After being removed from an abusive household in East St. Louis, Illinois, Cheyenne Johnson starts a new life in Minnesota while being under the care of Minnesota's well-known artist.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
He played with the keys as I watched in awe. As if I'm watching an artist painting their next masterpiece. I use to play the piano back home; I never played again after Ma died. I'd always play for her when she's blue.
"Come here," Prince called for me.
As I'm walking over to him, he slid over on one side of the bench. Once I sat down, I looked down hesitantly at the keys.
"I... I don't know what to play." I muttered.
"Whatever song comes to mind, just play it out."
As I ponder for a moment, a song pop into my mind as I play and sing the lyrics.
🎵 You know you had me With your sensuous charm Yet you looked so alarmed As I walked on by In awesome wonder You had to know why I did not respond to carry on.
Love me in a special way What more can I say? Love me now Love me in a special way What more can I say? Love me now Love me now.
'Cause I'm special Not the average kind Who'd accept any line That sounds good So reach into your chain of thoughts Try to find something new Because what worked so well for you before For me, it just won't do.
(Chorus)
(Bridge)
(Chorus)
(Outro) 🎵
"Uh oh, she's slowin' it down like DeBarge." He said, overwhelming.
Dumbstruck, I blushed, feeling self-assertive.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"You a natural, mama."
"Thanks."
We continued playing the piano for a while until we relaxed in the living room.
"What else can you play besides the piano?" He asked.
"I can play the guitar. Well, use to."
"Use to?"
"I use to have a guitar, but it got stolen."
Not only did my guitar got stolen, but I also know Tommy had something to do with it. I barely had it for a few weeks, and it was gone.
"Did you ever find it?"
"Yeah. My uncle Marrow found out who took it since he's a cop. He found out that Tommy sold it for weed or marijuana."
I went on telling him about my brother and his friend's getting arrested. Ma grounded him not only for that; but for lying about stealing my guitar. It was around the time he started hitting me.
Prince's POV
"He even threatened to kill me if I ever told Ma or anyone about it." She said while wiping the tears with her jacket sleeve.
Pulling her in my arms, I try to fight back the tears from my eyes. I couldn't shake the abuse inflicted upon her caused by someone who she's ashamed to call her brother because of his drug problem. She didn't deserve to go through that, nor for him to put his hands on her. There is more to why he and her sister would do something unrelenting to Cheyenne.
"I'm so sorry you had to go through that, mama."
"It's okay-"
"No, Cheyenne. He had no right to do that to you. He should've known better than to steal from his kin, which is not okay, nor is putting his hands on a female who happens to be his little sister. Even if he was under the influence of drugs, that's not an excuse for him to be abusive towards you. Don't ever blame yourself for what he did to you when it wasn't your fault. Understand?"
"Yes," She nodded her head.
"Good," I said, bring her in for another embrace.
If I've found out sooner, she'd never gone through that.
