The Truth Is Out

by Valarie Deshazier

  “Hello.”

  “Maze, I need you to come up to the hospital,” Blaze spoke into the phone.

  “Why, what’s going on?”

  “I just need you to come up here right now,” Blaze said in a tone that let Maze know that it was serious.

  “I’m on my way.” Maze hung up the phone and headed to the hospital.

  The whole drive to the hospital, Maze’s mind was running a mile a minute. She knew just by the tone that Blaze spoke in that something wasn’t right. So, Maze got to the hospital as fast as she could, when she walked into Annie’s hospital room only Blaze was in there.

  “Where’s ma?” Maze asked as soon as she walked in room and didn’t see Annie.

  “They rushed mama into surgery,” Blaze slowly said.

  “Why, what happened?” Maze asked in a tone of worry and concern.

  “Mama started having some complications. They said she started coughing up blood.”

  “She’s going to be okay right?” Maze asked hoping that Blaze would say that she would be.

  Maze sat down in one of the chairs that was in the room. She placed her hands over her face. Maze had never felt the way that she was feeling at that moment. She was full of fear and was worried about her mother. Maze thought about all the times that she and Annie were at odds and not really talking to each other.

  “Maze, mama is going to be okay. She just has to beat this,” Blaze stated standing over Maze with his hand on her shoulder.

  “What if she’s not? Then what Blaze?”

  “I don’t know what. All I do know that we have to be strong and trust that everything is going to be okay. We have each other to lean on.”

  Maze just looked up at Blaze not knowing what to say. A small tear slowly rolled down Maze’s face. As they were in a stare, the doctor walked in. He told them that it didn’t look good for Annie. The doctor informed them that the cancer has spread and was causing bleeding, but they patched it up the best they could and there were no promises that it would hold up. Maze and Blaze didn’t know what to say or do. It was like their world was coming to an end. The doctor left out and about two hours later Annie was bought back into the room. Maze just looked at her and then up at Blaze, she couldn’t take her looking at her mother like that, so she was about to walk out the room when Annie called her name very lightly. Maze walked back over to her mother’s bedside and held her hand.

  “Maze, please do what I asked. It’s very important that you do this,” Annie said in a faint tone.

  Maze didn’t reply she just stood there and looked at her mother. She leaned down and gave her mother and hug then looked up and Blaze before she just left out of the room. Blaze followed behind her. He called out her name, but Maze just kept walking.

  Once Maze was outside of the hospital and in her car, she just sat there not knowing what to do or where to go. She wanted to cry but she refused to do so. She pulled out a blunt and lit it up. She hit it a few times and was about to crank up the car and leave when her phone rang.

  “Hello.”

  “Maze we need to talk,” Miracle stated into the phone.

  “Yes, we do.”

  “I can come over or we can meet somewhere, it’s up to you.”

  “I’ll be home in about an hour. Meet me at my house.”

  Miracle agreed and they hung up. Maze pulled off and headed home, but not before she made a few stops first.

  Chapter Four

  When Maze got home, Miracle was already there waiting in her car. Maze parked and got out her car and signaled for Miracle to come inside.

  “Why you didn’t just come in the house?” Maze asked as she opened the door for Miracle to go in first.

  “I didn’t just want to come into your house without you being here.”

  “It never stopped you before, so why is it a big deal now,” Maze asked closing the door behind her.

  Maze and Miracle went into the living room and they both sat down on the couch. No one said anything for about two minutes.

  “So, what’s up?” Maze asked breaking the silence.

  “I wanted to talk to you about Kilo.”

  “What about her?”

  “How do the two of you know each other and what is the issue between you two?”

  Maze took a deep breath and sat all the way back on the couch before she spoke.

  “Her name is Kimberly, but she goes by Kilo. She’s my cousin. The issue that I have with her, is that she always wants what I have and have the one thing that I’ve always wanted.”

  “Your cousin, wow. So, what is it that she has that you always wanted?”

  “The love of my mother,” Maze replied.

  “I don’t understand what you mean by the love of your mother.”

  “Kimberly, well Kilo’s mother died when she was young, so she came and stayed with us. My mother seemed to always take time out with her and not me. She couldn’t do no wrong, but everything that I did was wrong, and my mother let me know it every chance that she could. I never understood why my mother loved her more than me. Hell, even Blaze was the golden child.”

  “I’m sure your mother loves you too. Maybe she just gave Kilo extra love because her parents died.”

  “No, one time she and I went out to this party and we got into a fight. I got in trouble, but Kimberly didn’t. It was like it was my fault that we got into a fight, when it was her. No matter what did or didn’t happen it was all on me. Plus, she always wanted what I had.”

  “What was it that you had that she wanted?” Miracle inquired.

  “For one, she wanted Sky.”

  “The bitch from the studio,” Miracle spat.

  Maze just looked at Miracle for a few seconds before saying, “Yeah, but Sky and I never dated or anything, but I did like her back in the day. Kilo fucked that up, and now she’s after you, so yeah.”

  “Maze,” Miracle said getting closer to Maze. “I don’t want Kilo. Yeah, she’s cool and fun to hang out with, but that’s all. I love you and don’t want anyone else. I don’t want her. You have to trust me when I say I only want to be with you.”

