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“Oh, you think you’re the first black woman to hear she’s ugly because she has brown skin? Girl, please. We will always hear that negativity.” She smiled with her brown eyes behind the black mask.
“Who had the audacity to say you’re ugly?” I asked.
She placed a gentle hand on my shoulder. “Lots of people.”
“Strangers?” I asked.
“Yeah,” she confirmed.
“I see.”
“Kennedy, tell me who said it?”
“My high yellow half-sisters. From a little girl into adulthood, I was told I was dark and ugly. No man would ever want me. That’s just a portion of the negativity they spewed. The first time I’d ever heard I had beautiful skin was shortly after I moved to Portland. Unfortunately, I thought they were lying.”
She lifted my chin until my eyes peered at my reflection in the mirror.
“You are absolutely gorgeous. Your half-sisters have ugly souls.”
I chuckled, swiping at the tear slipping down my cheek.
“Every morning, I tell myself I’m beautiful,” I admitted.
She nodded. “I know. I heard you yesterday morning before I knocked on your door. That’s why it was such a shock to me when you bolted after the boss and the server complimented you.”
I grabbed a Kleenex from the box on the counter and patted my face.
“It seems the affirmations aren’t enough. I’m aware I’m emotionally scarred. When I get a good paying job with health insurance, I’ll look for a psychiatrist. Honestly, I know I have pretty skin, but every once in a while, the negative voices scream in my head, drowning out the positive.”
“Sounds like you need to hear a deep, powerful voice that will drown out the negative voices.” I heard from behind. My gaze met Franco’s.
“What are you doing in here?” I huffed.
He nodded at Bonnie.
She darted out the door.
“Franco, you can’t be in here.”
He stopped behind me, bracing his large hands on my arms. A tingle shot through my body from his touch.
“Kennedy, you grew up in a toxic environment.”
“Franco, you were eavesdropping?” I asked in horror.
“Yes,” he confirmed. “Did your mother say vile things, too?”
“No.” I felt my lower lip tremble again.
“She tried to protect me up until the day she died. I was twelve when I lost her.”
Franco pulled me against his muscled body. His lips pressed against my temple. “I’m so sorry, Kennedy.”
Every nerve ending in my body came alive. I felt his hard cock press against my spine.
“Sounds like I need to send Bonnie on a little trip. She loves her job a little too much.”
I chuckled.
