Page 80 of Ascension

“Unbelievably terrifying,” Calil added. “But dope as hell, just send us a schedule of your appearances at the club so we know to stay away those nights,” he chuckled.

I smiled. “The Black Dahlia is about to be retired.”

Dr. Morgan tilted her head. “That took courage, Calla. What made you decide to share this today?”

I hesitated, then let the truth roll off my tongue. “Because I’m done compartmentalizing. And because there’s more.”

Caleb groaned. “Please tell me you’re not secretly Batman, too.”

I ignored him, my heartbeat picking up. “I’m in a relationship,” I said. “With James Carter Jr. and Amiyah Patterson, and I’m in love with both of them.”

Mom’s hand flew to her mouth, but she didn’t speak. Caleb and Calil froze, one mid-sip of coffee, the other mid-eye roll.

Dr. Morgan arched a brow. “How do you feel saying that out loud?”

“Terrified,” I admitted. Then, softer: “But free.”

And for the first time, I didn’t care if anyone in that room understood it.

Caleb cleared his throat, leaning forward, elbows on his knees. “You know,” he said, grinning faintly, “I knew what was up at my Freaknik picnic.”

Calil nodded in agreement, pointing at me. “Same. Y’all was way too wrapped up in each other to be just business partners and associates by way of Mav. James looked like he’d fight the sun if it stared at Amiyah too long, and you, you had them both at the gala like y’all was a married throuple.”

“And the way you look at Amiyah, fine ass, is the same way I look at Yanna. Ain’t no way you was coming up off her thick ass,” Caleb smirked as I glared at him for lusting after my woman.

“Not too much on her,” I said, narrowing my eyes.

He chuckled. “My bad, sis, but you were looking at both of them like dessert. We figured something was cooking; we didn’t know it was a full-course love story.”

Calil snorted. “We mind our business, though. You looked happy. Still do.”

Their teasing was easy and lighthearted, but the sincerity beneath it hit harder than I expected. My brothers weren’t laughing at me. They were laughing with love.

Then my mom spoke. Her voice was soft, almost tentative at first. “Calla.”

I turned to her, bracing myself for disappointment or confusion, maybe a mixture of both, but what I saw instead was something I hadn’t seen in a long time. Her eyes were wet, but kind.

“I don’t fully understand everything you’ve told us,” she began slowly. “I won’t pretend I do, but I know you, I know my daughter, and I’ve watched you carry yourself like the world would fall apart if you ever stopped holding it up.”

She took a deep breath, blinking back tears. “I know what your father’s words did to you. I know how small he made you feel, and I hate that I didn’t protect you the way a mother should have. I hate that you had to become this Black Vidalia person to remember that you were powerful.”

Caleb and Calil snickered at our mother messing up my alter ego name like some childish ass kids, which made me giggle too.

My chest tightened. “Mom…”

She reached for my hand. “But I also see you now, this strong, brilliant woman who built herself back from ashes and still dares to love. I don’t care what you call it or who it’s with; if it makes you feel seen and cherished, then I support it. I support you.”

The words hit somewhere deep, somewhere I hadn’t let anyone touch in years. I’d spent so long building armor that I’d forgotten what it felt like for someone to reach through it and hold me gently.

Tears blurred my vision before I could stop them. I tried to laugh, but it came out broken. “You’re really going to make me cry in therapy?”

Calil chuckled softly. “Well, we already laughed through half of it, so balance, I guess.”

Caleb nudged my shoulder. “She’s right, Calla. You earned this peace. You’ve been in protection mode from everybody since you were fifteen. Let yourself be free, and we’ll protect you from this point forward. We got you, baby sis.”

Mom squeezed my hand again. “You’re my daughter, Calla. Nothing about you could ever make me love you less. Not your strength,not your truth, not your mistakes. You hear me?”

I nodded, voice trembling. “Yeah. I hear you.”