the bed, she could almost feel the handsome stranger’s strong arms draped around her. His cologne seemed to linger in the air. She was saddened upon the realization that her dream would never come true. No one had shown her that type of attention in many years. A prayer for eternal peace had turned into a manifestation of an idyllic Loveland that only exists within her subconscious mind. What kind of curse was she under, she wondered?
Feeling weak and uninspired, she dragged herself around her bathroom trying to do her best impression of a functioning adult. After showering, Maia looked into the foggy mirror at her towel covered body. After wiping away the mist with her hand, she continued to stare into the mirror and became even more disheartened as she noticed the dark circles underneath her eyes. Stress and heartache had begun to steal her beauty. Her skin looked dull and the conspicuous sadness behind her almond shaped eyes was aging her. After taking in all her flaws, she was certain love would never cross her path again.
After pulling herself together as much as she could, she emerged into the world, gracefully carrying her despair around as she earned a very modest living. Fully clothed and with a face full of makeup, no one would be able notice the darkness she carries behind it all. At this point, life was nothing more than laboring to keep a roof over her head; there was absolutely no love and no joy. She looked in the mirror and saw her reflection, however, she was apparently invisible to the masses; except to the weird strangers she encountered around town who seemed to enjoy finding creative ways to make her day miserable.
Chapter 2
January 8, 2021
Just a mile out from home, Trent suddenly realized that he drove the whole forty-five minute commute from his office in silence. Being a self-proclaimed music connoisseur, he usually queued his “drive-time playlist” which was meticulously crafted to help him wind down after a long day of litigating. However, tonight, his mind was preoccupied with devising a master plan which involved bringing a lifelong dream to fruition.
The news he received hours earlier had put the fire under his feet. Working for one of the largest and most respected law firms in the Los Angeles area, he had acquired many associates in high places and had become one of the most respected attorneys in the area. Although he had only been at the firm for six years, he figured with all his accolades, connections, and 60-hour work weeks, he would be on the fast track to making partner. However, he learned today that it was not his time. It stung to hear the news but he wasn’t completely devastated. He felt it was a push into a new direction – finally stepping out on faith to open his own practice.
He had stayed at the office to work extra hours on an important case tonight, so it was pretty late by the time he reached home. As he walked into the house, his girlfriend, Morgan, with her modelesque physique, walked over and greeted him with a kiss before heading into the kitchen to pour two glasses of wine. “Hey babe. How was your day?” she asked as she walked toward the kitchen. Trent didn’t answer. As innocuous as Morgan intended her inquiry to be, for Trent, it was a loaded question.
After placing his briefcase on the kitchen counter, Trent walked up behind Morgan as she was pouring the wine and he pulled her hair to one side as he leaned over her shoulder to kiss her neck. Putting the wine bottle down, she grabbed the filled glasses then turned to face Trent and stood on the tip of her toes to reach his lips for another kiss before they both proceeded into the living room.
Trent walked over to the black leather loveseat and eased his tall, athletic body down onto the cushion with a long sigh and removed his necktie. Morgan could tell that something was bothering him, so she handed him one of the wine glasses and walked over behind his chair to give him a shoulder massage.
They had known each other since high school – Morgan was a cheerleader and prom queen and Trent was a star in track & field. They were friends and ran in the same circles but, during that time, Morgan was dating the most promising football star in high school, Brenton Thompson. Brenton and Morgan were basically inseparable, and their future together seemed to be filled with success and prosperity. After high school, Brenton played on a full football scholarship in college, with recruiters eyeing him heavily, even as a freshman. He was pretty much guaranteed a spot in the NFL when he met eligibility – but that time never came for him due to a career ending knee injury in his sophomore year. Brenton was devastated and ended up dropping out of college once his athletic scholarship was rescinded. After his star began to fade, so did his appeal to Morgan, apparently. They broke up shortly thereafter and that is when she started to take notice in Trent. Morgan and Trent made their relationship official while dating junior year, around the time Trent started his law school application process.
Morgan is from an affluent family with beneficial connections, some of which landed her a top executive position at a large Public Relations firm right out of graduate school. A social butterfly, she was invited to every swanky event in every part of California and attended as many as she could with her beau in tow — dressed to the nines, of course. Although Trent is naturally more of the strong silent type, he had mastered the art of becoming a chameleon when it came to business and socializing.
His family was nothing like Morgan’s; he was raised by a single mother and never communicated much with his father. Undergrad was afforded via a track scholarship and he paid off his law school student loans years ago. Internships and volunteer work earned him a positive reputation in the community and helped land him his first position after graduating amongst the top of his class. He was self-made, but made nonetheless, and Morgan was proud of the man she chose. Together, they were building an empire as an unstoppable power couple.
“What’s the matter, Trent?”, she asked in a concerned tone.
“I found out I didn’t make partner today,” Trent said while taking a deep exhale. “I know it typically takes longer than six years to earn that status at the firm, but I have dedicated so much time and resources to improve the firm’s ranking and I was certain that would put me at the top of the list.”
“Babe, we both know what you deserve and I understand your frustration, but you’ve got this. Dad told me this morning that he ran into Thompson from your firm a few days ago and he was going on about how stellar you are. Your time is coming; it’s just going to take a little more time, that’s all. You are a force to be reckoned with and they know it. Just be patient, sweetie,” Morgan offered as consolation.
