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for her piece by piece. Her jewelry netted her six thousand in cash, and Jada cried her eyes out in the pawnshop parking lot. All her jewelry—the diamond bracelets, rings, and earrings, her Rolex watch, and all the Tiffany pieces, every single thing had once held such special meaning for her. And now they were gone. She sold her two beloved fur coats by placing an ad in Staten Island’s local newspaper, and got five thousand dollars total for two furs that had cost seven thousand and ten thousand dollars respectively. She felt like dying. Her entire relationship with Born had been a waste. Shehad nothing to show for it but a car she could hardly afford to gas up, and a broken heart.
    She rented a one-bedroom apartment on Lafayette Avenue and used some of the money to set up house. She got some cheap furniture, and she laughed to herself at the irony that this apartment full of low-budget furniture was equal in price to that of the sofa alone in the living room she had shared with Born. This was a big step down, and Jada hated herself for blowing her chance at happiness with a man like him. Whenever she wasn’t high, Jada spent her time crying and regretting her actions. She wished more than anything that she could turn back the hands of time. She had no job, but she had a little money. And most of that money was spent on staying high enough not to think about Born.
    She missed him terribly. She remembered all the places they’d been together, all the conversations they’d had. Jada missed his voice, his face, his smile. She couldn’t believe that he really didn’t want her anymore. She thought that Born couldn’t possibly get over her, or over their love, that easily. She thought he must be as miserable without her as she was without him. But then she saw him.
    She was at the mall in Staten Island, looking for a pair of shoes to match an outfit she had. She was sick of sitting at home, crying and sad about her mistakes. Tonight there was going to be a local “player’s ball,” and she was going so that she could let off some steam. She hadn’t been out since her days with Born, and she needed to unwind. She went and got her hair done and got her nails done, and she felt better than she had in months. She walked into Aldo and was looking at a pair of
sexy
sandals when she heard his laugh.
    Jada looked up, and Born was walking into the store with a light-skinned black woman who looked to be in her early twenties. She was very pretty, and had an enviable bone structure. Her face was flawless, and her outfit was Christian Lacroix. Her hair was cut into a chin-length Chinese bob with bangs, and she was beautiful. Jada’s ego told her that the woman looked like a younger and better version of herself. Was Born replacing her with a carbon copy? Jada was green with envy. She stood there, holding the shoe in her shaking hands, and stared at Born. Hedidn’t see Jada at first. He was too engrossed in whatever joke he and his new friend were laughing at. He had his hand on the small of the woman’s back, and Jada couldn’t help remembering when he had held her just that way. Born, still laughing, turned his head forward as they entered, and that’s when their eyes met.
    Jada stared at him, and he at her. She put the shoe down and stepped closer to him to say something. But before she could take another step, Born quickly grabbed the girl by the wrist and led her out of the store.
    â€œWait a minute, Born,” the woman protested. “I want to get the shoes I saw yesterday.” She pulled her hand away and stood in the store’s entranceway.
    Born stood outside, and the look on his face was serious. “Not now, Anisa. We’ll come back and get them.” He took her by the hand, and they walked off into the mall.
    Jada stood there, feeling like a fool. She looked around, embarrassed that Born had run from her that way, and hoping that no one had