  Maze didn’t respond right away. She held her head down and then jumped up from the couch. “Miracle I don’t want you to be around Kilo anymore.”

  “Maze, she is my friend and there is nothing going on between us.”

  “I don’t want you around her at all.”

  Miracle stood up and was face-to-face with Maze. “Why does she and I being friends bother you so much?”

  “Just promise me that you won’t talk to her anymore.”

  “It’s not that deep Maze,” Miracle stated.

  “Whatever Miracle,” Maze stated as she walked away from Miracle and went into the kitchen to get something to drink.

  Miracle followed her into the kitchen. Maze turned around and looked at Miracle while she took a sip of her beer.

  “Why didn’t you tell me that you had a sister? Matter of fact why didn’t you tell me that your name is really Dahlia and not Miracle?” Maze questioned.

  “Now that’s a long story.”

  “I have nothing but time, unless you have somewhere that you need to go,” Maze replied as she took a seat at her kitchen table.

  Miracle sat down at the other end of the table and took a deep breath. “Yes, my real name is Dahlia. I changed my name about three years ago.”

  “Why did you change your name?” Maze asked taking a sip of her beer.

  “Like I said it’s a long story.”

  “Well give me the short story of it.”

  After Miracle took about two deep breaths, she went on to tell Maze her story. She told Maze how mother came from money but ended up marrying her father who was not what everyone thought he was. Her father was a not so nice man. He was only with her mother because she was well off. Years went by with her father always trying to come up with some quick get rich scheme which never worked. So, one day her mother was getting sick of it and wanted out. However, her father wasn�
�t having it and thought if her mother wasn’t around maybe he would be able to cash in on the money. The bottom line is, her father killed her mother for her money, but ended up getting life in prison.

  Miracle told Maze that she changed her name because she didn’t want people to connect her with her father. Miracle stated that the reason she doesn’t tell anyone that she has a sister, is because Success stays in touch with their father and doesn’t want anything to do with him. Maze asked her was that it, but Miracle paused for a second, which let Maze know that it was more.

  “What else are you not telling me?” Maze asked.

  “My father raped me and tricked me out because he owed some people money. Success still deals with him knowing what he did. I don’t fuck with her or him,” Miracle spoke in anger.

  “I’m so sorry Miracle,” Maze said as she got up and walked over to Miracle.

  “I’m good and not looking for you or anyone to be sorry. I don’t fuck with them and I don’t want them to fuck with me.”

  “I guess we both have issues.”

  “Yeah, well yours can be dealt with.”

  “I don’t know about all that,” Maze replied as she walked out of the kitchen. She went back into the living room and sat down on the couch. She turned the TV on and flipped the channels.

  “Why do you say that? What is stopping you from letting shit go?” Miracle asked sitting down next to Maze.

  “Once again, all my mother is worried about is Kimberly’s ass while she is on her death bed. She wants me to find Kimberly or Kilo, whatever she’s calling herself and take her to the hospital,” Maze spat.

  “Wait, your mother is in the hospital and you mad because she wants to see Kilo? Really Maze.”

  Maze just looked at Miracle and went back to flipping channels.

  “I just can’t believe you,” Miracle stated as she shook her head.

  “I’m not trying to hear all that. I don’t know why she wants to see her any damn way. I’m her child, not Kimberly.”

  “You need to stop. It’s what she wants and not about what you want. If your mother wants to see Kilo, then you should make it happen. It’s not like you don’t know how to get in touch with her. I can call her if you want.”

  Maze looked at Miracle like she was crazy. Maze didn’t want to see Kilo and damn sure didn’t want Miracle to call her, and truly not in her house.

  “I’m going to call her,” Miracle said as she pulled out her phone.

  Maze started to say something, but Miracle put her hand up to Maze’s face. Miracle dialed Kilo’s number and on the second ring Kilo answered. Miracle told Kilo to come over to Maze’s house.

  “What the fuck?” Maze yelled.

  Kilo thought twice about coming to Maze’s house, but Miracle told her that it would be okay. Kilo agreed to come over and the call ended. Maze was not pleased with the fact that Kilo was about to come over to her house. Miracle didn’t care that Maze wasn’t’ happy about it. About an hour had gone by when there was a knock at the door. Maze looked at Miracle like you the one that wanted her over here, so you go answer the damn door. Miracle just shook her head but got up and answered the door.

  When Miracle opened the door, Kilo was standing there not sure as to what was about to happen, but Miracle just told her to come on in. Miracle led Kilo to the living room where Maze was.

  “Maze, Kilo is here?” Miracle announced.

  Maze looked up at them both and rolled her eyes. Kilo started to turn around and leave, but Miracle stopped her.

  “The two of you need to talk,” Miracle stated.

  “Doesn’t look like she wants to talk,” Kilo stated.

  “You’re right, I don’t’ want to talk. If I did want to talk it wouldn’t be with you,” Maze confirmed.

  “The two of you are going to talk any damn way. No one is going anywhere until everything is all out in the open,” Miracle stated as she pointed to the chair for Kilo to take a seat.

