Past Love

Chapter 19: On The Run

Saturday July 30th, 2005

8:45pm

Damon

I've been gone for 3 days, i didn't know what to do, but i know i had to get the hell out of St. Louis. I think, in fact I know I killed Lee, now I feel like i'd have people from his crew breathing down my neck, I didn't know what to do. I do know as soon as i hit Lee in the back of the head with that lamp i did what i had to do to get rid of him, i took his car. I made sure I backed the car up to the side of the house and took him out the side door and put him into the passenger seat of the vehicle with the seatbelt not buckled. I got in, drove all the way to the north riverfront neighborhood, went down the riverfront trail, and when the time was right i jumped out the car and let the car go into the Mississippi river. I feel bad about this, i never wanted to go this route, i wanted to do the right thing, be my own person, Lee threatened my family, the people i cared about, something had to be done. I hate the person i had become due to that bastard, but i'm just glad he can't harm anybody else. After I got rid of Lee I just walked, I walked up Bremen street to N Broadway to 9th street, to McKinley Street, I walked for a while, until I got to the bridge. I contemplated taking my own life but I couldn't. I looked at the St. Louis Arch and the skyline, before I continued walking. I remembered arriving in Venice, Illinois, I had to figure out where to go and what to do. It's a long story but I found an abandoned place to stay in, just to lay my head temporarily until I get myself mentally together. I had to continue moving around, I had to get as far away from St. Louis as possible. I got up and left the house that i was in on the corner of Ashbrook Street & 2nd St. I started making my way up 2nd street. I had to move at night instead of the day. I kept walking until i got to the intersection of 2nd street & Broadway. One of the things i loved about this area is that it was a small city, not many cars going up and down the street with high beams or anything. I walked down Broadway past the Venice PD as well as the Post Office. I didn't want to be anywhere near a Police Station right now. I walked all the way down Broadway Avenue until i got into Madison, Illinois, that took what felt like an hour, i was tired, I was running on fumes, I had to eat something, I haven't eaten in a day or two. I Had at least $40 or so left. I continued down what was Broadway, but turned into Madison Avenue. I walked until I got to a place that looked like a restaurant, it was called Robb's Place. I walked in, it looked like it wasn't that busy.

"Hello, is anyone here?" I hope this wasn't another abandoned place. "Hello?"

"One second, i'll be right with you." I heard the guy say. "How can i help....are you alright?" He asked.

"No....I'm just going through a rough patch, i just need some food and water and then i'll be out of your way." I told him. I went over to a nearby table.

"Dude you look like you haven't eaten in days." He went to a cooler and got some bottles of Water and a Soda. "Here drink these, this will give you some type of strength, is there anything you want to eat?" He asked.

"Well the fries and fish look good."

"Alright, well one batch of Fries and Fish, coming right up."

"Alright man, here you go, that's about $7.50¢ I told him as I got some money out of my pocket."

"Naw youngster you don't have to worry about that, i appreciate it but look you're in a situation dude, you need some help, not anyone to steal money dude."

"I appreciate it, Robb?" I asked.

"No I'm Robb's son Vonté, well my name is actually LaVonté but people call me Vonté for short." He said.

"Well it's cool meeting you Vonté, I'm Marcus." I lied, telling him a different name, just in case people were asking about me.

Over the next 10 minutes or so we made a bit of small talk here and there, he asked a few questions, and I gave him some BS answers too. I didn't want him prying too much, like I said I'm just trying to get as far away from St. Louis as possible.

"Well here's your food. He said. You know if you need a place to stay for a few days there's a hotel nearby." He said, I kind of looked at him to the side. "Why you looking at me like that?" Vonté asked.

"Just never had nobody treat me like this before. Makes me think you want something you know?"

"Well I do want one thing from you. That's to get yourself together. You seem like a good person with a bright future ahead of you. I don't know what you may be going through in life but just know you're strong and you can make it."

"Appreciate it."

"I'm probably going to talk to my pops about giving you a job."

"No, that's okay I appreciate it though. It's just a lot that we want through right now and I'm really just trying to start over in a different place." I looked at him. "Hey man I won't forget you." I finished my food and then I left. I just want to get as far away from St Louis as I can. I still have a long journey ahead of me.

End Of Chapter 19