Trent took a couple of swigs from his glass and placed his hands on top of Morgan’s as she continued to massage his shoulders. He loved her; she was good to him. However, his nerves unraveled as he tried to find a way to tell her that he was considering starting his own firm. Morgan was all about appearances and his tenure at a prominent law firm made them both look good. Giving that up to walk into uncharted territory would not sit well with her, and he knew it.
“Thank you, Love. What would I do without you?” he asked.
“Struggle!” Morgan said jokingly as she ended the massage and came around the chair to sit on Trent’s lap.
“Babe, you know I am the top attorney at the firm and my network is broad — I’ve been thinking about stepping out on my own. Why wait to become a partner when I can start my own firm?”, Trent said, with confidence, even though he knew Morgan was going to push back.
Morgan’s countenance turned sour as she quickly stood from Trent’s lap and went to sit on the couch across from him.
“Honey, don’t let this disappointment cause you to act out of frustration. You are already settled in at Thompson & Madison and that is quite an accomplishment. Everyone knows you must be the best to earn your place with them. Please just be patient and I am certain that you will make partner next go around,” she said in a stern, yet loving tone.
Not in the mood to argue, Trent silently got up and walked into the kitchen. He opened the refrigerator and retrieved the Chinese food Morgan ordered earlier and proceeded to the microwave to warm it up. As the time on the microwave counted down, he began to wonder if his relationship with Morgan would survive when he went forward with his ambitions. She was an amazing woman, but he knew that she would not support him on his solo venture, and that was important to him.
Trying to break the tension, Morgan came into the kitchen and leaned her body on his back while placing her long arms around his waist.
“Anyway, babe, don’t forget about my sorority picnic tomorrow,” she said in a seemingly dismissive tone. “I’ve already selected our outfits. They’re in the closet ready to go. We’re going to look so good, babe, and it’s going to be fun. It’ll take your mind off everything.”
“Sounds good. Want some?” he asked as he sat at the kitchen table with his container of food.
“It’s all yours, love. I’m going to bed. I would love for you to join me.”, Morgan said while sashaying towards the stairway.
“I’ll be joining you in a little while, baby. Don’t fall asleep on me.”, he said, trying to hide his disappointment. Truth was, he was not in the mood to be near her at the moment. Their relationship had become more about looking good to everyone else and socializing than actually connecting mentally and emotionally. The spark was gone, but he fought with all he had to hold on to the love they still have for one another.
After finishing his meal, he sat at the kitchen table for about an hour and a half reviewing case files until his eyes began to get heavy. He made his way upstairs and as he walked down the corridor to the bedroom, he could see that Morgan had already fallen asleep. He crept into the bathroom to allow her to keep her peace. As he showered, he reminisced on the good times they had shared. Morgan was vivacious and attentive, but there was just something missing from their connection. He had always felt that way, but they had so much fun together that he just let it slide.
After donning a t-shirt and boxers, he crept under the mauve silk sheets next to his Love, who was sleeping like a baby. He turned on his side to watch her sleep. She was beautiful with her caramel-colored skin and big curly hair. More than that, she had stuck by him through a lot of trials and tribulations and used her family’s connections to help his mother with a job when she had an issue with a former employer years ago. That meant a lot to him. However, recently, he had begun yearning for something deeper. For someone who could satisfy his need for a mental and emotional connection. He wondered if he could ever live without Morgan, even though he yearned for something more spiritual.
He turned onto his back and stared up at the ceiling at a ray of light shining through the window blinds. Millions of thoughts ran through his head, mostly about his future and how he wanted it to look. He and Morgan had been together for over a decade and he had not made up his mind about marrying her. Funny thing is, she had not made a big deal out of it either. Their friends are all engaged or married at this point, but Trent and Morgan are still on cruise control. They are living a great life together while prospering professionally. The two of them founded a non-profit organization which assists low-income families with housing resources and have been acknowledged by numerous local organizations for their philanthropic efforts. On paper, they looked like the perfect couple. However, Trent was beginning to grow uncertain about his relationship with Morgan. Her onus was building their social image and accumulating wealth. That was all good in Trent’s book while he was trying to make a name for himself in the L. A. area, but now that he is established, he yearns for real, deep, spiritual-level love. Morgan would not be able to give him that. Of that he was certain.
Turning on his other side with his back against Morgan, his thoughts began to dissolve as his eyes got heavy. After a few minutes, he was off to sleep.
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A live band was playing the most lovely, soulful music as well-dressed couples sat cozily at tables around the crowded room. Beautiful single ladies were on a mission tonight, gallivanting around the dimly lit room vying for the attention of any handsome man who would glance their way. There was a plethora of wealthy men in the building this evening, most of them accompanied by significant others; nonetheless, the ladies on the prowl were going in for the kill in the most scandalous way.
