Page 143 of When a Soul Cries

The way she’d looked at me when she told me Mack was Halo’s father.

I stood and started pacing.

“Ma, everything they got left fits in one damn diaper bag.”

Sugga inhaled softly.

“That shit fucked me up.”

“I know, baby.”

“I got them here. They ate. They’re asleep.” I dragged my hand over my face, but a tear slipped free anyway. “And I’m sitting here feeling like that ain’t enough.”

“It is.”

I stopped pacing.

“No, Ma, you don’t understand—”

“I understand perfectly.”

Another tear fell, and I wiped it away even though she couldn’t see me.

“I can’t undo none of that shit,” I said, my voice breaking. “I can’t give her back what somebody took from her. I can’t change what happened to her. I can’t—”

“Roman.”

I stopped.

Sugga’s voice was gentle but firm.

“You ain’t supposed to.”

My face twisted.

“Then what the fuck am I supposed to do, Ma?”

The question came out broken.

For a few seconds, she said nothing.

Then, “Did they eat?”

I frowned. “Yeah.”

“Is that baby sleeping somewhere safe?”

“Yeah.”

“Is Sol?”

My eyes moved toward the hallway.

“Yeah.”

“Then tonight, you’ve done enough.”

I sank back onto the couch.