LDN

Baking soda

If my boys could see me, I know they would be disgusted, enraged by the circumstance and revolted by my reaction. 6ft tall, healthy, strong but could I sit up straight let alone stand without crumbling? I had been laying here a while now, the numbness subsided and searing hot pain rippled through my abdomen in spiteful waves instead as I lay in the wet mud like a slab of meat waiting to be carved up. At first my body wriggled as I frantically gasped for air, but then my desperate grunts and growls turned into inaudible pants and the fight in me disintegrated. My face was drenched in a mixture of the warm summer rain and the salty tears that blurred my vision. Every breath hurt, and my heart pulsated with such haste that it felt as though it wasn't beating at all. Maybe it wasn't. I tried to reassure myself thinking there are things worse than death, but as I stared down at the cold bloody metal that was once inside of me I couldn't think of anything.

...

60 Hours Earlier
Nawal's point of view

Angel wondered around my room aimlessly and I watched her with my chin pressed against my knees. I stroked the fluffy bristles of my rug and noticed how rays from the naked light bulb ironically formed a halo around her. Her nike sliders clacked against the wooden floor boards and her baggy white tank top exposed the sides of her perky breast. Her hair was parted perfectly down the centre and the long tresses swung behind her as she paced up and down. She had been going on and on about her and James, and as I listened to her perverse sales pitch and I couldn't help but see her differently.

" When it's just me and him yeah, it isn't perfect but it's us. There's a different side to him that I won't let go of" her voice was raspy and I could see the adoration in her glassy eyes, the lust and the obsession.

On the outside Angel is beautiful and in control, but I had been invited into the inner depths of her mind and found that it was a dark and foggy place.There was no way that I could even think about producing an ounce of respect for James, he clearly didn't have any for me. The way in which he was able to dismiss my emotions and tear my to shreds with such ease made that clear. He didn't deserve to have someone that cared this much, and Angel definitely cared, that much was evident. But she had been welcoming to me and I never forget a good deed so if she needed me to keep quiet that is what I would do.

She lowered herself next to me and rested her hand on mine," So you promise not to say anything"

I almost felt sorry for her, falling for the wrong kind of person can be fatal. Before I could give her an answer her phone started to ring.

" Yeah what you guys doing"

...

" Sorry getting it laid yeah"

...

" Fuck that, that's long... alright tell Shaquan to hurry up."

My eyes darted upwards as soon as Angel uttered his name. Like clockwork a smile settled on my face while my heart began to pulsate violently. It had been nearly two weeks since I had given Shaquan my number and we had been talking constantly. Talking to him was beginning to become part of a daily route, listening to his stories and random thoughts.He was sweet and funny and I dared to think that he may have a genuine interest in me.

Angel looked back at me with a mischievous grin.

" About what's in it for him, tell him Nawal's here"

She hung up the phone and began to put a hoodie on over her tank top.

" Shaquan's sister is doing Jade's hair, I'm gonna go over there do you wanna come"

...

His music somehow defied the laws of nature and arrived at the steps leading up to our apartment long before his vehicle did. The intense base that came from his BMW caused the entire street to shake. Shaquan stepped out of the car wearing his usual wry smile and I was suddenly overpowered by a feeling of nervousness. It was one thing talking to him on the phone in the safety of my home and another to see him in person under the observation of Angel's cold gaze. I hated this! The anxiety. The anticipation. But I also loved it - the attention was exhilarating, I hadn't had this type of interaction with anyone before.