You would think there were only two people in the place, though, the way he was staring at her. He wasn’t focusing on her in order to stay out of trouble; Trent was sincerely enamored with the woman sitting next to him. Anyone who had ever been in love could see how deep his love ran for his brown skinned queen. He could feel it flow through his body as fluidly as his own blood. She was beautiful in his eyes. Her dark skin was like coffee with a splash of cream and her full lips were alluring. The physical attraction was there without question. However, what appealed to him even more was her spirit; her essence pulled on him like a magnet. Her soul was like the missing puzzle piece he had been searching all over for, and now that he had found his Love, he finally felt complete.
The lights in the room grew dimmer and a pink spotlight made its way around the room and finally upon the stage in front. Sitting there was a gorgeous woman with a head full of long, glorious dreadlocks pulled into an updo with a headwrap. Her attire was colorful and contrasted with her dark skin. The band began to play a slow, infectious tune and there was light applause throughout the room.
“Knowing love the way I do…”, the woman subtly grabbed the microphone and began to sing in a heavy, sensuous tone that sent a sonic vibration of love across the room. Trent looked over at his Love and she was sitting there with her eyes closed and a look of content on her face as she vibed to the performance. She let out a long, relaxing sigh and opened her eyes slowly, looking at Trent like he was a glass of ice water on a scorching hot day. He heard what her eyes were saying and leaned over for a kiss on her full, round lips.
Around the room, couples stood and held each other close as they slow danced to the soulful tune. Trent stood and helped his lady out of her chair before grabbing her hand and leading her alongside the other lovers for a dance. She was a bit shy about dancing with the crowd, but Trent tenderly pulled her in to his body to ease her fear. He wanted her to be certain that she was safe with him — that her heart, body, and soul would be handled with the utmost care and concern. Trent could sense her fragility and there was deep rooted pain hiding behind her eyes. She might have incurred some serious trauma on her journey to him, but she had finally reached her destination in love and Trent felt blessed to be the one who would help her heal and flourish.
The musical mage continued her performance under the pink spotlight and nearly sang the chandelier off the ceiling as Trent and his lady clung to one another. The singer’s emotional delivery resonated with the couple’s potent energy. For a moment, it seemed as if there were only three people in the room. Trent attentively stared at his lovely partner as they danced. Her eyes spoke many things that would never escape her lips. The way she held on to him, as if he were a lifesaver rescuing her from drowning in a turbulent oceanic storm, he knew she was depending on him to show her something different. She was trusting him to show her something genuine. Just as much as she needed him to save her, he yearned for the chance go deep for someone. Their needs aligned perfectly.
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The sound of glass shattering awakened Trent suddenly. As Trent lay under the silk sheets half awake, he could hear the shower running in the bathroom and the alluring scent of Morgan’s perfumed soap filled the air. Morgan is usually the late riser but this morning she was apparently raring to go.
The sun shined brightly through the window blinds causing Trent to squint as he slowly opened his eyes. As he looked around, he saw that Jupiter, their fluffy tailed black cat, had tipped over a glass on the dresser after jumping up to claw at one of Morgan’s makeup brushes that had rolled near the edge.
“Ding!” A text message chimed through loudly on Morgan’s phone which was sitting on the nightstand next to the bed. Then another. Glancing over at the digital clock next to the phone, Trent saw that it was barely eight. Curious to see who was double-texting so early on a Saturday morning, he peeped over at the phone. He figured it was one of Morgan’s sorority sisters starting early with the party hype for the picnic this afternoon. However, he saw a name he was not expecting – Brenton Thompson.
Despite being a little surprised that the high school sweethearts were still in touch, Trent trusted Morgan. He didn’t feel there was a need to violate her privacy by snooping in her phone, so he let it be.
He rested his head back onto the pillow and closed his eyes. He felt as if he had just returned from somewhere. The face of a beautiful stranger flashed through his mind and he felt a chill throughout his body at the reminiscence of her electric energy. The mystery lady had visited him yet again and her deep, hypnotizing eyes and red, luscious lips had become etched in his cerebral cortex. The chemistry between them is unprecedented during their Dreamland dalliances and her essence seems to carry over, giving him an oxytocin high first thing in the morning. Sometimes it made him feel awkward with Morgan lying next to him.
The sound of another text message dinging Morgan’s phone beamed Trent back to reality. He looked over to see who it was and this time it actually was one of her sorority sisters starting with the party hype. On that note, he got out of bed and walked into the bathroom, pulling back the glass shower door to greet his Love with a morning kiss. Startled, Morgan screamed and then laughed loudly before pulling Trent, fully clothed, into the shower with her. They playfully tussled for a few seconds before Morgan began removing Trent’s soaked clothing and they began carrying on as lovers do. However, this time, Trent couldn’t get the vision of his Dreamland lover out of his mind and his passion was intensified as she suddenly appeared in Morgan’s stead within the four walls of the steamy, hot shower.
Chapter 3
January 26, 2022
Kneeling down on the rubbery, red track within the white linear confines of her lane, Maia’s foot flexed on the starting block. The sun beamed down on her heavily melanated skin as if adding fuel to her fire. She was mentally zoned in as she envisioned crossing the finish line while her competitors trail behind. A warm breeze whisked across her face, sending her pulled up locks dancing in the wind. Maia leaned, stone-faced, on the track, anticipating the starter’s pistol.
As soon as the sound of the pistol cracked through the air, there they all went, a wave of athletic young women bolting down the track with reckless abandon.
