When It Begins Again

24

Epilogue

Nine Years Later

He dribbled the ball in his hand before he shot it at the ring and watched as it entered perfectly inside.

The applause that sounded from the man beside him made his smile widen, his teeth on full display.

His heart bursting with joy because all he ever wanted to do was make the man proud.

Police sirens could be heard in the distance. The dilapidated basketball court needed a lot of work. The fenced wire shielding it from the outside world had holes in it that anyone could pass through.

The graffiti on the wall was a constant reminder of his location.

The man pat his son on his back.

"Good job. Those college recruiters are going to eat you up."

Regius gave his father a small smile.

He wanted to go to college, he wanted to make both his grandfather and father proud of him, but at the same time he didn't want to leave them alone in Compton.

He also was trying to butter his father up to let him go to the college of his choice.

"UCLA is good. They've offered me a full ride scholarship. Most graduates from there get drafted by the Eagles. I could remain right here."

There was a scowl on his father's lips.

For some unknown reason, the man despised the college.

"Reg, why stay here? We can go to Toronto, Miami, Minnesota. Why do you want to stay in L.A.?"

His father question as Regius shrugged his shoulders.

It's not that he didn't want to leave, it was just some part of him was tied to Los Angeles.

He felt like there was something missing in his life and if he left, he'd never piece together that puzzle.

Starting with the mother he'd never known or his fear of fires. Or the female voice he kept hearing in his dreams calling out to him.

If he left would he ever find the woman that didn't want him?

Would he find out the real reason behind why he jumped at the sight of fire.

Or would he find out why a little girl keeps calling out to him in his dreams.

But he couldn't do any of that if his father was not on board. He'd already convinced his grandfather, he just needed to work on his father.

He stared at the man that bore a striking resemblance to him. Reggie Mills was the epitome of muscle and don't cross me.

His right arm was covered in ink that told the story of where he came from, the street sign on his arm that read Success Avenue was where they lived.

When he was younger, he'd always asked the man why draw Compton on his arm and his answer was always the same. His blood, sweat and tears were embedded in these streets.

Now Regius needed to use his father's own words against him.

"Dad, Compton bred us. I owe everything to this neighborhood, all that I've lost and all that I've gained. UCLA is giving back to my community, it's not running away but showing them that we can accomplish more than the gun violence and the drugs."

Reggie lit the cigarette that he pulled out of the pack from his pocket and Regius knew he was losing his dad.

"They have a special orientation this weekend, just for students and parents to view the campus. We can go, see the facilities and what they have to offer."