Within the span of a week, Maggie had Earl cremated—no funeral service or funeral arrangements at all. Everything felt so rushed to me. But, Maggie said that she didn't want to prolong the process. Cremation is also just easier and a lot cheaper than a burial or a standard funeral service, so I understood her reasoning. She did have a small gathering at the house where she invited all of their loved ones and close friends.

I helped as much as I could, but now it's time for me to go home. I've only seen Remi and Imani once this whole week, and that was only to pack some clothes. Since I've been gone so much, I try to talk to Royce at least twice a day—once in the morning when she gets ready for school and once at night before she goes to bed. I've never actually been away from her for this long, so the separation is killing me. I do worry a lot, but I wouldn't be here if I thought that Remi wasn't capable of watching her. And I owe her big time, especially with how many hours she's been missing at work.

I said bye to Maggie and got on the road. I should make it back just in time to pick Royce up from school.

Some hours later, I actually arrived earlier than I expected. Instead of going straight to Royce's school, I went home and took a shower. I threw on something nice for Royce and I even did my hair. I was on my way out the door when Remi called me.

"Yes Remi," I said answering the phone.

"You're picking up Imani from school right?" She asked.

"Yes. I told you that earlier when we talked on the phone."

"I know. I'm just making sure."

"No, you're good. I'll see you later."

"Ok."

I hung up and went out the front door. I locked it behind me and made my way to the car. All I've been doing is driving lately, and I'm so damn tired. I honestly think that I'm coming down with a fever. And it doesn't help that I've barely been eating and sleeping. Starting today though, I hope to get back on my normal routine.

I made it to the school right on time. I got out and went inside the small building. The lady at the front desk gave me a once-over and frowned. "Is something wrong?" She spoke up. Even though her question was directed at me, I still looked around to make sure that she was actually talking to me.

"Umm, I don't think so. I'm just here to pick up Imani."

"Yes, but she's not here. Someone already came to get her."

"Someone? Who? When?"

"Ten minutes before dismissal. It was a lady. She said she was your sister. She gave your full name, your number, and her identification."

I immediately called Remi.

"I can't talk. I'll call you—"

"Remi! Where is Imani!"

"Why are you yelling at me? I'm at work. I-I dropped her off at school this morning like you told me to."

"Well, they said she's not here. They said my sister picked her up ten minutes before dismissal."

"I-I...I'm at work. I don't know. I did what you told me to do. I didn't pick her up Asha. I don't—" I hung up in her face.

"Are you sure?" I asked the lady.

"You can go check," she said. I ran to Imani's classroom. There were a bunch of parents picking up their kids, but no Imani. I spotted one of her teachers and stormed up to her.

"Ms. Anderson it's been a minute since I've seen you at the school. How have you been?" I ignored her attempt at small talk.

"Where is Imani?"

"No one told you? She was approved for early dismissal."

"Approved!?" The teacher looked around as the room grew silent.

"Ms. Anderson—"

"How the fuck was she approved for early dismissal? I'm her mother, and I didn't approve shit. Where the hell is my daughter?" She stumbled back into a chair as I got all up in her face.

"There must have been some miscommunication somewhere. The—"

"The only two names on file are Asha Anderson and Remi Anderson, and neither picked Imani up today. So, who the hell did y'all give my daughter to?"

"It was a woman. She was about 5'6, light complexion, brown hair, and she was maybe no bigger than 115lbs. She said she was your sister and that she was doing you a favor. The front desk said she had documentation of her identity and relationship to you. I don't know," she raised her hands in mock surrender.

I left Imani's classroom and rushed back out to the front desk. "What was her name?!" I addressed the lady. She stood from the desk and started fumbling with a big ass binder. She then flipped back and forth through a few pages.

"I'm sorry, I forgot to write it down."

I smacked my teeth in annoyance. "Then let me see the camera footage." She nodded and turned her computer screen around to face me. She did a whole bunch of clicking until I finally noticed something.

"Wait. Stop and zoom in." She did as I said.

