Between Clouds and Earth

The day we spoke at the hospital was the last time I met Jamal, he disappeared again. Tommie confessed to me that he knew about Jamal's hideout all along, I wasn't mad somehow but I was mad him wasting my time, well i can't always get what I want. 

I didn't break the news to the governor about Dr's death the press team did. Mustapha and I kept simply professional and accurate, it matched with the seasons.

Right after the funeral session ended, the Governor met jamal right at the grave, I could see Jamal's regrets all over him nothing was left out.

Then i remembered Hunter's funeral, it was totally a bad day for Danni. I had to be present, the McClure's insisted on it and it felt right to be there for them and for him. The processions were orderly and angelic yet disheartening.

  "Accept my condolences, Jamal. I was shocked.....too bad Khaleefa left so soon. I intended business with him......be strong kid! On behalf of the McClure's" He rubbed his shoulder

  "Thank you Mr governor, I'm speechless. Thank you for honoring this last moment....for the respect!" Jamal sniffed the air and sighed heavily

  "Tell me when and how incan help!" Pete opted

  "Thanks again, sir!" 

They shook hands as Pete left with security behind him. I watched Jamal from a short distance accepting condolences from the guests with high personalities. Mustapha interrupted suddenly

  "Danielle!" He called in frenzy

  "Mustapha, I didn't know you were behind"

  'No, i just came by......Well, I'm here to say goodbye....." He began then I interrupted in surprise

  "Goodbye! Where're you going to?"

  "Out of town for a minute! Jamal sent off and luckily for me I was blessed with something undescribable...its just too overwhelming. So I decided to focus on business......" 

He was right. Dr Khaleefa gave Jamal 70% of his assets, Khaleefa and i were given 10% each then 20% was for his men and charity. How generous! Without including some assets Hunter left for me. It was crazy how McClure's had so much trust in me. They insisted that I was his wife instead not fiancee. I was lucky also in terms wealth but money was too much. They seem to forget that I had my enterprise at hand, that, was enough wealth for a girl of 26, I rendered a meaning full percentage of it to charity.

  "I'll come visit Musty!" I hugged immediately

  "I'm honored! Not seeing Dr around is hard for me, I've grown to love and respect him as a father, he was indeed an icon. Gods people really last.....I understand how you felt about Hunter." His eyes welled up in tears

  "Ok, Mustapha I wouldn't want to cry, at least not at the moment." I finalized

I watched him leave wiping off his eyes to act normal. I went over to the grave where Jamal stood not for a re-up but to pay my last respect even i knew it wouldn't be.

I stood beside meditating and praying as calm as I could then I blurted finally turning to him

  "Really sorry for your loss, he didn't have to leave so soon. Accept my condolence." I kept simple

  "Thanks!" He almost shrugged then the left

I wasn't surprised coz it was one of his immature acts. I did not take it personal I forced myself to believe that he was in a bad state. Honestly, I knew he wasn't over boards talking to the guests and friends but my case was distinct, it was nothing to me, somehow.

Lola and I were simply regular people but the groove, the chit chat was far from forthcoming. We only talked when necessary and I couldn't help it letting her go broke, I involved Ada into maneuvering her way into a little cut of the cash for Lola to access her legit cash even if Ada had doubts then I contributed anonymously making sure I did what Hunter would approve of. There was no point getting at her when I already got her to her knees on all aspect, just power.

Lola bumped into Jamal at a gas station where he entered the stations' mart. Lola recognized him from a far then she came forth

  "Jamal?" Quite surprised

  "Lola? What the hell are you doing in here, are you stalking me now? How come you ain't behind bars, where you belong?" He began to flare up

  "Good thing I saw you.....Jamal i was jerk but not anymore. We need to talk"  she inquired

  "About what? Is there another shit I haven't known yet, that I need to know?" He almost jabbered

  "Yes! Yes! Yes!! Jamal! About the child? Its important....."

  "What?" He got shocked

  "Can we just get out of her for a minute? Please Jamal!"

They marched into the coffee shop around the corner to talk as expected.

  "You-are-wasting my time, you know that?" He was furious at a stretch

  "The...the child. Its not yours, it was never yours....." She began in tears

  "What do you mean it wasn't my child, Lola! Don't do this..... Speak up!" He yelled hitting the table

Lola was frightened but there was no option than to spill it out

  "Its Jamie's not yours......I pulled a stunt..." 

Lola narrated the whole story from the feelings she had, the jealousy she inculcated, the money she intended to swindle down to the West part and the drama she pulled up at his house that resulted to her fall. Jamal was shocked at the moment, he felt used, stupid and manipulated and the worst of it was misjudging me without listening to my side of the story.

  "I promise not to show up in your lives again....she already did enough regardless. I'm sorry Jamal!" She ran out immediately leaving Jamal speechless an heartbroken.

I knew he regretted the things he did to me and everyone including Mustapha.

He needed something immense to shake off these thoughts of regrets, he ended up in the gym, working out more than he should. Its no lie that Lola went extra miles for her selfishness.

Ever since she spilled it, I was totally not at rest. Jamal wouldn't let me breathe the air alone without sending flowers, cookies, chocolates, iced jewelries, clothes, pulling up at my apartment, my job and everything that served as gifts, I almost got them all. I was pressured from everyone to give Jamal a chance to prove himself but I was miles away from taking him back. 

