Past Love

Chapter 1: Ten Years Later

Sunday May 15th, 2005

11:00 a.m.

St Louis, Missouri

Jahmelle

"We're here today to say goodbye to a fallen friend, brother, neighbor to all of us. Shawn Wilson who is taken from us because of needless violence. Needless gang violence, he was shot down like a dog in the street due to a drive-by. He may be gone but his spirit will live with us forever. Ashes to ashes dust to dust." The pastor said. "May you now be at peace." And at that moment the burial commenced. Shawn's mother was there and she was devastated, bellowing out crying for her child and his older brother Tyrone had arrived in town a couple days prior This was the first time he saw everybody since he's been back in town. With him being away on business so much he's never in town for a long time. He was this superstar athlete, A talented boxer that worked for the Supreme Boxing Federation. But he decided to take some time off because of this. Him and his brother were super close and so for this to happen it was like a big blow to him. After Shawn was buried people talked to Shawn's mother Lisa and gave her and Tyrone their condolences. Man I haven't seen Tyrone for the better part of a decade and now he's come back after going to college and getting his degree and then going to the boxing world and making a name for himself. I walked over to both of them.

"Hey Ms. Lisa I'm so sorry for your loss I just seen Shawn the other day but literally not long after we finished playing basketball he left I don't know where he was heading to but the next thing I know I got a call from somebody at the hospital telling me that he was shot and that he didn't make it and I am so sorry I should have stayed with him." As I was talking to her I began to tear up and I looked over at Tyrone. "Tyrone I am so sorry that I didn't look after your brother, me and him were so close. He was like the brother I never had, and you know that."

"Yeah, thanks." And that was all he said before both of them walked off. That was a bit cold. I don't know why he acted cold towards me. Maybe he holds me responsible for not staying with his brother and protecting him but his brother chose the thug life.

I shrugged it off and went about my day. I drove through Shawn's neighborhood around 1:15pm. I had a spare key to his house, I got out of the car and went into the now empty house. I turned his radio on and put it on 102.5 TSLS (The St. Louis Sound). That was our favorite radio station. They played a mix of classic hip-hop and current hiphop. I listened to a bit of Nelly, David Banner, Three 6 Mafia, Nas, Jay Z over the next couple hours as I thought about the events of today. I still can't believe Shawn's gone. He's buried In Bethany Cemetery. I don't live too far from it, I lived in a Cul-de-sac area. I lived at Roberts CT, right off of Pennsylvania Avenue. And he lived not too far on the corner of Roberts Ave & Kingsland Avenue. I can't believe it, now that house is empty. I cried to myself, I should have protected him. Around 5pm I locked his place up and left, then I headed to K's Liquor Store which was right around the corner. As I pulled in and got out of the car I saw one of my students named Damon hanging around there.

"Yo What's good baby boy?" Damon asked.

"Nothing, how are you doing?" I said as I shook his hand.

"Nun, just chillin' on the corner with my friends. What is you doin' over on this side of town?"

"Just needed to pick up some things for the house. You know you need to get in the classroom and off the streets right? Look, you're almost a senior, you also need to plan on some colleges to go to."

"College? That's a funny one teach, look college ain't in my future, i'm just a nigga from St. Louis."

"Yeah but you have so much promise, you're a smart kid, you get decent grades, and I want to see you go far in life, you have opportunities, you could be more than just some other hood, you know. You know you remind me a lot of my friend..." I tried to keep my composure as I thought about Shawn.

"Yo you good teach??"

"Yeah, yeah. Just had him on my mind for a second, but you remind me of my friend Shawn, he was in the streets like you were, he was smart and educated, and we buried him today, I just don't want to see that happen to you." I told him.

"Hey Teach, I'm sorry for your loss..."

"Yo Damon, YO DAMON!!" I saw one of his friends calling out to him.

"Hey Teach i gotta go...my homeboy Lee's calling me, i'll see you around." He said as he walked over to them.

I walked into the corner store and got some Funyuns, Cheetos and some more snacks, then I got some Alizé Liquor.

"Alright, that'll be $10.25¢." The cashier told me. I looked at him and I thought I saw him at the funeral, I knew he looked familiar, I hadn't seen him in awhile but me, Shawn and him were tight in school.

"Kash is that you?"

"Yeah." He smiled with a gold tooth in his mouth. "I didn't know if you were gonna recognize me or not, it's been a minute though." He said.

"Yeah it has, man today's been hectic."

"Damn right, I can't believe Shawn's gone."

"Well he didn't want to give up that gangbanging life, i tried to keep him out of it but it caught up with him."

"Yeah it did but that's just the way the world is, that's the way life works out."

"Yeah unfortunately."

"Yeah, i mean i lived that life for a minute but it wasn't for me, i took the money i saved and started up my own corner store, i mean i ain't making much more than the next person but at least i'm off the streets you know."

"True true, well if you ever want to kick it one day we can."

"Yeah, that'd be cool, it was nice seeing you again."

After that I gave him my info, then I got in the car. I made sure before I started drinking I headed home, getting back to my house from the corner store was a two minute drive, it turned into a 5 to 7 minute drive due to a bit of traffic congestion. When I got home I kicked off my shoes and sat in my recliner and turned the television on and put it on FOX 2 St. Louis.

"Today the community mourned the loss of a St. Louis native Shawn Wilson, in attendance was his brother, SBF boxer Tyrone Wilson, and a close friend of the family Ex Basketball Star Jahmelle Hendrix."

Yeah Ex-Basketball Star, now y'all probably wondering why i'm a Ex-Basketball player, i played college ball straight out of high school, 4 years of high school ball, 4 years of college ball, i was a beast, straight up dominated, 1st year of my pro basketball career i tore my ACL and MCL, ended my career in my rookie year before it even began. As I watched TV I got a knock on my door. I went over and opened and the last person I expected to show up did.

"What are you doing here?"

End Of Chapter 1