Family Over Everything Read Online Free PDF

station wagon as she rode through Pittsburgh, fighting to keep her eyes open. That day, she had worked another twelve-hour shift at Pitt University as a security guard and as she tapped her fingers against the steering wheel, waiting for the light to change, she wondered about how much more her body could take.
    Staring into the mirror, she glanced at the bags forming under her eyes before she turned her attention back to the road. When she finally made it up to Northview, she parked her car in front of her house and slowly stepped out of it.
    â€œHey, Ms. Melissa!”
    â€œHow are you, Ms. Melissa?”
    â€œHey, Momma Melissa!” a couple of people yelled at her as she made her way toward her home.
    Flashing a smile, she waved at them and placed her key into the doorknob, unlocking the door, and walking in.
    â€œHey, Mom!” Corrine yelled as she ran up to Melissa and wrapped her arms around her waist.
    â€œHey, baby girl,” Melissa said in a low tone as she took a seat on the couch.
    Deion walked into the living room, took her purse out of her hands, and placed it on the living room table. Noticing Melissa’s hunched shoulders, tensed arms, and weary eyes, Deion walked upbehind the couch and gently rubbed her shoulders. “Are you okay, Mom?”
    â€œI’m fine, baby,” she replied as Deion continued to massage her shoulders.
    â€œMom, did you get the food stamps, yet? Corrine and I are hungry. We’ve been eating bread and drinking water for the past week.”
    â€œThey’re coming soon, baby. I have some goodies in my purse for all of you.”
    Deion nodded his head and walked back in front of her, bent down for her purse, and handed it to her. He watched as she reached into it, pulled out a couple of bags of chips, and handed one to each of them.
    Melissa fought back her tears as she watched them devour the chips like wild animals. Taking a deep breath, she dropped her head in silent prayer, asking God to give her strength. She got to her feet and walked toward her bedroom. Around that time, everything seemed to be falling apart for her. The government was threatening to cut off her food stamps, claiming she made too much money since she not only worked, but was receiving checks for adopting the twins and Corrine. She tried her best to keep food in all three of her children’s mouths and clothes on their backs, but her eighty-year-old mother had recently been diagnosed with liver cancer and all of her money went to the nursing home and her medicine.
    â€œMommy, what’s wrong?” Corrine asked, peeking through Melissa’s bedroom door about an hour later.
    Smiling, she nodded her head as she looked at the child she’d saved seven years prior. She loved the flourishing little girl. Taking a seat on the edge of her bed, Melissa waved for Corrine to enter. Corrine smiled as she ran into Melissa’s arms.
    Melissa then gazed down at her. “Corrine, you know you look exactly like your mother, right?”
    â€œBut, you’re my mommy,” she replied as she held her head down.
    Placing her hand under her chin, Melissa lifted it up so that Corrine’s eyes met hers. “I’m your mother, baby. But, I’m talking about your other mother. Do you remember her name?”
    â€œRelaysha?”
    Chuckling, Melissa said, “You’re close, baby. Her name is Relisha. You know that she loves you as much as I do, right?”
    â€œWhy did she leave us then?”
    â€œShe wasn’t in the right state of mind to take care of y’all, baby girl. But she does love all of you. You, Deion, and Day’onne,” she said, briefly pausing. “Speaking of Day’onne, where is he?”
    Melissa felt Corrine’s arms tense up and caught a glimpse of fear in her eyes. “What’s wrong, Corrine?”
    â€œN-n-nothing, Momma,” she replied and then gazed away.
    â€œAre you lying to me, young