Maia’s powerful quadriceps were a force to be reckoned with as she effortlessly surpassed each young lady, blazing toward the finish line. In her peripheral, she could see Kecia Thompson to her right, determined to steal her victory.
Maia and Kecia’s athletic rivalry goes back to the block in their hood from when they were 9 years old. The year was 1998 and all the kids from the neighborhood would gather to watch them and others, including a few boys, sprint it out down the Project streets. The two girls would obliterate each and every boy who dared to participate. However, Maia and Kecia would often tie and would have to have a run-off for first place. Maia won the tie-breakers more often than not. As they grew up, they were close friends, but always seemed to be in competition with one another. Today was no different.
Powered up by Kecia’s competitive energy, which boosted her own, Maia lengthened her stride to take a slightly larger lead as they approached the end. With Kecia only a few inches behind, Maia lunged forward just as she crossed the finish line. Kecia missed victory by a split second. The crowd is hysterical as the other girls follow through.
Pacing back and forth, trying to catch her breath, Maia felt hands on her shoulder and heard voices congratulating her but everything went dim when her gaze landed upon an Adonis. Standing in the bleachers with his tall, muscular physique and chocolate brown skin glistening from sweat in the sunlight, Maia could feel his eyes upon her. It was as if his energy was drawing her near. Both were mesmerized, and the whole arena appeared to vanish as they were locked in a moment of fate.
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Maia jumped up in bed, startled out of her sleep by the sound of the doorbell. It was a Saturday morning, and she was dead tired from clocking over 45 hours of work this past week and certainly not in the mood for unexpected visitors. Who would be dropping in so early anyway? Her circle was so small – basically a me-myself-and-I situation – so it was safe to say that it wasn’t a friend or family member. Figuring it to be solicitors, she simply ignored whoever it was.
Plopping back onto her pillow, she noticed her shirt was drenched in sweat. She was also baffled as to why her shoulders felt a bit sunburnt. Recalling her dream, Maia could almost feel the warmth of the sun that toasted her skin on the track. There was a sudden, overwhelming feeling of joy in her spirit which was certainly a rare occasion since these days all Maia usually feels is anxiety.
A vision of her tall, handsome mystery dream lover flooded her memory, albeit a younger version. Maia felt energetically connected to whoever he was. His essence transcended time and space to reach her. As she rested on her pillow and closed her eyes, Maia felt exactly what she felt in the dream. As his spirit pulled at hers like a magnetic draw, her deplorable reality began to fade away.
The doorbell rang again, snapping her back to the here and now. Soon after, her cell phone began to buzz on the nightstand. Glancing at the caller ID, her stomach tied in knots upon seeing the name of her ex-boyfriend, Lucian Baxter.
It took Maia over a decade to realize that her relationship with Lucian was toxic and destructive. By the time he discarded her like Thursday’s garbage, the damage was already done. She wished she would have taken heed to the desperate cries of her intuition and steered clear of Lucian a decade ago. She had no idea the turmoil that laid in wait for her the day she allowed him into her life.
As the phone continued to ring, she peeped out of the upstairs window to see if it was him at the door. Even though they hadn’t spoken in almost a year, Lucian would text her often. Maia would never respond but it didn’t stop him. He had always been persistent.
Peering down from the window, she could clearly see Lucian standing at her front door, with shopping bags in tow.
His motives baffled Maia. Back when she pushed him out of the home they shared together in order to stand up for herself, finally, he had made it clear that she was old news. After years of treating her like a queen the early stages of their relationship, he had gradually began taking jabs at her self-esteem. Maia began to feel discarded like a worthless piece of trash. After a decade in, he had become argumentative and condescending and barely touched her at all. Tired of his games, she forced him out of the house because she felt that home should be a place of refuge. With Lucian there, home felt like a battleground.
Not in the mood for his shenanigans, she debated whether or not she should just ignore him altogether. After all, he was uninvited and unexpected.
In the midst of her indecision, she heard Lucian call up from outside.
“I see you, Maia. Please let me in. I need to talk to you.”
Being too kind had always been an issue for her. Very intelligent and book smart, Maia was a bonafide fool when it came to real life. Her naivete made her a prime target for people like Lucian. He did his work on her and she had become totally devoid of her self-worth. Hanging on to an emotionally unfulfilling relationship, suppressing the best parts of herself because her partner could not comprehend her multi-dimensional essence eventually transformed her into a different person. What she could not resolve is why she pushed herself aside for this human. What kind of Voodoo was that? It’s like there was a magical spell cast to completely and utterly destroy whatever light Maia held within. Like a Pavlovian dog, she had been conditioned to believe that without Lucian, she was worthless, and he definitely kept her on a tight leash, even to this day.
Like a good Pavlovian subject, she went down to the door to receive her unexpected guest.
“What do you want, Lucian?” Maia asked, dryly after opening the front door.
“Well, it’s nice to see you, too. I was thinking about you so I bought you some things.”
This man has walked right into this house acting like there hasn’t been nearly twelve months between their last conversation and now. What would make him think to go shopping for a woman who seemingly repulsed him just a few years ago? The woman who kicked him out of the house and just unblocked his phone number on her cell phone a year ago? Things did not end amicably but here he was, bearing gifts.
