Until You

Anthony

I want to get her that ring! But I had to get back to work and here I was, starting back up after almost a month and a half away. I was going to work hard, and save as much as I could, but privately so she wouldn't notice. 

As I pulled up on the job everyone welcomed me. Ben patted me on the back.

"Good to have you back man!" Ed was next.

"We were lost without you." And a few others cheered me back. It felt nice. It was not like my other friends. That was always about business, and it was all I knew. 

"I'm glad to be back! Finally!" I waved my hands to my sides, "Now what's on for today?"

Work dragged, when I was used to the day going. Maybe it was because the days went slower when I stayed home and I was used to that. But whatever, I was glad to be working. 

After work I stopped at a local jewelry shop.

"May I help you?" A pretty little blonde came over. 

"Uh, yea, I'm looking for a ring I can put on lay-a-way." I really didn't want to do that, I just wanted to buy the damn thing full price.

"Sure come this way, there is a whole rack to choose from." And there were so many of them, and very expensive. I was definitely going to have to work hard and save, or better yet, hit one more joint with Damion.

I called him and he was thrilled to hear from me again. Mindy was working late so I had plenty of time. I had told him that I wanted him to plan out a gig and I'd do it just for one more time and that was it. 

"You said that the last time!" Damion laughed.

"I did, didn't I?" But this really was the last time!

We agreed to meet tonight. And so we did.

Alex couldn't make it, so it was just Damion and I. He drove and I was going to rob the place. It was a little joint called Stellas. And from what I heard they were booming in business. I put on the mask and went to the back door. As I went in, I checked to see if there were cameras. I didn't see any. And so I put the remote away. 

Slowly I went to the registers, banged the damn thing open and I thought I heard something. I turned to see if it was Damion, but when I looked out the window, he was in the car. I continued to grab whatever I could. $100s, $50s, $20s, and $10s and I shoved it in my pocket. 

I was almost finished when I heard another sound. Quickly, I stopped what I was doing and tried to sneak out when I heard a loud pop and something stroked the side of my face. I went to reach for my face and felt something wet. There was blood. Holy Fuck! Someone shot me!

I tried to signal Damion and he saw my face, now with blood running on the side. He came running in so fast and didn't even get a chance to speak when he was shot. It was a split second, and he was falling to the ground. I ran over to him and tried to shake him. But I could already tell he was dead. 

"No!!! Damion!" I yelled.

"Hold it right there!" A tall man came from out of the back. I totally missed him. 

"Please, don't shoot!" I begged. With my hands up in the air, I got up. I tried to reason with him.

"Please, I won't tell the cops you killed him. I'll just take off and-"

"The cops are already on their way." The tall man said. Shit! What the fuck was I going to do!! I couldn't believe this was real!

"Please sir, if my girlfriend hears about this, she will leave me." He shook his head, "Please! she's all I got." I started to break down.