DÉJÀ VU - Chapter 21: Chapter 21

"It nuh seem like yuh understand seh mi cuddn leff Xanai alone! Yes har fren did deh yah but a mi sista dat, Malachi!" I screamed into my phone as my now drunk husband, Malachi continued pestering me to come home and clean up his shit.
"Fucking piece a shit yuh nuh hear mi seh fi get yuh ass ova yah? Come home, NOW! An yuh betta nuh mek mi repeat miself eno Sade. All dah fucking pitney yah come get him outta mi way before mi get him out miself!" He shouted back.
My pitney? A cudda neva!
I felt my anger rise, and, as a result, tears pooled in my eyes.
Hate when dis happens. But I decided to compose myself.
"Yow a one ting fi fuck wid mi eno bwoy, but put yuh hand pon mi pitney and watch and see if yuh nuh lose it and more!" I ended the call.
I wiped the few tears that fell from my eyes, and turned to enter Xanai's room, only to see both Xanai and Kairo staring at me from the doorframe.
"Um a jus-" I started before Xanai cuts me off, "Doh even lie to me. Malachi a abuse unu?" She asks referring to my two year old son, Kaeden.
"Nai, doh worry bout it. Yuh av enough fi worry bout...mia deal wid e and if mi dead a suh but nuhn nah do mi pitney while me alive. Fada or not."
Clock itttt.
My heart pounded as I stood between Xanai and Kairo, their concerned eyes locked onto me. The weight of the situation pressed down on my chest, but I couldn't let it consume me—not now. Kaeden needed me.
"Shut the fuck up, Sade-Lynn. If him breathe too hard pon yuh or Kae, him a get drop, whether mi mash up or not," Xanai hissed, her whole body tense with anger.
I opened my mouth to respond, to tell her she didn't need to get involved, but before I could even form the words, she turned to Kairo.
"Kai?" she called, her voice sharp.
"Yeah, wahm?" Kairo responded, his tone tight.
"Can you bring us to—wait, Sade, which pah him deh? Home?" Her eyes flicked back to me.
I nodded, barely able to find my voice.
"Yeh, Sade yaad please?" Xanai continued, determined.
"Nai, yuh know yuh nuh ready fi get discharged ye—" Kairo started, but she cut him off before he could finish.
"Pleaseeeeee, Kai? I'm okay, for real." She pleaded, and though she looked better than she had earlier, I knew she wasn't fully recovered.
I sighed, rubbing my temples. "Nai, mi nuh waan yuh push yuhself."
I genuinely don't want her to overwork herself especially in her current state.
She rolled her eyes. "Mi good, Sade. Tappi noise now man."
"Kaiiiiiiiiiii" She stretched his name, hugging him tightly.
"Alright likkle girl, if yuh feel nun mek sure-" she cut him off again, "Yessssss, thank you babyyyy. Lets ask the doctor for the discharge papers." she squeals, I love this girl so much.
The silence in the car felt heavier than the night air outside. Kairo's grip on the steering wheel was tight, his jaw locked like he was holding back words he wanted to say. Xanai sat beside him, arms folded, her leg bouncing impatiently. I could feel the weight of their concern pressing against me, but all I could focus on was Kaeden.
My baby. My whole life.
I clenched my fists, trying to steady my hands, but the anger bubbling inside me refused to settle. I couldn't shake Malachi's words from my head. "Come get him outta mi way before mi get him out miself."
Kaeden was only two. He didn't know nothing about his father's rage. He didn't deserve to be caught in it.
"Mi nuh like how quiet yuh be," Xanai finally said, breaking the silence.
"Mi just—" I exhaled sharply, trying to keep my voice steady. "Mi just waan get Kaeden an lef."
Xanai scoffed. "Yuh tink Malachi a go mek dat easy?"
"Mi nuh business," I snapped. "A mi pickney. If him waan war, him ago get it."
I appreciated their support more than I could ever say, but deep down, I knew this was my fight. I had let Malachi control me for too long.
As Kairo pulled up in front of the house, my stomach twisted into knots. The front door was slightly open, the porch light flickering weakly. A bad feeling settled deep in my gut, but I couldn't let it stop me.
"Mia guh een first," Kairo muttered as he put the car in park.
But I was already out. "Mi nah wait."
Xanai was right behind me, and Kairo exited the car. My heart slammed against my ribs as I stepped up onto the porch, my ears straining for any sound inside the house.
Then I heard it.
Kaeden crying.
Pure, frightened wails.
And Malachi's slurred voice barking something I couldn't make out.
I didn't think. I didn't hesitate.
I pushed the door open and stormed inside.
The moment I stepped inside, my heart stopped.
Kaeden was on the floor, his tiny body curled up, his hands over his head as Malachi stood over him, belt in hand. His little cries cut through my chest like a blade.
"Mi tell yuh fi shut di fuck up!" Malachi snarled before bringing the belt down again.
Something inside me snapped.
"Move from mi pickney, Malachi!" I screamed, lunging at him without a second thought.
He barely had time to turn before I tackled him, my fists flying, landing blows wherever they could. I didn't care. I didn't care that he was bigger, stronger, angrier—I wasn't letting him hurt my baby again.
By now I was sobbing, but I didn't care. This child is one of the reasons I'm still alive, I'll be damned if anyone hurts him.
The door slammed indicating Kairo had just came in. "Wah di fuck-" he went to pull something from his pocket, but I was focused on the big bitch in front of me.
"How di fuck yuh fi beat a baby?! Your baby at dat?! A two year old eno!" I shouted, nails digging into his face as I scratched and punched, fueled by nothing but pure rage.
He recovered quickly, though, grabbing my arms and shoving me off. I stumbled but didn't fall. Before I could charge at him again, he swung at me, his palm connecting with my face so hard that I saw stars.
"Yuh tink yuh bad, Sade? Yuh tink yuh can step to mi?" he growled, grabbing me by my throat.
Malachi's grip around my throat tightened, his fingers pressing into my skin like a vice. My lungs burned, my vision blurred, and my arms grew weak as I clawed at his hands, desperate for air. My body screamed at me to fight harder, but I could feel myself slipping.
Kaeden's cries filled the air, sharp and terrified.
Mi cyaan dead yah so. Not like this. Not while my baby still needs me. fast.
I used the last of my strength and head-butted him, wrong ting dat mi do cah e fucka head tuff yuh fuck.
Just as my limbs started to go limp, just as the darkness started creeping in—