He walked up the stairs into the kitchen and began unloading the bags on the kitchen table. Maia felt nauseous after seeing the stuff he had purchased. There was stuff she had been pondering online but couldn’t afford to buy any of it. Yet, here it was, right here in Lucian’s hands.
“I’m not going to accept any of this stuff, Lucian.” Maia said sternly. “What is it that you want?”, she asked impatiently.
“Don’t be ungrateful. I know what you like and what you need. I know you better than anyone ever will and I just wanted to remind you.”, he said as he tried to grab Maia’s hand.
“What is wrong with you, boy? How are you going to show up to my house unexpected? We haven’t spoken in a long minute, yet you think it’s okay to bring me all this stuff and expect me to kiss your damn feet?”, Maia said angrily after snatching away from Lucian’s grasp.
“Look, I miss you. I just needed to see you and I knew you could use some things to cheer you up. You deserve nice things, Maia.”, he said.
How he knew exactly what to buy was troubling Maia. She always felt like he just knew too much about her whereabouts because there’d be times where he’d just show up where she was. There are coincidences and then there’s stalking. Lucian was giving stalker vibes.
“You’re looking good woman!”, he said. Maia knew it was a damn lie because she looked like a racoon with dark bags under her eyes and she hadn’t taken her sleep bonnet off yet. Her t-shirt had holes all over it and she stood barefoot with unkempt toenails. She had no motivation to keep herself up these days. No one noticed her, ever.
“Lucian, I appreciate your kind gesture but I need to get ready to go so could you please gather these things and leave, please?”, Maia said trying her best to be patient.
“Where are you going? You working today? I got you. You need to stay and hang with me today. I have a movie in mind we can watch. I’ll cover you for today.”
As wonderful as the idea of a full paid day off sounded, just as good as ice water in the middle of a desert, Maia fought herself to decline. The consequences just weren’t worth it. She had already given him too much of her time. She spent over a decade of her life with Lucian and when their relationship finally ended, she still wasn’t clear on who he was. As a matter of fact, when they officially split, she was no longer clear on who she was, either. Many of her beautiful years spent in an on-and-off relationship with someone who never said he loved her. During their splits, she would meet more compatible men who would treat her as she desired but Lucian would always draw her back in. Even though he kept woman in his queue to keep his ego inflated, Maia was the only one stupid enough to try to build a life with him. She ignored every red flag and shushed her intuition every single day because she was the type to see the “potential” in a person, even though who he really was just seemed unreachable. When she reflects on their time together, she realizes that there was no depth to their connection; only a superficial façade of love. In her head she imagined he’d one day step into the man she knew he could be. She saw bits and pieces of his goodness every now and again, but none of it really made a permanent stay. Right there below the surface of gross machismo and sickening arrogance, Maia saw glimpses of an ideal partner. She could feel the “good” within him, and it kept her waiting for twelve whole years hoping it would break through the surface. It never did and it never will. It was all just a sadistic illusion. If there really was any goodness hiding there, it was definitely being held hostage by his goliath-sized ego.
“I’m very flattered that you care enough to pay for my day off, but I need to get moving. I actually feel better when I’m active.”, Maia said.
It was best to cut their encounters short because if she was too nice, he’d keep popping up and pretending like they are still together. If she is too cold, he says she rude and negative. All she wanted to do was try to move on with her life. A life without the confusion of being with someone she feels she can’t flourish with. Why does he keep trying to stay connected? Doesn’t he want to move on and find someone he can have a future with?
“Why do you treat me like this? I’m nothing but nice to you but you treat me like I’m a bother. I’m the only one who fools with you at this point. You should be glad I’m here for you.”, Lucian said.
And there it was: Lucian’s Modus Operandi. It was how he kept stringing her along for so many years. It’s strange how she fell for it for all that time. It’s like she was under a spell.
“Thank you for being thoughtful. I really appreciate all you do. I just really need to get moving.”
She finally learned that taking the high road worked with Lucian. He never knows how to respond to genuine positivity.
Drawing out his exit for fifteen whole minutes, Lucian finally exited the front door. Maia watched through the window as he drove away, feeling as though the dark cloud that was blocking the sunlight finally blew away. He always managed to stir up negative emotions within her, even though they rarely speak.
Looking at the table, she realized that he left the things he purchased. Maia felt there would be some sort of dues to pay for accepting his gifts. Like it was opening a gateway back into the hell she lived throughout their relationship.
Feeling absolutely drained of every drop of energy, Maia made a cup of coffee hoping caffeine would give her the boost she needed to get herself together.
Chapter 4
February 27, 2022
Trent and Morgan spent the morning getting ready for her sorority’s picnic. Morgan’s hairstylist came to whip her hair into shape while her makeup artist beat her face to perfection. She even sent for a manicurist to fix up their nails. Morgan was all about image; after all, it was her profession.
After her glam team was done, she took a long look in the mirror, admiring a job well done. Her hair was pressed out and flowing down beyond her bare shoulders with the ends gently curled. She wore a deep red lip to accentuate her wide leg, flowing pants. Her off-shoulder blouse showed a bit of her perfectly toned midriff. She turned back and forth to admire all angles and noticed Trent watching her in the mirror. She then turned her attention to her king, who was looking quite debonair in the color blocked ensemble she selected for him. A lesser man would struggle to pull off a velvet, burgundy, tapered-leg suit with a soft pink silk button-down but Trent looked runway ready. He left the top two buttons undone for effect. Although the ensembles Morgan put together were color coordinated, their look was classy instead of corny.