  Kilo sat down and waited for someone to say something, but no one did, until Miracle said something.

  “Look Kilo, for what you know of, what is the issue that you and Maze have?” Miracle asked.

  “I don’t know. We used to be cool,” Kilo replied.

  “You know damn well we never been cool,” Maze blurted out.

  “We were cool up until I moved with y’all. I don’t know why you hate me,” Kilo stated.

  “Bitch you know damn well why I can’t stand your ass. You always wanted what I had, and you were the golden child. I could never do anything right, but it didn’t matter what you did you were treated like gold,” Maze spat.

  “How is that when you had everything? I’m the one that didn’t have shit. If it wasn’t’ for Auntie Annie I don’t know what I would have done after my parents died.”

  “Then why did I then and now feel like I’m the one that’s motherless?” Maze questioned.

  “What the fuck are you talking about? Your mother is still living,” Kilo questioned.

  Maze didn’t say anything, she just looked away.

  “Maze, are you going to tell her?” Miracle asked.

  “Tell me what?” Kilo quizzed.

  “Tell her Maze.”

  “I don’t have anything to say,” Maze lied.

  “Will someone tell me, damn,” Kilo blurted out.

  Maze looked at Miracle and the look on Miracle’s face told Maze that if she didn’t say it she was.

  “My mama is in the hospital,” Maze said calmly.

  “What? What’s wrong with Auntie?” Kilo asked in a concerned voice.

  “What else Maze?”

  Kilo looked between Maze and Miracle waiting for one of them to say whatever it was that they weren’t telling her. Maze finally broke and told Kilo what was going on with her mother and how she was asking for her. She also told Kilo that she wasn’t happy with the fact that her mother was asking for her. Kilo tried to explain to Maze that after her parents died, she felt alone until she came and stayed with them. Kilo said that Annie was like a mother to her. Maze wasn’t trying to hear all that. Miracle tried her best to get Maze to talk, but she wouldn’t.

  Then out of nowhere, Maze blurted out, “Just know that I will never forgive you for what you did.” Maze didn’t wait for anyone to reply to what she said. She just got up and went into her bedroom and closed the door.

  Miracle and Kilo was lost from Maze’s statement. Miracle told Kilo to go and she would call her later. Kilo left and Miracle went into the room with Maze. She wanted to find out what Kilo could have done that would cause Maze to never forgive her.

  Chapter Five

  “Maze what is it that really has you so upset with Kilo?” Miracle asked walking into the bedroom.

  “I don’t want to talk about it.”

  “What could she have done that was so damn bad?”

  “Didn’t I just say I don’t want to talk about it,” Maze snapped.

  Miracle wasn’t sure what to say next. She didn’t want to make Maze more upset, so she didn’t say anything, she just sat down on the bed. They both sat there not saying anything. After about three or four minutes had gone by Maze got up and went in the bathroom to take a shower. Miracle started to join her, but her phone rang. It was Kilo wanting to know if Miracle would meet her later so that they could talk. Miracle agreed to meet her later at her house.

  Once Maze came out of the bathroom, she told Miracle that she was about to go to the studio for a while. Miracle was cool with that because that gave her a chance to go meet Kilo and see what she wanted to talk about.

  Later at the studio, Maze was working on some music when Sky walked in.

  “Hey Maze, what are you working on?” Sky asked.

  “Just playing around really, but I’m glad that you are here. I want to know what you think of this track that I just put together.”

  Maze played the track and Sky was feeling it. She told Maze that she thought it was hot. Maze asked her could she do something with it and
Sky said that she could. They played around with it for a while until Sky noticed that something was a little off with Maze.

  “What’s going on with you, Maze?”

  “Just have a lot on my mind, that’s all,” Maze replied.

  “You want to talk about it?”

  “No, not really.”

  “Talking about it may help. Plus, you know you can talk to me about anything right.”

  Maze looked at Sky and smiled. “Yeah, I know it’s just…”

  “It’s just what?”

  “She has done some slimy shit and I just can’t get over it.”

  “I don’t know what all happened between the two of you, but Kimberly is your cousin and family is all you have. You need to let whatever it is go, because life is too short to be holding on to shit,” Sky said as she gathered her things together. “I have an early day tomorrow so I will check you out later, Maze.” Sky left and Maze just sat there thinking.

  Maze kicked it at the studio a little longer before she headed home. By the time she got home Blaze was at her house.

  “What’s up bruh?” Maze asked walking up to Blaze sitting in his car.

  “Just came to check on you,” Blaze replied getting out of his car.

  “I’m good. It’s late and I’m surprised that Becky let you out.”

  “What the fuck ever. She doesn’t run me,” Blaze said as he followed Maze inside her house.

  “Yeah okay, but for real what are you doing here?” Maze asked sitting down on the couch.

  “Look Maze, I get why you feel some type of way about Kimberly, but I’m asking you to put that shit aside and let mama have her moment with us.”

  “Did you forget what she did?”

  “No, I didn’t forget what she did and I’m sure she will never forget it either. I’m not asking you to forget. I am asking you to just for one damn day, you put it all aside for mama.”