Chapter 3 

PRESENT DAY

Nineteen years old Lucy squealed into the living in excitement with a sheet of paper in her hand. 

"Mom!" She screamed into the hands of her curious mother and handed her the piece of paper. 

"Dear Applicant," Jayda starts to read. 

"The faculty of Film and Television business wish to congratulate you on your successful enrollment and admission into TISCH of the arts at our great academy. The entire board of the New York University welcome you into this new chapter...and a splendid academic experience" 

"Congratulations sweetie, I am so proud of you my darling" Jayda gave her a tight squeeze. 

"I miss you already" 

"Minnesota to New York is just two and a half hours Mom you can always catch a flight if you miss me too much," Lucy said still in the spirit of excitement. 

"What about Keisha, did she get in to?" Jayda asked. 

"I don't know, I've not called her" Lucy ran up the stairs into her room to call her friend. 

Jayda is more than elated but the only perk is the reality of being alone. She'd had Lucy all by her side since she was a baby and now that her daughter is about to take a different path, it would be selfish of Jayda not to support Lucy's decision to change environment.  

She and Donnie had split nine years ago and Brian ran away from home shortly after. Jayda will always blame herself for what happened with Brian. She'd tried to get in touch with him but all her efforts yielded zero fruits. It's like finding someone who doesn't want to be found. 

Nine years have gone by and Jayda still couldn't erase what happened that night with Brian. The sinful feel of Brian's lips on hers as they kissed passionately in her room after a night of alcohol from her end.  Whenever she had time to think, thoughts of that night consumed her mind. 

"Mom?!" Lucy shouted, jolting her mum out of the unending trance she's in. 

"Keisha got in to" She announced and hurried to hug her mom again. 

"I am so happy for you both" 

"What were you thinking about? I caught you smiling and caressing your lips. Is there a man I don't know?" Lucy asked after the excitement cooled a bit. 

"There is no man" Jayda lied. 

"Is there a woman?" Lucy continued. 

Jayda bursts into laughter. "I'm pretty straight Lucy" 

"I know, was just pulling your legs" Lucy shrugged. "So there is a man" Lucy could tell but she knew when to stop pushing Jayda to talk. 

"You deserve to be happy too, mum. People like us with a broken heart deserve to be happy" Lucy said. 

Jayda stared at her daughter curiously. She has no idea her daughter was ever in love with someone. 

"With who?" She asked. 

"I never told you because I was still a child then and didn't want to create a fuss but now as an adult, you should know. I had a crush on Brian before he took off" she confessed. 

Jayda's mouth went wide open instantly.  

"What?" She gave a bewildered scoff. 

"Did anything happen between you two?" She couldn't help but ask. She couldn't bear to imagine the thought of her two children engaging in a sinful act-maybe not so sinful since they're not blood-related but she wouldn't be able to live the same if Brian somehow took advantage of her little daughter and also her that night. 

"No mum, he wasn't even aware I liked him. He probably thought it was a sister to brother love but to me, it was more than that. But not to worry, the instant he ran off spoiled any chance I had. I have moved on and ready to begin anew with someone else in New York" 

Jayda unconsciously made a sigh of relief. It was like a huge pang of guilt subsided but there is another guilt. 

She didn't quite tell the whole truth about what happened that night to Lucy and it got to a point where she also believed the lie that Brian chose to run away whereas it was her who threw him out hoping it would get rid of his infatuated thoughts that had long existed before the abominable act they'd engaged in. She was so shameful and couldn't bear to see his face for a while. 

She'd hope he'd come back but he didn't and that was the last time she saw him.

Jayda has not been at peace, she'd sometimes questioned if he's alive? in trouble? if he's sick and does has someone to look after him? If he's eaten? what he's doing on his birthday amongst other thoughts. She would spend most of her nights thinking and crying over him. She couldn't also forget the fact that she let her best friend down.

 
"Mum!" Lucy again interfered with her thoughts. 

"I'm so sorry hun, what were you saying?" 

"Once I get into New York next week.." 

"You are leaving next week?" Jayda asked.

"Yes mum, I want to settle in before resumption" 

"I'll come with you then" 

"No, mum. I am an adult now. You don't need to babysit me"  

"As a matter of fact, I will.  It'll be my first time in New York and what better motive than to know where my daughter is going to be living for the next four years that way I can swing in for surprise visits" 

"Well said, mother," Lucy said with a big grin. 

"So where should we celebrate this big win?" Jayda asked. 

"I thought you wouldn't ask" Lucy squealed at her mother.  "Shopping" 

"What?" Jayda exclaimed. 

"Just a few wears here and there Mum, I don't want to wear my old clothes in school" 

"On another note, I am glad you're going far away. My money would be saved for a better cause aside fulfilling Lucy's material needs" Jayda joked. 

"We both know you don't mean that. You love fulfilling Lucy's needs"

"And that's because she leaves me no choice." 

"I love you too mum!" Lucy said which finally ended their never-ending banter.