“Babe, we need a red carpet because we are about to shut it down!” Morgan said jokingly as she walked over and grabbed onto Trent’s neck before kissing his lips.
Trent was ready to pull her in for more but she was adamant about not messing up her glam.
“We will continue this later, hon.” Morgan said in a sensuous tone as she grabbed Trent’s hand to walk him down to the garage.
“It’s time for us to head out. We’re already running late.”
************************************
Morgan and Trent arrived at the venue looking like Ken and Barbie and it was a beautiful day for the most part. Flowers were blooming and the sun was shining, but there were some dark clouds obscuring the sun’s glow occasionally.
Making their way around the generous crowd filled with the “who’s who” from around the country, there was plenty of small talk and handshaking. Trent had gotten used to being in business mode during “personal” events because there was always an opportunity to make an important contact – something Morgan was always emphasizing. Her family had the kind of generational wealth that came with a certain pedigree – and Trent had big shoes to fill. Although he was grateful for Morgan’s motivational influence since it had gained him access to powerful and influential contacts, he, for once, wanted to take his business hat off and have a little time with the guys.
“Morgan!”, Saraiya shrilled as she made her way toward her sorority sister with open arms.
“Hello beautiful!” Morgan replied as the two tightly embraced each other.
“Hello brother,” said Thomas, the man who was trailing behind Saraiya as he held out his hand for Trent.
As Morgan and Saraiya chit-chatted nearby, Thomas directed Trent to a couple of chairs a few feet away as he waved to the attendant to bring over some drinks.
“What’s up, man? The outfits are real cute my dude” he said with a laugh as he eyed Trent’s burgundy suit and pink shirt.
“Yeah, I think she was going for a lover’s theme, bro. I could still rival Denzel in this red suit though – make no mistake. The man makes the suit, not the other way around”, Trent said jokingly as he took a sip of his beverage.
“How are you two doing these days? I know Rai has been keeping you busy with the community outreach programs I’ve heard Morgan talking about,” asked Trent.
“We’re great, man. We just got a huge donation from one of her father’s business contacts. It will help out a lot with the cause,” Thomas replied.
He continued, “The question is, how are you and Morgan? You ready to jump the broom? You two are the last fiancés standing,” he said with a laugh.”
That question always came up when the crew got together. Trent was nowhere near ready for marriage with Morgan, and she wasn’t pushing the topic either.
“We’re just riding the wave, T. We’re both holding it down in our careers and focused on expanding our philanthropic efforts as well. But the one thing I really want is something that I know Morgan won’t support, so I’m holding off on solidifying that wedding date until we can get on the same page,” he said.
“Let me guess, your own firm, right?” Thomas asked.
“So Morgan has been confiding in Rai, I see. Yeah, I’m really ready to make that move but she’s not feeling it at all,” said Trent.
“I’m with it,” Thomas said. “Your own legacy. I know how Morgan thinks, though. It’s all about that generational wealth for her. She figures you’ll make partner and be a part of that well-established prestige but look, man. You’ve got to do what’s best for you — what’s been put on your heart to do. I’ve got your back, bro – and tons of clients lined up for you already.”
They did the handshake they crafted back in their college days and just a few seconds later they could hear Morgan and Saraiya noisily making their way towards the area they were sitting.
“The women have returned,” Thomas said as he took a big swig of his beverage.
Morgan planted a big kiss on her man’s cheek as she sat down on his knee. “What have you guys been up to over here? There’s a whole picnic going on and you two are hiding in the cut. Come on, I saw someone I want you to meet, Trent.”
He said his goodbyes to Thomas as Morgan tugged him away into the crowd. As they headed over to meet Morgan’s associate, her phone rang. Getting a good peek at the caller ID, Trent saw that it was Brenton Thompson. The side eye he gave Morgan was serious.
While speaking to Morgan’s associate, who was an attorney at another law firm in the area, Trent noticed the clouds had rolled in and it had begun to get a bit dark out like rain was on the way. He looked back to where Morgan was just standing but she had disappeared.
Engaging in small talk with Telly, a fellow attorney, she revealed to Trent that she’s actually from the Atlanta area and had recently moved to L.A. to join a new law firm. Trent was heading to Atlanta tomorrow to collaborate with a few other lawyers on a big case. Telly filled him in on the firm he would be working with in Atlanta and gave him the run down on the local scene. Finishing up small talk with his new colleague, they exchanged cards just as rain started to lightly sprinkle from the sky. Walking around the area trying to locate Morgan to ensure she stayed out of the rain, he peeped her in a far corner under a pink frilly raised tent, standing close to Brenton as they appeared to be having a heated conversation.
The rain began to come down on Trent’s fashionable threads as he stood there like a deer in headlights, watching the interaction between his Love and her ex. There was a boom of thunder just in time to mark the moment Trent witnessed Brenton grab his fiancée and attempt to bring her close, but she pulled away. He couldn’t move; it was like his feet were sinking in quicksand.
