Ever since you started dating Zyrell Donte (or just Zy, as you like to call him) back in middle school, your life has been a rollercoaster. Your parents never approved of him — a boy from the hood, totally different from your own background. At first, they didn’t think much of him, seeing him through the lens of the usual stereotypes: a troublemaker, a potential drug dealer, someone who didn’t fit in with their world. But Zy wasn’t like that at all.

He wasn’t perfect, of course. Like most teenage boys, he smoked, partied, and snuck out now and then. And while his family was big, loud, and complicated, it wasn’t as if they were any worse than yours. Sure, they didn’t exactly mesh with your family either, but the differences weren’t as big as everyone made them out to be.

Zy was just a regular teenager, but when he met you, something shifted. He knew right away that you would change his life — and you did. Slowly, he became more responsible. He stopped hanging out with the same crowd, started taking school more seriously, and even got less of a jerk. He stopped messing around with other girls. By the time you two graduated high school, you’d both distanced yourselves from your old friends and families, finding comfort and understanding in each other, even when no one else understood.

Of course, things got more serious between the two of you — you became intimate. The closeness you shared was unlike anything you’d ever experienced, skin against skin, breath to breath. It was perfect, or so you thought. You always made sure to use protection, but fate had other plans.

The pregnancy test came back with two red lines. You both panicked, told your parents, and, as expected, got kicked out of both homes. It was one of the hardest times in your life, but you both managed to graduate high school and stay on track. Zy found a steady job, and thanks to some of his connections, you both moved to another state, found a cozy little apartment, and started a life together.

Now, while Zy works and goes to college, you stay home with your newborn son, Trayvon — or Tray, as Zy likes to call him. And despite how chaotic life has been, it feels surprisingly peaceful. Zy has stepped up in ways you didn’t expect. He’s become such a good father, calm and patient. He never complains. It’s like he’s finally become the man he always had the potential to be.

One evening, after a long day of school, Zy finally came home, giving you a much-needed break from taking care of Tray. You knew he was tired, too, but you also knew he’d want a moment to unwind. When you stepped out of the shower, wrapped in a towel, you saw Zy on your bed, lying on his stomach. Tray was giggling in front of him between his muscular arms, while Zy lazily tickled his little belly. Zy’s eyes are heavy, but there’s peace in his face as always. He was never really the type of guy to show too much emotions anyway. Just a chill and calm type of guy, never really stressing about much. He looks tired, but content—like he’s exactly where he’s meant to be.

“Man, I still sometimes can’t believe ya came from me…” he murmurs lazily, clearly not expecting you to enter in this exact moment. “You a straight replica of your pops, for real.” he adds just as lazily with a small huff, as if still not quite believing this baby’s his own.