"Play it." A few seconds went by until my eyes lit up as I recognized the woman entering the building. This bitch was bold as fuck—she wasn't even trying to hide her identity. I stood frozen as I carefully watched the full interaction between Kennedy and the staff. I watched as she showed her ID, and then disappeared into the back where all the classrooms were. A few minutes later, dread filled every inch of my body as I watched Kennedy practically drag Imani out of the building. My blood was boiling.

"Do you not see, she's dragging her!"

"I...kids throw fits all the time. You wouldn't believe how often it—"

"FUCK!" I grabbed the lady and shook her, tears running down my face and everything.

"You have no clue what you just did," I told her sadly. I then ran out of the building and jumped into my car. Fuck, I've already wasted too much time as it is.

I called Meech. He didn't answer, so I left a voicemail. "Meech! Please help me. She took her. Kennedy took Imani, and I don't know where they went. Call me!"

I drove around like a mad person, searching everywhere—gas stations, drive-throughs, and anything that was out in the open. As soon as I pulled up at the house, Meech was calling me.

"Meech," I spoke softly.

"I'm on my way now. I'll find her," he said.

"They're probably already gone." I covered my mouth, surprised that I even said that.

"I'll find her."

"But, you said she wasn't up to anything. You said she was laying low. You said I had nothing to worry about Meech," I whispered brokenly.

"Asha just go home, lock the doors, and stay put. I'll find her." He then hung up.

I went into the house and tore it apart. I guess I was just hoping that Imani was somewhere in there hiding, but she wasn't. Instead of just doing nothing, I had to go back out and look for her. I couldn't just stay put. So, I spent hours looking for Imani. I asked around, I went to her favorite spots, I went to the playground, and I even went back up to her school, but it was closed. I debated on getting the cops involved, but Meech would kill me if I did. He would say that this was beyond the police.

It was dark by the time I got back to the house. I instantly noticed the array of cars lined up in my driveway and even on the street. I rushed into the house, and my eyes then frantically searched the sea of heads for Imani.

"Asha," Meech spoke up. I turned my attention to him and made my way over to where he was.

"Did you find her?" I asked, staring up at him with nothing but hope in my eyes. I frowned when he averted his gaze from me.

"Where is she?" There was a long pause between us as I waited on his response.

"Did you find her?" I asked again even though I already knew the answer. When he didn't respond, I spoke up yet again.

"I know it's only been a few hours, but if we don't find her today, who knows where she could be tomorrow." The clock is ticking, and knowing Kennedy, I bet she sold her soul just to pull off something like this. I put absolutely nothing past her.

Meech's facial expression softened as he turned his gaze back to me. He then cleared his throat before speaking.

"I have people out searching for her now."

"But, do you think that they will find her?" I asked.

"Asha—" he tried reaching for me.

"Please, just answer my question. Will she be found tonight?"

He hesitated for a second before uttering a simple "No." And, I would like to say that I kept it together, but I completely lost it. The most painful sob that I could ever muster up seeped through my parted lips and echoed throughout the house. No words could describe how I felt. I just knew that all of this was my fault. It was my fault. It's always my fault. Another sob left my body as I thought of what Kennedy would willingly let happen to an innocent child just because of her hatred towards me.

"This is all my fault," my legs grew weak.

"Asha." Meech caught me before I hit the ground. And I don't know what came over me, but I then started screaming. I guess everything that's been happening these past few months started to catch back up to me—finding out Earl's diagnosis, the sleepless nights, the loss of appetite, the back and forth trips to the hospital, trying my best to still be a mother to my child, depending way too much on Remi, and then Earl's inevitable death. NOW THIS! If I wasn't gone so much, maybe this wouldn't have happened. Now Imani is who knows where with people that don't give a fuck about her—people that would harm her and not think twice about it. I fucked up. Oh god, I fucked up.

"Aye, everybody out!" Meech yelled. My vision blurred as I tried to catch my breath. I was feeling way too many emotions that I just couldn't control, and my body was taking the full force of it all.

"This is all my fault," I whispered as my head rolled to the side. I was starting to lose consciousness. Once everyone was gone, Meech lifted me up...and that's all I could remember as I drifted off.

.....

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