It Ain't Black And White

7

"oi cora" rolling my eyes I turned around "what is it?" "Going to the gym?" "Looking for a new one" "why?" "Cos this white trash doesn't fit in there" "trash?" "Not the first time I had been called that. the only difference is, it came from others who have the same complexion as me" "can't ya just say black and white?" "Things are never just black and white Emmanuel" "you aren't just some rich white girl that came to the block are you?" "I'm not rich" "bullshit. Can tell by your clothes" "I stole them" "what?" "Yep" "why?" "You ask A lot of questions. Know another gym around here or what?" "Just come to the usual" "nah.." "come on" I rolled my eyes "cut the attitude" "ay you are the one that got in my business the first day I arrived. What's ya deal huh? Needed to show your dominance?" "I was sussing you out" "yeah and what if I cowered, you would've used that to your advantage?" "You put up a good fight" "that didn't answer my question" "you ain't getting one" "typical".

"Here with the white girl" "what's it look like" "I suggest you keep your mouth shut" "bran shut it and open the damn door".
Entering the gym, I threw my bag down and removed my jumper. Stuffing it in my bag as I grabbed out my gloves, I then moved to the bags. "Show me" "what. not here to box?" "Not here to train?" I rolled my eyes. Zoning into the bag, I let lose. "the fighter is back" "I don't fight" "you should" "I heard". 'argh for fuck sake' pressing my ear pod I spoke.
"Hello" "cora the way you left last week was not.." "yeah well I wasn't putting up with that shit"
Hit.
"You broke her nose" "I'm not sorry. Suppose she is going to get a nose job?"
Hit.
Hit.
"Cora what are you doing?" "Hitting a bag" "a bag?" "Yeah a punching bag" "since when do you fight?" "Always by the sound of it"
Hit.
Hit.
Hit.
"Can you just stop and talk to me" "I am talking but I don't want to talk about princess" "I was trying to apologize and you walked out" "how is telling me I am not good enough in your eyes, apologizing?"
Kicking the bag, Emmanuel grabbed it and nodded, gesturing me to hit it.
Continuing to hit it, dad kept speaking.
"I didn't say that. I'm just..argh cora I just don't know how to deal with you" "because I'm not some prima ballerina?" Emmanuel smirked as I kept talking. "no because of your attitude. You have changed over the years and have a chip on your shoulder" "you are right I do. The crap I have had to deal with has made me this way" "okay I understand but you need to let it go" stopping I stepped back "let it go?, You want me to just forget about all the bullshit?" "No just forgive" "forgive who exactly? Where do I start?" "Your sister" "not a hope in fucking hell" "CORA SHE IS DEALING WITH ENOUGH" "oh the princesses feelings are hurt? She did it to herself" "I know you are angry but think of how she is feeling" "and what about me huh?, Once again it's all about the princess. If this is all we are going to talk about, I'm hanging up" "do not hang up on me. I want to speak with you" "well you didn't deny it" "she..cora she isn't as strong as you" i internally grinned "so what I have to deal with it because she is just some princess who can't deal with the hate?" "Be the better person" I rolled my eyes "I am already. I have decency and respect. I haven't had everything handed to me on a silver platter, I have got this far and I will keep going" "it got you to the slums" "the slums?" Emmanuel looked at me "at least down here, people are real. Hey I may not fit in here either but they aren't fake" "so everything I did.." "what you did?, For who?, Tell me when was the last time you did something for me?" "Cora..I.." "yeah exactly. I am happy here" "you are better than this" I rolled my eyes "you actually have faith in me, I'm surprised" "of course I do but you are on a downward spiral" "how?" "Your attitude, the way you act, dress, speak.." "what is wrong with that? I speak my mind. Honesty is best right" "cora I want you to come home" "I am home" "you can't stay in the slums" "why think so badly about the place?" "Because it is. Your mom, she's too care free. That place could hurt you". Shaking my head, I hit the bag again.
"So you want me to change who I am?" "Yes" "wrong answer" Emmanuel let a small laugh slip "you are with a male?" "I'm at a gym, of course there are males here. I'm not doing what my sister does" "who is this person?" "I don't know" 'lies' "you don't know?" "No. I'm just hitting the bag" "did you do this living here?" "Yes" "what else?" "Ran" "ran?" "Yes. Didn't matter what I did anyway I was still getting shamed".
Hit.
Hit.
Hit.
"You are angry at the world?" "Shouldn't I be?" "No cora. Things happen in life but they only make you stronger" "I made myself this way" "no you didn't. Others did and now you need to let it go before it destroys you" "you know, this is strange. You didn't care this much when I was there and now.." "cora I have always cared. i was blindsided" I shook my head then laid a couple more punches to the bag "yeah well the truth is out now" "it's not too late cora" "maybe it is. It seems princess got what she wanted" "cora I'm really sorry. I know I should've realized sooner.." "daddy I want to speak with you" "can you not tell that I am on the phone" "but daddy it's important" "I'm going" hanging up the call, I started laying more punches to the bag. "Interesting call" "yeah.." "you have a wicked punch" "thanks. Here" stepping back Emmanuel shook his head no "come on, release it" "I do, everyday" "everyday?" "Yes" "why?" "Its what interests me" "nothing else?" "Running and music" "what about dancing?" "I can dance just..don't"

Emmanuel.

This girl has troubles. I thought maybe she is just some white girl from up town but by the sound of it all, she did come from a rich family but was never given anything. She was treated as an outcast, bullied and now is against the world. I'm surprised though, the way she spoke about the people around here and the place. She didnt speak negative about it or us, where as the person on the phone did. Laying quite a few hits to the bag I spoke "Who were you speaking to?" "My father until my sister came in" "you have a lot of beef with her" "yes I hate her" hmm my guess is, she is the cause of it.
"Argh one sec".
"Hey mom..shit that time already..at the gym..that too..alright well I have my keys on me, I can get in..no I'm good.. basically..I will speak to you tomorrow if I don't see you tonight..alright bye".

"Leaving?" "Having some water".
"Ya come here a lot?" "A few days a week" "to let off some steam?" "No. to keep fit" "good reason" I nodded.
"Ay princess" "hi Jessica what do you want?" I held in my laughter "Jeremiah" "yeah well my name isn't princess. you didn't answer my question" "thought I'd come meet the white girl and have a chat" "does it all come down to color around here?" "Basically" "well personally I think that's shit" she hates it by the sound of it. Continuing to hit the bag I listened in.
"That's the way it is. You white people judge us" "so because my complexion is different, you think I judge you?" "Do you?" "No" "now that's bullshit" "I don't speak bullshit. I know what goes through my head and judging this place is not one of them" "so why ya here huh?" "To hit the damn bag" "not the gym, this part of the city" "my dad kicked me out. Now I'm living with my mom" "what did you do?" "Why do ya think it was me that did something?" "your the one that got kicked out" "not everything is black and white" "well I'm black and you are white.." "if I was white, I'd be the same color as white paper and if you were black, you wouldn't have a dark brown complexion it would be darker. See, what you see and I see are completely different" I internally grinned. She is definitely something else that's for sure.