Page 71 of Rah

But I didn’t have to continue to be so stupid for these niggas anymore.

It was time.

I had to go.

I couldn’t believe that things had gotten this bad. But when you refuse to learn the lessons that life is trying to teach you, it teaches you in a way that you cannot avoid. For so long, I worshipped the ground Rah walked on, knowing in the back of my mind that he wasn’t the one. And now, I was forced to leave, grow up, and take care of myself on my own.

Whether I liked it or not.

KAHLANI

I sat across from my new lawyer, Sam, who I’d hired with Rah’s money. I was twisting my hands nervously in my lap while he flipped through my paperwork.

“Look,” he said finally, meeting my eyes. “You don’t need to panic. With your clean record, the most you’re looking at is probation.”

I blinked at him, scared to feel relief. “Probation? You’re sure?”

He nodded with a reassuring smile. “I’ve already spoken with the prosecutor. We’ve got it lined up. They’re not pushing for anything beyond that.”

I blew a relieved breath. “So, I won’t have to go to jail?”

“Not with what I’ve worked out.” Then he asked, “Are you sure you want to do this, Kahlani? We can fight this.”

Standing up from the table at the lawyer’s office, I knew that I was sure. I adjusted the blouse that I’d worn to the meeting and took my coat off of the back of my chair. “If you’resure I’ll get probation, then I’m sure. I don’t want to take the risk.”

Sam looked disappointed, as if he could see that I was giving up. Yet, he smiled and nodded as if he respected my decision.

I told him that I would see him at court in a few weeks and hurried out of the office. During my meeting, Moses’ mother had called and said that Moses was awake! He was groggy, but he asked for me, so I was in a hurry to get back there. I slipped on my leather coat and hurried out of the office building.

For the first time in days, I wastrulyhappy. I felt like things were finally getting back to normal. Life wasn’t at all perfect. Nevertheless, I had a lot of hope that everything was going to work out.

I practically ran towards my car that was parked half a block down the street.

Once inside of the car I called Solae back as I started the engine. She had called me at least a dozen times while I was in the meeting. She had also sent me a text message asking that I call her back as soon as possible.

I wasn’t even paying attention when Solae answered. I cut her off with excitement as I whizzed through the traffic downtown. “Hey, Solae. I already know. I’m on my way to the hospital now.”

It was like she didn’t even hear me. She sounded so out of it as she spoke to me. “Can you come by my house?”

“When? I need to get to the hospital right now. What’s wrong?”

“Please, Kahlani? It’s really important.”

When I heard the tears, I knew that Rah had done something. I shook my head in irritation and disappointment. I wasso sick of Rah and his bullshit. I couldn’t understand why he just wouldn’t leave that girl alone and let her live.

“Alright,” I reluctantly told her. I didn’t want to go, but she sounded like she really needed me. “I’m on my way.”

She hung up without another word.

“This nigga irks mysoul,” I muttered through gritted teeth as I tossed the phone onto the passenger’s seat.

I drove towards the expressway like a mad woman, with hate for Rah fueling my lead foot. Rah was like a thorn in my side. He was negatively affecting everyone’s life around him. He was even affecting mine, and he wasn’t even my man. He was like a virus; slowly eating away at our with his inability to give a fuck about anybody else besides himself.

I thought that Solae was finally done with him after this last major stunt that he pulled, but apparently not.

About fifteen minutes later, I arrived at Solae and Rah’s house, while being completely disgusted that, once again, my life was consumed by Rah or something to do with him. I needed to be at the hospital, not at their house consoling Solae after whatever stunt he pulled this time.

This better be real important,I thought as I rang the bell.