Morgan happened to glance in Trent’s direction, and the look on her face was that of someone caught doing something they aren’t supposed to be doing. She immediately ran to meet Trent and grabbed him to run for cover from the rain along with everyone else under the pavilion.
He didn’t even ask what she and Brenton were doing standing so close to one another in a secluded area because he wasn’t ready for the answer. Morgan just brushed it off as if nothing happened. Brenton was still over there under that tent, and his intense glare told the whole story.
There was a moment of heavy wind and rain as a crowd of picnickers sought shelter together under the pavilion. The raging storm seemed to coincide with Trent’s emotions. His mind was racing all over the place but there were no words to express what needed to be addressed. Morgan was nonchalantly chatting with some of the others as he sat there perturbed — feeling like the first cracks in the foundation of their relationship were starting to show. As he stewed in his emotions, the wind carried a familiar scent in his direction. Suddenly his thoughts shifted to memories of his mysterious dream lover, whose essence sought him beyond space and time. Maia’s perfume was lingering in the air, and it brought a warm feeling to his spirit, as if it were a reminder that things always work out as they should.
The rain suddenly stopped and the clouds slowly rolled away as everyone recommenced their social activities. It was as if Brenton Thompson was a ghost that day because he had all but disappeared and Morgan made no mention of their encounter. Trent was not going to open Pandora’s box at this picnic, but he certainly had plans to bring it up once he had his emotions under control. He was heading to Atlanta tomorrow, though, and this time he was actually glad he’d have time away from Morgan to gather himself.
As the picnic reconvened, the formalities began and Morgan was swept up in the mix. Trent kept his composure by compartmentalizing the negative emotions dredged up by Morgan’s rendezvous with her high school sweetheart. He kept company with Thomas as they sat through the ceremony.
“I ran into Brent Thompson here a little earlier. Dude still looks like he belongs on the field. He said he’s been trying to get Morgan to help him get his sports management company off the ground.” Thomas whispered to Trent, trying to converse without interrupting the sorority ceremony.
Thomas and Brenton were football buddies in college and have kept in touch over the years.
“So that’s why he’s been blowing her phone up lately?” Trent asked, a bit irritated.
“Yeah, probably. He could really use some of Morgan’s connects to get things moving in the right direction. I threw him a few leads but he needs a little help on the business side. Maybe you could help him get his business contracts in order, too, man.”
“Yeah, I’ll speak with Morgan later and see what’s really going on.” Trent said dryly, not the least bit interested in assisting Brenton with a damn thing.
As the picnic came to an end and everyone said their goodbyes, Trent snuck up behind Morgan while she was conversing with some of her sorors and grabbed her by the waist as he kissed her on the neck. Apparently not in the mood for PDA, Morgan slyly eased out of Trent’s grasp and turned around and gave him a quick peck on the lips.
A little taken aback since Morgan has always welcomed his excessive affection, Trent’s mind went back to what he witnessed today between his Love and her high school sweetheart under that pink, frilly tent. Trying not to jump to conclusions, he gently grabbed her hand and asked if she was ready to go.
“Babe, I can’t wait to get you home so we can finish what we started this morning but I’m going to stay with Saraiya and Jenna to ensure that the venue is closed out properly. I’ll catch a ride.” she said.
“Oh, okay. Well, I need to get packed for my trip anyway. Don’t stay too late, Love. I need you,” Trent said. More than anything, he just wanted to fill up on her love and affection tonight so he could savor it during his trip to Atlanta.
After arriving home, Trent got his wardrobe together for his trip and then spent a while reviewing case files, hoping Morgan would arrive soon. Hours passed and his eyes grew heavy so he jumped in the shower, hoping to reinvigorate himself a bit. After showering, he donned a pair silk pajama pants and sat on the edge of the bed to check his phone. Nothing from Morgan. It was nearing 9 p.m. and he was getting worried so he called to see what she was up to. Her phone went straight to voicemail.
Morgan had never given him a reason not to trust her, and even with the shenanigans at the picnic, Trent still believed in Morgan so he tried to steer his thoughts in a positive direction.
Just then, his phone chimed and it was a text from his assistant confirming his trip itinerary. He saw that Thomas’s new car service was going be his ride to the airport and decided to call him to thank him.
“Hey man. My assistant just sent my finalized itinerary and I see she got the hook up on the best car service on the west coast,” Trent said with a laugh.
“Dude, it’s the only thing fit for Trent Williams, Esquire!”, Thomas laughed.
Trent heard Saraiya laughing in the background.
“Oh, Saraiya’s home from the venue?,” he asked.
“Yeah, she got home about an hour ago. For once, we’re actually chilling on the couch. Watching Martin. You know how she loves that show. Remember in college, she made us watch every single episode talking about how our black cards would be revoked if we didn’t?”
Trent remembered that, but he was distraught by the fact that Saraiya has been home for an hour while he can’t even get in contact with Morgan.
“Yeah man.” Trent said dryly. “Well, I really just wanted to thank you for the car service. I have some potential clients I’ll throw your way.”
“I appreciate it. I’ve been hiring some guys from the halfway house we sponsor. A lot of those guys are brilliant; they just had a tough break.” Thomas said.
