Cruel Summer

Chapter 21

Thursday, November 29, 2018

~Marcus~

"Good morning, baby boy." Auntie Aimee came into the guest room as she smiled.

"Good morning, Auntie. How are you?" I asked as I slowly sat up.

"I'm okay. Are you feeling okay this morning? Your uncle said he heard you throwing up last night." Aunt Aimee said as she sat on the bed and rubbed my face.

"Yeah, um, I haven't been eating too much. I haven't been feeling too well and having some pains lately. I'll be okay."

"I know the stress over these past two weeks has gotten to you. You need to eat. That's why you're going to breakfast this morning."

"Word? Where we going?"

"Ask your brother." Aunt Aimee said as she rubbed my arm.

Kel walked into the room with balloons and a card.

"Hey, lil bro. Auntie told me that you weren't feeling good. I got you a card and some balloons. Let's go eat."

"Auntie, why did you let him in here? I ain't tryna—"

"If I got to stand here all day until you talk to me, so be it. I'll stay in here until you get your butt dressed." Kel said as he let the balloons fly next to me and put the card on the nightstand.

"Man, whatever." I said as I looked him up and down before I turned over in the bed.

"Marcus, don't be like that. Go have breakfast with your brother."

"It's okay, Tee. Aye, you got DirecTv?" Kel asked as he sat down in the chair and grabbed the remote.

"Yes, go ahead and watch whatever. I'm going to go feed the baby." Aunt Aimee said sighing as she got up and kissed my forehead.

"Let me catch the news. You know, lil bro—"

"Technically, I'm not your brother. I never was, anyway." I said as I sucked my teeth.

"Anyway, I saw a story about how a young man tried to right his wrongs. He made a lot of mistakes, and only want to teach his brother things to get him on the right path."

"Did the story also have that the older brother don't know shit about anything?"

"You don't know what I know! I know that I always wanted to protect yo ass, but you don't know the truth. Damn, Marcus! Give me credit. I've been trying to bond with you since the night I seen Unc again! If I didn't give a damn about you, do you think I would keep begging you? Huh? Life is too short, lil bro."

"Protec—"

"Yes, I protected you. You don't wanna hear that, though. Forget it. Just lay in bed and feel sorry for yourself. My hungry ass gonna be at the diner across the street from your job." Kel said as he threw the remote on the bed and walked out.

I held my head down as I sighed.

Why would Kel try to protect me?

Why is my family keeping secrets from me? This ain't right.

It's funny that even the people that you loved, could do you so wrong.

I sat still and hugged myself before I got up slowly.

I've been having pain for the past week. Feels like it hurts more when I move. I don't know if I hit anything, but it's becoming a little unbearable.

I tried my best to get ready as my pain got worse and worser. I tried to take it like a man and ignore it.

Maybe, I should hear what Kel has to say.