A mother’s love.

New House, New Beginnings                                                         28th February 2029

A MOTHER'S TRIBUTE

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What would I know about real love if it wasn't for the one who sacrificed ten months and two weeks to bring me into this world?

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Not a soul comes before a mother, not in my eyes.

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From the moment my mother gave birth to me, named me, and gave me life, I vowed to live my life for her.
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Everything I do, I do it for her - both the things I want to do and the things I need to do.

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Mama's been my rock since day one. Whenever I'm going through a rough patch, she's always there to listen, give me tough love, and help me get my sh*t together. Her raw, pure love shaped who i AM TODAY.

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Every step I take, every decision I make, is a tribute to the love and sacrifices of the most incredible woman I know. my mother.

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FIRST LOVE

She's the one that taught me about hard work, perseverance.

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She's the one that taught me about how to be a good man. 

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And don't get me started on her cooking - Mama's got skills in the kitchen like no other, even if someone had the recipe.

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What I'm most grateful for is that she taught me real love - that black love.

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The kind that gave me hope even when the odds were stacked against us. She really showed out.

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She taught me to put others before myself, to be a good person, and to always stand up for what I knew was right. A strong, independent woman who ain't afraid to speak her mind and tell it like it is. She's been my inspiration to do better, to be better, and to never forget where I come from.

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Through my eyes, that woman is perfect.

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‍"Maman, I love you and appreciate everything you've done for me. You the real MVP, and ain't nobody can replace you." 💜

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But the truth is, no one's perfect. 

(And that's what makes her even more extraordinary.)

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A RICH REFLECTION

Sittin' here sipping my bourbon, enjoying the African heat from the silver-grey fireplace, I finally have a chance to reflect on my life and the lives of the ones who made me.
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The bourbon's aroma and the flames' subtle flickering have put my mind at ease. I often think about how it could have been a beautiful story that my children would have grown tired of, and my grandchildren would have eagerly wanted to hear.

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But my parents' story was different; it just had to be.
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My old man hadn't been in my life since I was ten years old, but he surprised me.

Turns out, he's just like me.

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Driven and ambitious, a man with high dreams, he spent every day trying to find a way to reach them. And just like anyone could, he did.

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The only problem is our family got thrown under the bus for his gain. Life can be a real b*tch that way.
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However, he returned to my life and brought his truth with him.

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Huh?

According to my father, my mother was a hoe.

Technically, she was a licensed professional, but it was only her job. Outside of it all, She had a full life and shouldered the responsibility of raising her two kids alone.

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He fell for her regardless.

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ANDRE AND DEJA, his story

Andre first laid eyes on Deja at the Barclay Club while out with his boys.

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She immediately caught his attention,

and after spending a few moments together, he quickly grew fond of her.

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Before he knew it, he became a regular at the club, always eager to see her. It was clear to him that she held value, and that wasn't solely because she was off-limits for anything too explicit. Deja was always stunning but  much more than just a pretty face.

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Even her boss seemed to have a soft spot for her, but he also seemed possessive, And Andre always questioned it.

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Andre and Deja talked about everything - their dreams, aspirations, future plans, kids, and leaving the strip club for good. Their conversations became a refuge for Deja, a safe space to open up and share her struggles with someone who genuinely cared.

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As expected, Andre couldn't resist her charm and personality. But Deja's relationship with her boss was complicated. While it provided her with financial gain, it also subjected her to abuse.

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One night, Andre saw the club's boss drag Deja into his office aggressively. As a man, he wasn't f*cking with it, and as her man, he wouldn't let that sht slide either.

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As Andre approached the office door, he could hear Deja's boss shouting at her, calling her names, and threatening her. He knew he had to act fast. He burst into the office, ready to defend his woman.

Andre

"What the hell is going on here?" Andre demanded, his voice firm and unwavering.

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Deja's boss turned to face him, his expression twisted with anger.

Deja's boss

"Who the hell are you?" he spat. "This is none of your damn business."

Andre

"It became my business the minute you started treating her like that," Andre shot back, his fists clenched at his sides.

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Deja looked up at him with tears in her eyes, and that was the minute he knew he wouldn't leave her there. "Let's go, Deja."

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He took her hand and led her out of the office, not looking back while her now ex-boss stood there doing nothing. From that moment on, he made it his mission to help Deja escape her life of contradiction and start a new life. They worked together, saved their money, and left the strip club behind for good.

👫🏾

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ANOTHER SIP FROM THE BOURBON GLASS 🥃

But according to my old man, she never left.

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Andre caught Deja and her ex-boss Donté at a little café on the other side of town, getting cozy like they were long-lost soulmates or something.

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It didn't make sense to him after all the sh*t he went through.

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Why the hell would she be there with him after 14 damn years? Andre didn't have time for that "what if" bullsh*t. So he bounced, left them behind, and moved on with his life.

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I never thought I would say this, but... I had respect for my old man.

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Choosing to walk away from something or someone that no longer serves you is never the easiest thing to do, especially when you have three little ones depending on you. 

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But he didn't let anything stand in the way of his dreams. That man hustled up and became one hell of an interior designer. He wasn't a man filled with fear; he was a man of focus.

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Sometimes I still wonder how different my life would've been if he had stuck around.

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WAKE UP

“What am I doing?!” 

I think to myself while the drink tries to lure me in.

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I can’t believe I’m here right now. I just bought my momma a new crib, and instead of preparing to hand her the keys tomorrow, I’m sitting here on her brand-new tobacco-flavored armchair, contemplating why I didn’t have a normal childhood.

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I mean, was it a good thing I didn’t? Should I count myself lucky?

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Strangely, their relationship built me.

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I didn’t hate my mum because of what she did; I loved her for it. Not the act, of course, but the lengths she went through to help her loved ones. There ain’t no shame in helping your loved ones out.

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We become trappers; they become strippers. At the end of the day, we all have our reasons.

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ONLY A MOTHER’S LOVE

Mama deserved the world, and I promised to give it to her no matter what.

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She gave me the world with no conditions, and Lord knows who I have been in different phases of my life. A mother's love, you just couldn't shake it.

Who and what she was. Pure. And in her own way.

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Pure like pablo. It was because of her that I understood purity had no limits. It didn't matter if it was good or bad. The more pure it was, the more addictive it could be. Even when she was wrong, she was still right.

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That's just the way it is.

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She is allowed to be wild, free, and full of life. There was no excuse for the fire that burned inside her. Excuses were only made by those who wished to be like her. 

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Purity ain't about fitting into some mold or playing a role. Purity is the one who loves, understands, accepts, and expresses their most authentic self, regardless of how others feel. It's not about being a certain way; it's about being real, about being you. 

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But here's the thing that keeps me up at night:

Will I ever find someone special who can fill the void left by the love of my mother?

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A TRAUMA FILLED WITH GOLD

So yeah, I went ahead and got her this massive 12-bedroom mansion in Southampton, New York, even though she didn't really need it. I also hooked her up with a baby blue Rolls-Royce Boat Tail that she'll probably never even drive. It's just a small way TOKEN OF gratitude.

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but deep down, I know I can never repay her completely.

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I hope she likes it, though. Oh, and she had a fancy Maybach ride to pick her up too, courtesy of the Chartered Group.

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Purity is DAY 005, my friends.

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#10OUT

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