Chapter 2 #2
I stared at him studying his face. He appeared to be honest, which then made me feel ridiculous thinking about all the things I’d thought was happening behind the wall.
“I tried not to imagine it. But sometimes, I’d picture you on Beyond Scared Straight , or caught up in some race war like Blood In, Blood Out . ”
Shad chortled. “A race war at a damn near all black prison is insane Crim. That’s wild as hell.
” He laughed further, making me feel crazier, but I eventually laughed too.
“Nah, but for real, I was good. Shit I’mma be real with you, I spent most of my time practicing tattoos on oranges and other fruit. ”
“Tattoos?”
“Yeah. It was one of the trades they offered on the inside. I could’ve taken the mechanic route, but shit I already know all I need to know about cars.”
“You were really up in there cooling and learning huh?” I smiled, as the tension in my chest started loosening. “Lemme find out you planning on having your own reality show. All we need is you to misspell somebody's grandma name in their tat. Your ratings would be through the roof.”
“Ain’t no typos in my ink,” he added, flashing that cocky grin I loved and missed.
“Okay Prison Ink!”
Stories, jokes, and laughter that took my breath away, flowed effortlessly as we fell into our familiar rhythm. By the time I’d cleaned off two plates of ribs and wrapped a third to go, I felt something I hadn’t in a long time: hope, maybe even a little bit of peace.
I was happy Rashad was home and I was truly enjoying myself.
However, amidst the noisy crowd, interruptions from others, and constant clouds of smoke; I could feel my energy dwindling.
My body was present, but my mind had drifted to Scarlett and halfway to the door.
I was ready to go. It must've been written on my face, because shortly after our conversation Venus said,
“I know you, Crim. You're getting ready to go, aren’t you?”
“Hell yeah, she is.” Shad chimed in as we all laughed.
“Yeah, it's beginning to be a bit much for me. Baby, I can’t take too much more of this music, or the smoke, especially. I’mma have to wash my hair tonight to get the smell out. Y’all wanna go inside, play some cards?” I smiled, nudging Rashad. “Maybe I just need a quick break from all of this.”
“Nah, no cards.” Venus answered. “My man is home and I’m not about to be sharing him too much longer. Whole time, I’m about to shut all of this down in a minute.”
“Well excuse me Miss, ‘My Man My Man.” I half-heartedly joked. Lowkey, I felt a way. Because that was my blood and Venus was acting like she was his number one. I mean damn she had access to him the whole time he was locked up. Now that he was home and I wanted time, it felt like a problem. I don’t know, maybe I was reading too much into it.
“Yeah girl, I need my boo. You understand, right? Let me go tell my daddy not to make any more meat.” I nodded as she walked away.
“Well I guess I am going to head out. I'm ready to lay down anyway.”
“Where are you staying?”
“Shad please. Don’t act like you don’t know.”
“What?” he smirked.
“You are a terrible liar, you and Venus, because I know she told you.” I glared at her from across the yard. “You know good and well I'm staying at your mom’s crib.”
“Yeah, I do, more importantly, how did you end up there?”
“Niggas.” I replied. I refused to give my overprotective big cousin the whole story.
If he had known that Que was pocketing my rent money, which eventually led to my eviction, he’d be in the back of a police car for killing him.
“But I’m trying to catch up on some things.
As soon as I do, I’ll be looking for a new place. You know how your mama is.”
“Yeah, I do, which is why you must have been desperate to go back there.”
“I was. Anyway, I see that ankle monitor ain't going nowhere for what, another year?”
“Not at all, I’ll be good in ninety days to six months according to my P.O.”
“Oh my God, yesssss! But still too long for you to meet my little angel. I’ll bring her by Sunday, okay?”
“Cool.” Shad stood and pulled me into a hug.
And immediately, I knew everything would get better from here.
Shad was my safety in a world full of chaos.
He was back, and instantly, my life felt less heavy.
My finances had not changed, nor had my living situation.
But knowing he would be here as a shoulder to cry on or even just to tell me to suck it up meant the world to me.
I sighed as I stepped inside. The house was cooler, dimmer and blessedly quiet compared to the heat and noise outside.
Crossing the living room slowly, I headed toward the back bathroom.
Halfway down the hall, I stopped dead in my tracks.
I thought I was losing my mind when a low, brash voice cut through the silence behind me.
“I knew you’d eventually step in here to get a break from the noise.”
Everything inside me went still. Everything.
I didn’t have to turn around. That voice lived rent free in my memories.
Its tone had once echoed in the back of my mind for years, soothing me to sleep.
Now, it was torturous. I swallowed hard, praying I could contain what I was feeling. The moment I’d longed for was here.
It was him .