Legacy
LEGACY
As I drove to Bless' house, I was in a state of shock. My mind raced with a thousand thoughts, each one more terrifying than the last. Not knowing what was happening with my father was driving me crazy. The memories of holding Ri after she had been shot kept replaying in my head like a haunting loop that I couldn't escape. I could feel the same intense fear and panic settling in, giving me chills. It was like waiting for updates on Ri all over again. And remembering that when we finally received those updates, Ri was gone, I couldn't breathe as I prayed that my father wouldn’t have the same fate.
On the way to Bless' house, I called Joy.
“Hello? ? How is Uncle Darrell?”
“I don’t know. My mother was trippin’. She wanted me to leave, and I just did to keep her from further freaking out.”
She sucked her teeth. “Damn.”
“I need you to get any updates you can from Elaine. Please .”
"I got you. I'll call you back as soon as I know anything," she promised.
“Thanks,” I said before hanging up.
The drive felt like an eternity. Every red light, every stop sign mocked my urgency. My hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly that my knuckles turned white. My chest felt like it was going to explode from the anxiety.
Finally, I arrived at Bless' house. I parked and took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I pulled out my phone and called her, hoping she would answer. Each ring felt like a lifetime, but there was no response.
"Come on, Bless, pick up," I muttered under my breath.
When the call went to voicemail, I groaned, hanging up.
"Please, Bless, I need you," I whispered, my voice breaking.
The night was eerily quiet as I got out of my car. The barbecues and parties had ceased, everyone preparing for school and work the next morning. But as I walked towards Bless' house, I heard a scream that pierced the silence. I spun around, my eyes scanning the area. I spotted a car in front of Bless' house. Through the windshield, I could see a scuffle happening in the front seat.
My first thought was whether I should intervene in what looked like a domestic violence situation. I didn't approve of men hitting women, but I also didn't want to get hurt trying to defend someone who might end up back with her abuser. But then, the large figure over the woman shifted slightly, revealing her face. My heart stopped when I realized it was Bless.
All I saw was red. Fury exploded inside me, primal and uncontrollable. Without thinking, I charged towards the car. I reached it in seconds. I grabbed the door handle and ripped it open with such force that the handle broke off in my hand.
"You dead, nigga!" I roared, my voice echoing off of the buildings around us. I grabbed his shoulders and yanked him out of the car, my anger-induced adrenaline giving me beastlike strength. My blood boiled even higher as I recognized him as the nigga she’d been dating.
I didn't think at all. I just acted. My fists flew, connecting with his face, his body. He tried to defend himself, but my wrath made me relentless. Every punch I threw was fueled by the image of him hurting Bless, by the pent-up frustration and fear of the night.
"I’mma kill you, nigga!" I roared, my voice now raw. I didn't care about the consequences. I didn't care about anything except making sure he never laid a hand on her again.
He barely had time to react before my fist connected with his jaw, sending him collapsing to the ground. I didn't give him a chance to recover. I was on him in an instant, my fists flying in a blur of motion. Each punch landed with a sickening thud, blood spraying from his nose and mouth.
I landed another punch, feeling the bones in his face give way under the force of my blows. He tried to defend himself, but my fury made me relentless. I grabbed him by the collar, lifting him off the ground and slamming him against the car. His head hit the metal with a dull clang, and he groaned in pain.
"I’m gonna enjoy killing you," I snarled, my face inches from his.
I threw him to the ground, my foot connecting with his ribs in a vicious kick. He gasped for breath, curling up in a feeble attempt to protect himself. I knelt down beside him, my fists raining down on his face and body. Blood spattered onto my clothes, my hands.
", stop! Please, you're going to kill him!" Bless’ voice broke through the fog of my rage, her words barely registering.
But I couldn't stop. Not yet. I grabbed Raja by his locs, lifting his bloodied face to mine. "You're done," I growled, my voice filled with venom. I slammed his head into the pavement, feeling the impact reverberate through my arms.
", please!" Bless cried with desperation. "You're going to kill him!"
Her words finally penetrated the haze of my infuriation. I looked up at her, seeing the fear and shock in her eyes. My fists froze mid-air, and I released my grip on his hair. He slumped to the ground, unconscious, his face a mess of blood and bruises.
I stood up, my chest heaving, my hands shaking. “That’s what I wanna do.”
As I stepped back, catching my breath, I noticed Bless' shorts were ripped. Rage reignited in me, hotter and more blinding than before. Without thinking, I reached for the gun tucked into my waistband and aimed it directly at Raja's head.
"You don't think I'll kill for you?" I demanded, my voice deadly calm.
Bless rushed towards me, placing herself between Raja and the barrel of my gun. "I know you will, ," she said, words trembling.
Raja lay unconscious in the grass near his truck, a pathetic heap. My vision tunneled, focusing only on Bless standing in front of me, her tear-filled eyes pleading.
"You don't think I'll gladly take a life sentence for you, for the woman whose name my heart beats?" I continued, my grip tightening on the gun. "I breathe you! I’d proudly go to prison over you."
Tears streamed down her face. Her gaze filled with fear and something else—something deeper. "Please, , put the gun down. Come inside with me," she begged.
I stood there, my mind a whirlwind of anger and love, unable to move. She stepped closer, gently placing her hand over mine, on the gun. ", please come inside," she repeated.
Luckily, her touch softened the edges of my rage. For a moment, I didn't move. But as her hand remained on mine, the warmth of her skin began to melt the ice in my veins. Slowly, I let her take the gun from my grasp. She took my other hand with her free one, guiding me towards the house.
Her voice was a soothing balm to my raw emotions. "Let's go inside, . Please," she whispered.
I let her lead me. With every step away from Raja, the grip of my rage loosened, replaced by the need to protect and be with Bless. She opened the door, and I followed her inside, the storm inside me calming but not subsiding.