You love me anyway.

I'm Here

Inhaling the Chicago air did something to him. It made him feel brand new for some reason. With the seasons changing from hot and sticky to cool and breezy, the city greeted him richly. It was almost like being flown into another country. All the tall skyscapers and brick-and-mortar buildings pulled his gaze into several different directions. It was like he didn't know where to look first. Lil Murda and Woddy arrived mid-morning, fresh off the plane from Memphis to get ready for a radio interview the next day at 107.5 WGCI. This was going to be his first radio interview ever. They were going to stay at the Fairfield Inn & Suites for two nights and then they were to leave for Texas for another promo interview. As soon as they stepped out of the all black rental Suburban to go inside the hotel, Lil Murda turned to Woddy and said, "This is it, Woddy! It's nothing but up from here." 

"Yeah, man. You nervous yet?" Woddy asked. 

Lil Murda laughs. 

He adjusts his eyesight to the brightly lit hotel to somehow try to take everything in. He kept thinking to himself as he looked around I finally made it out. No more hoping and wishing. No more scratching just to get by. And no more gunplay. At least for now. 

 He knew what it was to do a couple of tour dates in the South but the North was going to be something totally different. He could already tell that energy and spirit of the North was not going to be the easiest navigate through. There was a young black receptionist standing, waiting at the counter when Lil Murda turned around. She smiled at him sweetly when she said, "Hello, sir. How may I help you?" "Ah..yeah. I'm here to check in." Woddy was having their things brought in as the valet went to park the rental. "And who all is in your party, sir?" asked the young woman with milk chocolate skin and dark piercing eyes. 

"Just me and my manager. We're gettin' two separate rooms."

"Yes, sir," she said as she put in the key strokes to bring up his information. 
He noticed that the young lady would steal a glance every now and then. He didn't say anything; he just let her look. Lil Murda tried to give her look to let her know that it was okay if she looked at him but couldn't capture her gaze. 

"Alright, sir. Here are your room keys. Also, if you need any room service, please don't hestitate to give us a ring. We will be glad to assist you," she said placing the keys into hands. He looked at her blushing when her fingers accidently brushed against his. Her face went slightly red and she put her head down quickly. 

He lifted her chin up. "Thank you," he told her.  "You're welcome, sir," she replied trembling. 

With that, Lil Murda walked with Woddy to the elevators. He turned back and saw the young lady standing there gazing at him. He winked at her as the doors closed. 

Thank goodness he never saw her texted all of her friends to let them know that she just met Lil Murda. 

Once they got to their rooms and got settled in, Woody came to Murda's room to check in on him. When he sat down on the couch nearest to the patio, Woddy asked him "So you gon' do that everywhere you go now?" 

"Do what?" 

"What you did to the receptionist downstairs." 

"I didn't do nothin'." 

Woddy sighed. "I have never seen you flirt with a female in all the time that I have known you. But today you came this close to having that girl come upstairs." 

Murda just shook his head. "It was innocent. I just wanted her know that it was cool to look at me." 

Woddy stared Lil Murda. "What? I did! The girl kept looking down and would never look at me directly in my face." 

"Okay, LaMarques." 

"She did! Why is this an issue?" 

"It's not. I was just giving an observation." 

Lil Murda looked at him for a moment. "Woddy, get out of my room." 

"Boy..." Woddy grabs a pillow as he gets up and throws it at Murda. "Ain't nobody stunnin' you!" 

He goes to the side table by the door to grab the room folder. 

"Where you want to eat, Marques?" said Woddy looking at the room folder for something to eat. He wasn't too sure that if eating there at the hotel would be a good idea because sometimes hotel food was not all that great. Yet at the same time, they were working with a budget so they didn't want to splurge too much. 

"Here, I guess. I really just want to eat and go to sleep." Woddy gave him the folder so he could pick out what he wanted. After placing his order over the phone, the food arrived with two servers within five minutes. Woddy and himself sat and ate while looking out at the city and talking. From where they were, the Tribune Tower and the John Hancock Center could be seen. 

For a moment, Murda stared out at the city. Woddy notcied and said, "You still think about him?" 

Murda turned his head toward him. "It's all right if you do." 

Murda turned hs head back to the window. "Love can run deep like that. You never forget the one that you gave your whole heart to. Whether things turned out good or bad."  

Murda knew he was right. He just chose to not let it show. 

Woddy stood to leave. "Listen, I'ma go and get me some sleep. Holla at me if you need me." He patted him on the back and left. 

Murda shut his eyes for a second. Then exhaled. Then inhaled. Then exhaled out the emotion that was dying to get out. After about 10 minutes, he breathed in new air. He made up in his mind in that moment. Nothing but new. Only new and nothing else.