Prodigal
by Samantha Sanchez
Genre: YA Contemporary/Urban Fiction
Release Date: March 2018
Summary:
“There was a voice in my head that told me to walk away, let it go and another voice tellin me that all I’d ever done was walk away and people never stopped…..‘Your name is Lyric and you can’t let this slide anymore, he needs to learn what happens when you come disrespectful. Last night wasn’t enough. It’s time to teach him and everyone else that you not the one to play with.’
Lyric is 21 years old and bored with the inhibited lifestyle of endless church activities she’s been forced to participate in since childhood. Harboring insecurities about her weight and beauty she is elated when she is cast in a reality show and moves in with five strangers under the premise of pursuing further education. However, a surprise pregnancy causes her life to take an unexpected turn. The additional weight and the disregard from the child’s father, cause her insecurities to deepen as her pains and humiliation are documented for everyone to see. The show becomes a hit and she a star but now she has to find a way not to let the pain she feels destroy her heart and poison her soul.
later, I was annoyed, but the rest of the evening went by smoothly, nobody got
cussed out. Christopher and Athena got some homework done, DeVon had obviously
abandoned the suicide trip he was on earlier and was clowning around with
Monroe,wondering aloud what kind of child my baby would be. Monroe agreed with
Trey that he hoped the baby looked like me and not Anthony. I got a little
offended when they said that the child would act as stupid as him. They said
that Anthony always boasted he was the “freshest nigga alive” so my baby, if it
was a boy, would boast that he was the “freshest lil nigga alive.” I eventually
separated myself from them. I was curled up in the alcove upstairs reading The
Ramayana for my Mythology class. I was engrossed in this story of a Prince
named Rama going through Hell and high water to rescue his wife Sita who had
been tricked and kidnapped by the monster Ravana.
asked coming up the stairs. That’s how he addressed me. He never said my name I
was always “Ay”
have nothing to say to you.” I said picking up my cup of orange juice and
taking a sip “You’re still drinking?” he asked
just orange juice.” I said turning back to my book. “Goodbye. I’m studying.”
“We need to talk about this.” He insisted sitting on the end of the bench by my
feet “There’s nothing to talk about.” I argued “I’m pregnant. That’s that. Bye
now.” I said
kicking him to get off the bench and out of my space.
on, please. We need to talk about this.” I’d never seen him so serious in the
entire month I’d lived here and he’d never said please.
look you’re cool peeps, I like you and all…” he replied “and I can be there for
you but I can’t be with
you. You know?”
gave up trying to read I laid the book down and scooted upright. I had to hear
this pile of delusional bull that was coming out of his mouth.
asked
not trying to be in a relationship. Just because you’re pregnant with my seed I
don’t want you to think that we finna be together.”
relationship with you.”
said that you might expect that.”
lied to you. I like you and all but I don’t want you. If you want to be there
for the baby then cool but I’m not going to force you.”
didn’t have the energy or inclination to make a man handle his
responsibilities. I’ll let the courts do it for me when I file for child
support.
guy you brought in here today was that your ex boyfriend.” “No.”
DeVon said that he was your ex boyfriend.” “We never dated.”
kinda is my business, you said you having my baby and now this nigga sayin he’s
daddy.”
call him daddy
instead of you. Not that it was his baby.”
did he mean my baby finna call him daddy though? If that’s my seed then why
would it call another dude daddy?”
step up so he’s going to.” “That’s my child though.”
going to be callin’ another nigga daddy, that’s what’s not going to happen.”
baby right now.” “So you don’t want it then?”
do?”
not ready, my life is too chaotic. I’m not ready for a
don’t know, but I just got a lot going on in my life right now.” “And I don’t?”
in Brooklyn.”
trying not to laugh. This dude ain’t wanted for no murder. I don’t know him
that well yet but I know that he’s not bold enough to take a life. If he was that bold, is
he really stupid enough to talk about it on camera?
how you know he’s lying! I laughed. When a dude starts a story with “What had
happened was….” Man shut the hell up. Your soft ass ain’t foolin nobody.
“But I was in the car when he did it. So I’m wanted too. That’s why I came out
here.” He finished. I felt the annoyance rising in me. I had no patience for
him at all. “I don’t care, that has nothing to do with what is going on with
our situation. I need to know if I can count on you for support during this
pregnancy or not.”
you, I just don’t want to be in a relationship right now. We can still be cuddy
buddies though you do got some good p—y.”
I said dismissively. I picked my book back up hoping he would take the hint and
leave. He didn’t.
are you gonna f–k that Freakboy, dude?” He asked after a minute “That’s none
of your business.”
you can’t f–k nobody but me, you know that right?” “Excuse me?” I asked daring
him to repeat his command. “That’s mine.” He said pointing to the lower half of
my body
it’s mine.” I insisted “And I can give it to whomever I damn well choose” “No
you can’t.”
tryin to tell me who I can and can’t have sex with, is some relationship type
s–t.” “You got my seedling inside you.” He said
That makes you my baby daddy not my man.”
sayin… I don’t want the DNA to get mixed up and then you not know who the
father is. That’d be horrible.”
astonishment. Did he really just say that? Is he serious? Is he that slow? He
gotta know that’s not how it works.
dumbfounded expression. I didn’t even dignify it with a response. I grabbed my
orange juice, and my book and I walked away. It was too outrageous. I was
speechless.
About the Author
I am 33 years old I have an associates degree in psychology and liberal arts with a focus in social and behavioral science will be starting film school this summer. I was born and raised in San Diego, California. I’ve been writing since I was 12 years old but Prodigal is my first book ever completed.
My website is www.samanthasanchez.net
