ONE ON ONE || D.SWING

39. Fallout.

Elijah.

8:38pm

February 12, 1988

"So, how does it feel to finally be 18?"

I reply with the same answer I've been giving all day, "It's cool, I guess."

"I know I've asked you a million times already but, I just wanna see where your head is at. A lot of things change when you become 18 and I don't want you to think too hard about your future like you've been doing lately." she points out as I head to the fridge for two water bottles.

Sure, I'm grateful to be 18, it's an accomplishment in my eyes. What Katrina's saying is true, things change once you hit that age.

I don't know what I'm doing after high school. Everyone around me already have plans, and I'm just here, not knowing what my next move is.

Baseball was my number one option while I worked out this music thing but that's long gone. I can still play towards the end of the season in the hopes of a scholarship, with the help of physical therapy. But, what college recruiter wants damaged goods?

Handing her a bottle, she thanks me, "You're right, my future has been heavy on my mind, especially after the incident. It's just that- my life could've ended that night and I couldn't do anything about it. My moms, friends, Zena, you, would be grieving because of me. It's hard to think about." my head shakes as I recollect the events from that night.

I still get hazy when I try to think of what exactly happened. What I remember so far is making my way to Katrina's, Tony and his crew stop me, we fight, and all of a sudden I'm in a car and wake up in the hospital.

Katrina scoots closer to me on the couch, taking her warm hand into mine. "You can't be stressing about that, Elijah. You'll never move on if your mind is stuck on it and I think it's best if you forget about the whole thing. For your own sanity." her suggestion caused me to sigh.

"It's not that easy to forget being almost beat to death." I look to see her reaction, her body tenses, "That happened to me and I'll never forget, ya dig. I get that it's not good for my mental, but, it's going to take time to slowly "forget" it." it seems my explanation got to her as she nods.

"Okay, do what's best for you. Just know, I'll be here for you every step of the way, alright?"

"Yes ma'am."

She sweetly kisses my lips, her thumb caresses my earlobe as I reach my hand over to grab her waist. I instantly regret the move as my shoulder flares with pain.

I back away, groaning at my foolish movement.

My eyes squeeze shut, "Oh no. Do you need a ice pack?"

"No, I'll be fine. I need to take my meds." I look at the clock as it's about that time to take them anyways.

"It's in your coat pocket, right?" Katrina gets up to get the pill bottle from my coat.

She hands it to me, taking two pills out the small bottle, I placed them in my mouth then drown them with the rest of my water. The pain slowly subsided.

"Are you good now Mr.Cripple?" a snarky grin graced her lips.

"Yup. I'll feel even better when you leave."