Kori
I’m on the verge of losing it. For the past three days, I’ve been pacing my apartment like a junkie. I haven’t slept. Every sound outside my door sends my heart into my throat. I keep checking the peephole like someone’s coming for me.
I let my feelings get the best of me. Chauncey embarrassed me at work in front of all my coworkers. Chauncey made me look like a damn fool.
Imagine being at work, bragging about my man, my man. I spent months talking about Chauncey at work, showing his pictures, calling him mine. And he brings a community thot to my job to have an abortion.
Everybody knew about us.
My coworkers didn’t have to say anything. Their silence was loud enough, and Chauncey’s action said a lot.
The whispers.
The looks.
The smirks.
I felt stupid.
I was stupid.
I never wanted my cousins to hurt Chauncey, only the hoe he was with.
I was angry.
Humiliated.
I might’ve said he needed to be taught a lesson. I might’ve said he thought he was untouchable. I never said to kill him. I just wanted that hoe scared. I wanted him to be embarrassed the way I was.
I don’t know if he survived the accident. The news isn’t saying much; the police said they rushed Chauncey to Teflon Hills Memorial Hospital, but that’s all I know. I called there to see if I could get any information, but they don’t have him listed.
Why would they lie?
Is he dead, or are they protecting him?
I tried to call his phone, but every call went straight to voicemail. I don’t know which is worse—him being dead or him being alive.
Because if he’s alive?
He knows people.
My phone starts ringing.
Brittney, my coworker, is cool. Any sense of normalcy to take my mind off the current happenings will help me right now.
“Hey Brittney!”
I’m trying to sound chipper, but I feel horrible. Hopefully, I passed the test.
“Hey, Kori, how are you?” she asks immediately.
My stomach tightens. “Why?”
If it ever gets out that I had anything to do with the hit on Chauncey’s life, I am a dead woman walking.
It will only be a matter of time. My cousins told me there’s a bounty on their heads, so they are lying low.
If something happened to them because of me, I would lose it.
I never meant for any of this to happen.
“So… I was calling because a girl named Ashley came by the clinic today to ask for you.”
My heart drops so fast I think I might faint.
I fanned my face.
My chest is starting to hurt.
“Oh? Ashley?” I keep my tone casual. “What did she want?”
I don’t know anyone named Ashley. I won’t tell Brittney this. I’ll see if she can give me more information than she already has.
“I don’t know. She looked out of place. Ashley didn’t look like the women who usually come to the clinic. If that makes sense. I try not to judge our patients, but she definitely didn’t look the part.”
“Really, how did she look?”
“Ashley was pretty; she had a fair complexion, a slim build, a cute face, and body tea. She wore vintage Burberry. I had no idea you had rich friends.”
My throat goes dry.
Chauncey.
This has to be connected to Chauncey
“Yes, Brittney, Ashley is my college friend.” I lied.
“Oh, okay, I told her you were out, and you should be back next week.”
Next week.
I don’t even know if I’ll still be alive next week.
“Thanks, Brittney.”
I hang up before she can ask anything else. My hands are shaking.
Vintage Burberry.
Slim.
Polished.
That doesn’t sound like a random patient. That sounds intentional. That sounds like someone who wanted to be seen. And Teflon Hills is too small for coincidences.
If that woman is connected to Chauncey… Then they’re not looking for my cousins. They’re looking for me.