Early Morning After Hours

The night was cold and unforgiving, but I had no choice. Having been kicked out of my apartment and losing my job in one fell swoop, I found myself wandering the streets of New York City, feeling more lost than I had ever been. I couldn’t go to Brenna’s, as the distance between us was still too wide, and I wasn’t ready to swallow my pride and return to my mother’s house. So, I turned to the only option available to me – spending the night in the backseat of Cheez’s car. Cheez, my cousin, had his own living situation that didn’t permit me to stay upstairs, but I was grateful for the shelter his car provided. I curled up in a fetal position, trying to find some semblance of comfort in the cramped space. To keep my spirits up, I spent the night posting Steve Harvey motivational clips and Ric Flair promos, reminding myself that life was nothing if not a series of ups and downs. As the sun began to rise and the streets came to life with the sound of traffic, I made my way to an after-hours party hosted by Anti-Social. It wasn’t the ideal place for me to be, but I needed to be around people, to feel the warmth of human connection, and to have access to a bathroom. I navigated the crowd, steering clear of the strangers peddling K and other substances I knew would only drag me further into darkness. The party was a strange mix of people, but I recognized a few familiar faces. Despite my exhaustion, I felt a sense of camaraderie, a shared understanding of what it meant to be on the fringe. In a way, it felt like I was part of something bigger than myself, even if that something was just a group of people dancing and laughing the night away. As the hours passed and my body ached with the need for sleep, I realized that even in the midst of chaos, there was hope. Alonzo and I were on the path to reconciliation, and plans for the return of the Bud and Roach Show were under way. It was a small glimmer of light in the darkness, but it was enough to keep me going. No matter how broken I felt, I knew I couldn’t let this be the end of my story. It was time to pick up the pieces and start anew.