“That’s a good thing you’re doing. Who knows where I would be if it weren’t for Morgan’s family. After that stuff happened with my mother, things could’ve gotten bad. Thank God for good people,” Trent said.
Trent is extremely grateful for the good people in this world, and he strives to be one himself. While in college, Trent’s mother nearly had a nervous breakdown after something happened with her employer of 10 years. She never spoke on exactly what happened, but she quit suddenly after months of anxiety attacks. Tonya was a strong, confident woman who had gradually morphed into a timid recluse. She seemed a bit paranoid and said people were following her. Things got very strange during that time and it seemed as if his mother was losing her mind. Even with her college degree and wealth of experience, she was unable to get a job for years. All her friends seemed to abandon her and she eventually stopped communicating with the family. Trent even started having a sudden flux of unfortunate experiences. For a while, everything was haywire and Trent’s future was about to go down in flames. Fortunately, when he started dating Morgan, her family’s connections were powerful enough to get them both back on solid ground. His desire to become a lawyer intensified after he discovered with really happened with his mother. He has never discussed the terrible details of it all with anyone but continues to work fervently to ensure that others in her predicament are seen and receive justice. That’s one of the reasons he wants to start his own firm. He believes in paying it forward.
“Right. Bernard has been my mentor since high school. I admire how compassionate he is, even with his status. He has always reached back into the community. He made me realized that it’s my duty to reach back. Just because someone has fallen on hard times doesn’t mean they aren’t talented or intelligent. Sometimes all it takes is to be given a chance.”, Thomas said.
Bernard is Morgan’s father. A legend. A mogul. Highly respected yet very humble.
“Yes, indeed. Yes, indeed. Well, speaking of Bernard, his daughter is M.I.A. I know how she gets wrapped up in these social events, though.”
“Hm. It is getting late.” Thomas said with pause. “I’m sure she’ll be home soon so she can send you off properly,” he said with a laugh.
“Thanks again, man. I’m going to find some toothpicks to hold my eyes open so I can wait for Morgan. Talk you later.”
Another hour passed with no Morgan and her phone was still going to voicemail. Trent was starting to get worried. Morgan has never pulled anything like this. Given the Brenton incident earlier, Trent was a little on edge.
A little while later, he heard Morgan coming in the front door. He had been sitting on the couch waiting for her and went down to the foyer to meet her.
“Are you okay, babe? You weren’t answering your phone.” Trent asked, concerned.
“Oh, yeah. I just got caught up with some of the girls, that’s all. I think there was bad cell reception over there. Ew, I need to go jump in the shower, hon.”
She gave Trent a light peck on the cheek and hurried up to the bedroom.
There was a flash of lightening through the window followed by a loud roar of thunder.
Today has been one for the books. This is the first time Morgan has ever been away without calling or texting every hour. And what was with the peck on the cheek? That was definitely a first. She still hasn’t addressed the Brenton incident, either. Trent was not going to stir up drama before his trip because he didn’t want that tension between then while he was away. However, there was a nagging feeling in the pit of his stomach like something was wrong.
By the time he made it up to the bedroom behind Morgan, he could hear the shower running. He got into bed and noticed Morgan’s phone face down on the nightstand.
Another roar of thunder shook the house.
Her phone vibrated. Not wanting to violate her trust, he fought the urge to turn the phone over. It vibrated again. Trent was curious.
When he turned the phone over, he felt sick upon reading the two text messages on her lock screen.
“Thank you.
Call me tomorrow.”
What was Brenton Thompson thanking Morgan for? I know Thomas said he was asking for her help with his business, but wouldn’t she tell him if that was where she was? Nothing was adding up.
He heard Morgan turn off the shower. He quickly placed her phone back face down on the nightstand.
As alarming as it all was, Trent still trusted Morgan and he wasn’t going to let assumptions get in the way of him getting what he’d been waiting for all day.
A few minutes later, Morgan joined him in bed. She kissed him and then laid her head on his bare chest and placed her leg over his. Trent began caressing her thigh as he kissed on her neck and shoulders.
“I’m so tired, babe. Just hold me tonight.” Morgan said as she pulled his hand away from her thigh and up to her lips and kissed it.
In all the years of their relationship, Morgan has never once said she was too tired to love on him. What was going on?
Without saying a word, Trent gently pulled her into his arms and kissed her forehead. They were as close as could be in each other’s arms, but there was a distance growing there that was new.
The rain hit on the windowpane as they held each other. Trent had a hard time falling asleep but Morgan drifted off fairly quickly.
As he lay under Morgan, he stared at her beautiful face as she slept on his chest. Even with a silk scarf wrapped around her hair, she looked like a goddess. He began reminiscing on the good times they’ve had in their relationship. They had so much fun together and complemented each other, but things are progressing in the romance department as much as he’d hoped. He’d hoped by now that they’d be more emotionally and spiritually connected, but Morgan is not the type to delve into spiritual matters. That has always been an issue for Trent, but he buried it deep inside because everything else was amazing with them. Something was changing, though.
The rain was coming down heavy and he could hear the wind blowing the trees around outside the window. He tuned in to sound of the rain and his mind began to still. He was finally able to relax and after a while, he finally fell asleep.
Stop to Love 