SYMPHONY
I decided to help Bop clean the lounge after the party.
London dashed around the open space as he and I began picking things up.
I’d become curious about what happened with the Zoo when they rushed out of the building.
It was interesting to see Bishop and the Zoo getting along.
When they stepped on the scene, I didn’t know what it would look like for the niggas from the Cove because they had never had any niggas step on their toes like the Zoo, but somehow, they were co-existing.
When I saw Mison Keyton step into the party with the Zoo, my interest was piqued, mainly because he was the brother who stayed in the shadows. Mison and I attended the same high school. The person who stepped into that party wasn’t the same Mison from school.
The night Sasha asked me to see her race was the last time I saw him before tonight. I wanted to ask Bishop how much he knew about the Keyton brothers being mixed with the Zoo. Bishop moved around the lounge slowly. “Fuck this. I’m about to pay somebody.”
I laughed. “Well, duh nigga. This shit is a mess,” I paused. I went over to London to pick her up. “So, the Keyton brothers are hanging with the Zoo?”
He turned to look at me curiously as his brows slowly raised. “Why?”
I nuzzled my nose in London’s fur. “Just asking.”
“Sounds like you’re interested in one of them. I mean, I can call up my nigga Chev and get the number if you want to holla.” He laughed.
“No,” I paused as I rolled my eyes. “I was curious, that’s all,” I muttered.
Bishop tossed the trash bag on the floor as he pulled his phone out of his pocket. “Damn! I missed her call,” he gritted.
I knew he was talking about Indigo. Bishop not having her around was different.
He tried to keep himself busy, but nothing was working.
I could tell he missed her a lot, and the love he has for her is beautiful.
I set London down, and she ran straight to him.
“Why don’t you go visit her. I’m sure she would be happy to see you, Bop. ”
He picked London up, “She doesn’t want to see me yet. The shit is killing me too.”
I had always admired the way he loved her. I can only hope I will one day find a love of my own with such passion between the two of us. I grabbed my purse from the table to leave when Bishop asked something that caught my attention. “How’s your pops?”
I nodded slowly, “He’s ok. We’re still hoping for the best, even four years later. You know I hated you at one point for taking Keith in because of what Kareem did, but I can’t judge you for his actions.”
The look in Bishop’s eyes said he didn’t want me to bring it up.
I tried not to. I’ve been holding it in for years, but something about me saying it now seemed right.
That night is one I will never forget. To come into the house and see my father tied up, beaten, and damn near to death is horrifying.
To be faced with the intruder, only for them to threaten your family's life, while fear settled in your bones.
That night, a lot was taken from me, not just the way my life would change after, but something that meant so much to me, I was willing to die for it.
It was something that had been passed down for generations, and it was deliberately snatched from my neck.
While my father was in the hospital from his injuries, we tried asking questions, but before we could get any answers, he had a stroke.
It’s a feeling I never want to experience ever again.
It wasn’t until after the arrest that my mother and I found out who it was.
There had been so many questions about why it happened and the reasons behind it, but because Kareem wasn’t talking and my father was no longer verbal, everything had been based on assumptions.
My father was in his prime. Set to be the Dean of TSU to do something he’d worked so hard to accomplish, but after that incident, it never happened. I think the Merciers were behind it. However, they have so much power in the city that no one would even utter a fucking word.
Since then, I’ve been trying to remain positive, hoping somehow my daddy snapped back, but deep down, I knew it would never happen.
I didn’t say anything more to Bishop as I left the building.
It was already sad enough that my family dynamics had changed, but to go through all this shit alone was even sadder.
Symphony, the girl who used to have it all, merely had nothing but bad memories and a loveless bed.