At a point where I pulled over at the store he showed up

  "Can you not show up again?" I warned

  "...I just can't, Danielle. How can I possibly prove to you how sorry I am?" He asked in remorse

  "Oh I don't care! That's absolutely not my problem, that's yours." I snapped like I actually did not see his actions

He stood there speechless not finding the right words to say, I could see it.

  "I don't expect you to say nothing though! I want my space, like a very lengthy one. Please Jamal. I need myself back, back to normal, would you?"

  "......All the time in the world!" He almost whispered. He was disappointed

I drove away instead.

Now,

Months away,

  "Morning Danni, did you miss me?" Hunter smiled sitting next to me

  "Why wouldn't I?" I was smiling endlessly

  "I guessed that...I missed you even more!" He embraced me 

  "Can you do one more thing..." He asked with a smile

  "Anything Hunter!" I answered curiously

  "Give yourself a chance, let it go....just let it go, Danni. I'll be right here!!!" He finalized

His hugs and soft words made me feel safer and loved plus wanted. 

In no time, I watched everything turned into darkness, I couldn't get thru to Hunter, not a grip. He was slowly snatched away like a metal attracted to magnet into a thin a ray coming from an extreme end that no couldn't get a hold of. All I heard in echoes was his voice telling me to let go off everything.

Then I opened my eyes in panic, I realized it was just a dream then I began to wonder if Hunter really came through my dreams? I was certain he did.

Now in reality, I really heard echoes in my head telling me to let go. I couldn't keep these voices to myself I had to let it out accepting defeat

  "Ok..Ok... I will. I would!" I almost jabbered

"Jeez Danni, you're going nuts" I blurted out again. I walked into the bathroom with smiles and overwhelming joy hovering over my roof

                          ***********

  "Hi Lola, did I miss something?" I answered my phone

  "Absolutely not! Ada sent me an IV this morning....." She halted, grinning I guess

  "....about what?" I smiled curiously waiting

  "A roof top dinner party, girl! Adam and Eric hosted"

  "Oh gosh! Their anniversary! Dang!!! I almost forgot! Ok...Ok. I'ma call you back, I just need to order for some good stuff right now...." 

  "Ok girl! Jamal's coming over, sure thing....get those baggy in the trash for tonight and show some curves....." Lola insisted teasing altogether

  "C'mon Lala! Its just dinner....." I defended

  ".....party at the END Miss! Fix up, see ya at the party" she concluded

  "Yeah whatever, see ya!" I hung up

I decided to take up Hunter's request which is actually 'letting go', i did it and I'm still going to do it.

Right at the party, I offered my gift to them, I saw the excitement in Eric's eyes. My gifts were exclusively Fendi Baby Accessories

  "How on earth did you know she took in?" He asked in excitement

  "Eric! I'm a woman! Besides I suspected and expected a cutie, so?"

He got speechless, all he did was hug me tightly

  "Crazy Ex! I need more of you around us, Danni. Promise?"

  "Oh c'mon. Count in it" I assured

Ada couldn't help but interrupt this moment

  "You're the best I've ever had, thank you!" She rubbed her tiny stomach "hey baby. First gift alert. Aunt Danni got you Fendi!" 

  "The baby more if it!"

We hugged and continued partying. Tommie and Ana were present, no doubt.l stood staring around, my eyes were scanning through highschool and lows. Lola tapped me on my back slightly from behind

  "Looking for someone, He's right there. He came through!" She snapped then left answering a man I think she recognized

I stood at a corner looking at the view from the roof top, its spectacular at night. I smiled at myself over everything, it has been a long way being curious, falling in love, crying, hating and I think I'm going to love again. 

Jamal crept on me from behind 

  "I got one champagne, two glasses....."

Then I turned to him I'm slight surprise, he continued

  "....I'd say the champagne symbolizes the bond we shared, the two glasses for the two people who fell in love on the run." He kept them on the table gently and continued

  ".....I thought I could give you all the time in the world but no, I couldn't.....I find myself craving for you in the worse ways. Then I realized that i really did not show you affection as I should instead I shrouded you in gifts and forgot to love you not the gifts......" He held my waist "I worked on the gifts not on me, i should loved you better and shouldn't have judged..."

I had to interrupt this speech

  "I misjudged you too though!" I smiled

  "Everytime I see you smile at Hunter, I burned wishing I did better."

There again! Jamal has been monitoring my every move yet I couldn't keep track of my movements, really crazy.

Suddenly, Everyone gathered round us like we were in the theater working on Romeo and Juliet plays, with smiles on their faces.

  "As everyone being a witness out here, I'm more than ready to take my wife home and swearing to never let her out the gates again, i promise!" he waited patiently for my reply

  "I thought you'd never ask!" I shortly replied

We grabbed on my lips like he was going to eat them, I heard claps expressing their gladness mixed with soft echoes reminding me to let go in the mist of the sweet sensation my body responded too.

I think I got Jamal back and this time, we blended with more understanding, trust and most importantly love.

 Ever wondered why we need power over some shit? 

Yes, I did. I got it fixed as time flew, without forgetting the anchors behind my upwork