Leave a toothbrush

Dwayne had been living with a friend who was also friends with his ex. That’s actually how they met.

This gets confusing and I don’t feel like making up names for these people that probably won’t come up again so bear with me.

His ex (A) and her best friend (B) lived together and B wanted to move in with her boyfriend (C). Around this time Dwayne came into the picture. So he signed a lease with C but basically lived at A’s place, while B basically lived at his and C’s place. Essentially, they each lived with their partner but their official leases provided a back up plan if anyone broke up with anyone. Smart, honestly.

Well Dwayne has been back living with C at his own place for nearly a year now and it was time to renew the lease. Instead of living with his ex’s friend and still being somewhat entangled in the old friend group (although he avoided them as much as he could) he decided to get his own place.

I helped him apartment shop because, honestly? I love it. I love house and apartment shopping. I almost want to be a real estate agent. We toured complexes together and didn’t correct the workers when they thought I’d be moving in with him because who cares? He picked my favorite of the places we saw.

I knew his lease started yesterday and he planned on moving over the weekend. But I didn’t expect what happened today.

He hands me a key. “Pack up your stuff.”

I look at the key in my hand. Is he asking me to move in with him? Omfg am I going to have to break it off with him right now? “...what stuff?” is all I finally manage.

“Your [medical] stuff and some diapers and maybe a few toys. Whatever you want to keep at my place for when you come over. We’re gonna go to Walmart and get you a toothbrush and hair stuff and whatnot.”

A smile crept across my face. “That’s really sweet.”

He shrugged, “I have my only place now so you can come over whenever. Literally whenever. And of course she’s invited too. My coworker is giving me his kid’s toddler bed now that he outgrew it.”

Wow, this made my heart happy. How did I find such sweet men?

I choose to believe it’s because I love honestly, fully, deeply. That my compassion and kindness comes back around. I’m not perfect, but I go to war for those I love. And I’m grateful they don’t play about me either.

They say it takes a village. I’ve seen what happens when you burn your village down. Use, manipulate, lie, steal, cheat. You end up surrounded by others that use, manipulate, lie, steal, and cheat. Abandoned by everyone who is genuine.

Having so many genuine people in my life, not just my partners but also my friends, has carried me through these hard times. Ever since I lost my son I’ve been struggling mentally. Dwayne hasn’t been there quite as much as I’d like, but I understand he had his own things to handle. At the end of the day when I needed him he showed up. And now he’s showing me he plans to continue showing up.

That leave a toothbrush at your crib love.