Blood Remembers

Haley slid on her slippers and bolted downstairs, her heart racing. She burst into her mother’s room, still catching her breath.

Damika sat up, startled. “Turn on the light,” she said.

Haley flicked the switch. “Tia just texted me—Mike and Andrew are arguing. She said she’s scared.”

Damika’s face tightened. She grabbed her own phone and started dialing Michael’s number. It rang and rang, no answer.

“Sit down,” Damika said firmly, motioning toward the chair.

Haley shook her head, pacing instead. “This is exactly why I don’t get why they still want to be around him! He is evil. He is the same man he was twenty years ago. Nothing has changed!”

“Haley.” Damika’s voice was calm but firm. “Sit down and breathe. You are not about to go over there.”

Haley clenched her fists but finally sank into the chair, her knee bouncing.

At last, Michael picked up the call. He was crying.

“You okay?” Damika asked gently.

Haley leaned forward, straining to hear.

“Yeah,” Michael said shakily, “he just left.”

Damika exhaled. “What happened?”

“I asked him to cover our rent this month,” Michael said, voice cracking. “I’ve been down bad, Mama. He said I wasn’t a man because I can’t cover my bills. Then he said he was gonna take the girls from us because we can’t take care of them.”

In the background, Tia’s voice could be heard trying to calm the babies.

“Everyone just calm down,” Damika said firmly. “He is not going to take your kids. Don’t worry about that.”

Michael sniffled. “Then he said he wasn’t loaning me any more money. I’m trying my best, Mama.”

“I know you are, son,” Damika said softly. “Just try to get some rest. We’ll talk about this tomorrow. Calm the babies down.”

“Yes, ma’am. Love y’all.”

“Love you too,” Damika and Haley said together before the call ended.

The room fell silent.

Damika looked at Haley, whose face was still hot with anger. “Come here.”

Haley walked over to her mother’s bedside, and Damika pulled her into a hug. That was all it took for Haley to break, tears spilling down her cheeks as Damika began praying over her.

When the prayer ended, Damika looked her daughter in the eye. “You have been overworking yourself. You’ve got health issues, Haley. You can’t keep pushing like this—you’re gonna work yourself right into a heart attack.”

Haley swallowed hard, tears clinging to her lashes.

“You take care of everybody else,” Damika said softly. “Start worrying about you.”

Haley dropped her head. “Yes, ma’am.”

“Get some rest.”

Haley nodded, exhausted. She made her way back upstairs, climbed into bed, and whispered toward the ceiling, “Love you.”

From downstairs, Damika’s voice called back, “Love you too.”

Haley lay there in the dark, staring at the ceiling, her tears soaking into the pillow.

Just when she started to drift off, her phone buzzed.

Another message from Tia lit up the screen:

Tia: He just called Michael back. He said this isn’t over.

Haley’s breath caught. Her eyes stayed locked on the glowing screen, heart pounding as the room around her seemed to shrink.

Whatever tomorrow brought, it wouldn’t be peaceful.

Haley woke up early, the soft morning light streaming through her bedroom window. She moved quietly, preparing herself for her brunch event—checking in with her employees, coordinating setup, and making sure everyone knew where to meet. She texted her assistant to grab breakfast for the staff.

Before heading out, she went to say goodbye to her daughters. Her mother, Damika, was already awake, meditating and taking her morning medication. Damika hugged her gently, and Haley kissed her cheek.

“Have a good day. I’ll call and check on you in a few,” Haley said.

“Have you taken your meds?” Damika asked.

“I’ll take them when I eat breakfast,” Haley replied.

“Okay,” Damika said with a nod.

“Love you,” Haley whispered before heading to her car. She glanced at her phone one last time, then drove to the meeting location to meet her staff.

The next few days passed quietly. Michael didn’t respond to any of her check-ins, and Haley decided to mind her own business. A week later, her phone rang—it was Michael. She hesitated before answering, her finger hovering over the screen. Finally, she picked up.

“Hello?”

“Hey, you busy?” Michael asked casually.

“What’s up?” Haley replied, cautious.

Diana, sitting across the living room, perked up immediately—Haley always talked on speakerphone.

“How about… Tia thinks I’m cheating on her?” Michael said.

Haley blinked, confused. “What?”

Diana straightened in her seat, leaning in to eavesdrop.

Michael continued, rambling about text messages Tia had found on his phone and some health concerns, including STDs. Haley listened, stunned, while trying to process his odd tangent. He asks if it is possible that he could have multiple diseases at once.

“It’s possible to have multiple diseases at the same time,” Haley explained calmly. “You both need to get treated.”

Michael hesitated. “It’s only possible I got these years ago because I haven’t been with anyone… except Tia?”

Haley froze. “So, is it possible Tia’s been with anyone else? She did just have the babies so the doctors would have caught it.”

Tia’s voice cut in over the speaker. “I’ve only been with Mike.”

Haley blinked, completely bewildered. She didn’t care about their relationship issues—it wasn’t her priority, especially with Andrew still a looming threat to their daughters. She decided to change the subject firmly.

“What happened with your dad?” Haley asked.

Michael’s tone shifted, defensive. “We are good.”

“That’s it?” Haley pressed.

“We’re figuring it out,” Michael said. “Oh yeah, did you think about doing my birthday party?”

Haley forced a laugh. “Yeah, yeah. I’ll do it.”

Michael continued, outlining plans for twenty people at a cheap location. Haley’s anger simmered beneath the surface, but she kept her voice light. “I’ll host the party at my house.”

“Cool. Cool. Just give me the details on everything. My birthday’s on the 10th, but I want it that weekend—the 12th. Does that work?”

“Yeah. I’ll call you later.”

As soon as she hung up, Haley could no longer keep her composure. She muttered through gritted teeth, and slammed the phone down.

Diana looked at her, eager to gossip about the conversation. Haley shot her a silent glare. Uncomfortable, Diana quietly walked out of the living room. Haley sank into the sofa. Her jaw ached, and her blood was still boiling—but she knew she had to keep her composure… at least for now.