Stop Killing Us Or Else

"Just take the bags to the car," I shouted in the grocery store. His facial expression was calm and annoyed. We had gotten into a petty argument over something I should have let go of a long time ago. He paused "okay," and he walked off, exiting the grocery store doors. I was pissed, but I loved him. I knew we would make up once we arrived home. I stood in the grocery store for a quick minute, inhaling and exhaling, until I decided to let go of the argument and let the gods guide me to end this argument. I walked out of the grocery store, my passion twist up into a bun. I was wearing my white Birkenstocks with socks, shorts, and a white hoodie. I smiled, thinking to myself that he is the man version of me. He wore blue Birkenstocks with socks, Adidas sweatpants, and a short-sleeve blue shirt.

We parked so far across the parking lot, and me being only 5'0 feet tall and petite, I took small steps and what seemed like forever to get back to our car. I was the creative one in the relationship. The one who had a smile as big as the sun. A true libra woman. He was shy, thoughtful and, quiet and, the most intelligent man I knew. An accurate cancer man, he was perfect. A perfect black man, and I was his woman, a perfect black woman.The sun beamed at me, "damn, it's hot." I admit my outfit was cute and laid back, but why did I wear a sweatshirt today. It's hotter than hell out here, I thought to myself.

Suddenly there were screams across the parking lot, and people began to run. I felt this strange feeling inside the pit of my stomach; I knew it before seeing it. Something made me run. I ran as fast as I could, approaching the white Nissan car. It was at this moment my soul left my body. Seeing a loved one wrongfully dead can put life into perspective for you.

My breathing deepened. I ran to his side. His body is on the ground, his hands still holding the grocery bags. Immediately, I felt guilt. Guilty. Why were we arguing? Why didn't I come to the car with him? Tears poured from my eyes... three cop cars surrounded us .... Five law officers standing with guns drawn calling for backup. Besides him was another man, a black man. I didn't know him. We didn't know him. He was wearing a green tye-dye shirt. People surrounded us, and some people were recording with their phones, and some people were screaming. I was hyperventilating. He is the love of my life, and they shot him seven times. At least that's how many bullet holes I could see. I held his hand tightly and stared into his dark brown eyes. "Baby, I'm here. I'm here with you." He began to cough up blood. I examined the bullet wound to his stomach. I tried to put pressure on it. "Please hold on, baby, please." I looked around, but there was no ambulance, and no one was trying to help. I cried the saddest cry—a cry for help. "Baby, I won't leave you. I'm so sorry. I love you." his eyes began to roll back rapidly. "NO!" I screamed a horrific scream! "Please don't let go, baby." He whispered his last dying words, "I won't ever let go, baby."

He was gone. The Reality of what was happening crept back in, the officers all screaming at me. "Hands where I can see them!" I whispered lowly to myself. "I can't believe this... no, no, no, not mine." I was having a breakdown. I began to scream at the top of my lungs. "You killed him! How could you do that! He never did anything to anyone! He was a beautiful person! He never broke one law; he couldn't hurt a fly!!! You killed him before we could marry and have children! YOU TOOK HIM FROM THE UNIVERSE; YOU HAVE FUCKED UP TODAY BECAUSE HE WASN'T YOURS TO TAKE!" I screamed, my voice shaking furiously. Two of the officers stepped forward. "GET ON THE FUCKING GROUND."

As I looked around, my eyes couldn't believe it. So many thoughts entered my mind. He wanted to live on earth to get away from our home planet. He wanted a change. He said if we can make it on the old earth planet, we can make it anywhere. I protested. I told him I did not want to live on this planet. It did not make sense to choose a broken world. I told him that our ancient ancestors bordered ships, leaving behind what the earth population calls Africa to find a new home among the stars above, and those of our ancestors who stayed behind there were not even traces of them left. Why did he want to come back to a planet full of violence, hatred, and poverty?