Page 1 of Solomon’s Temple

“And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, power, and glory. Forever. Amen.” I finished my morning prayer, then stood from my kneeling position in my war room. Every morning I recited the Lord’s Prayer because somehow throughout the day, someone managed to test my faith. I tried to stay humble, patient, operate with integrity, and stay strong on my walk, but each day, someone thought it was wise to come for me negatively.

Prayer helped.

Sometimes.

There were still times I had to come out of pocket because of my job. I was the owner of Exclusive Security which provided security for famous people, politicians, and some street people. My job sometimes had me putting hands on someone, or shooting to wound, so things didn’t always go in a godly favor.

My walk began after almost losing my life trying to stop a robbery from happening. The bullet grazed my head and my heart. I flatlined twice, and in those moments when I died, God gave me a choice to either live or die. I chose to live since I was still young and wasn’t ready to leave Earth yet. When I came to, I promised myself that I would live right and get closer to Him. I struggled for a while, but I had been getting better over the past year. I knew the way I lived wasn’t right, so I made the choice to surrender my lifestyle of sexing different women, drinking, and being reckless.

Blowing out the candles, I shut off the light then walked out, locking the door behind me. I sauntered down the hall to my gym to do my morning workout: fifty push-ups, fifty chin-ups, fifty lunges, and a thirty-minute run on the treadmill. Once my workout was complete, I went to shower, get dressed, then went to the kitchen to prepare my breakfast.

Two boiled eggs, avocado toast, and two cut up strawberries.

While plating my breakfast, my elevator’s motor resounded, and I looked at the camera to see my mother and father coming up. Instantly, my mood shifted because they never said they would stop by. I didn’t mind, but when they didn’t call, it made me feel like they were invading my space, something my mother could never seem to stop doing.

Once the elevator pinged, I prepared myself to stay cordial and not go off on them as I went to open the door. I had to remember to tell the security at the desk to screen everybody now.

“Good morning, Son.” My mother greeted me first, a huge smile resting on her lips.

I wondered what the hell she was so happy about.

“Morning, Son.” My father greeted me next as they followed me into the kitchen.

“Grand rising. What brings you two by unannounced?” My eyes went to my mother, who continued looking at me with a smile on her face. “What is it, Ma?”

She shrieked. “I’m sorry, I just can’t contain my excitement. We just left the church, and guess who’s back in town?”

“I’m not into guessing games, Mommy Dearest.”

“Shereece!” she exclaimed, putting her hands together in a praying manner. My face remained void of the excitement my mother exuded. There wasn’t anything for me to get excited about concerning Shereece’s return.

Shereece was my high school girlfriend and someone my parents adored. If they only knew that shorty was spreading those long pretty chocolate legs for half the city, they wouldn’t be so excited about her being back from wherever the hell she went to hide.

We were together two years before I caught her sucking di—penis in the back seat of Kevin Truman’s car. After that, all her secrets were uncovered, and I was the laughingstock of CMA High School.

Seeing that ended relationships for me. I played around a lot after her but had recently been celibate for the past year. It was a struggle because I missed feeling the warmth that pu—sex provided, but I was on my journey and couldn’t be deterred.

“Oh.” I replied unenthused as I took a seat at the kitchen island. I said grace over my food, then dug in.

“You don’t sound so happy about it,” my father said. They both took a seat across from me.

I frowned. “Why should I? Shereece is my past.”

“I know, but she asked about you. Her family invited us over for dinner tomorrow night. We’re going and wanted you to come with us.”

“That’s what’s up. I hope you and Pop enjoy your time with the Henrys. I won’t be attending.”

They both looked at one another, then back at me. I was frustrated with them and this eye communication they kept doing. “If y’all came here to say something, just say it already. All this eye talk is annoying.”

“Baby, we just want you to find a nice, wholesome woman and give us grandchildren. You haven’t brought anyone home since Shereece. We’re getting older and need some new life around here. What is really going on?” my moms asked.

“Nothing is going on,” I replied. “Why does something have to be going on because I’m choosing to be single?”

“It has to be something. Do you date at all?” Pops asked.

I tilted my head and glared at him. “Why?”

“Because you’re still living in this penthouse alone, there’s no sign of a woman’s presence anywhere around here, and you never bring anyone around . . . Are you . . . you know?” my mom asked.