Make You Feel My Love | Riff Lorton

Chapter 9

THE FINALE

I walk down the stairs and see a stressed Tony sitting on the bed, his head turning to me after hearing the footsteps.

"Sel! Oh my God, what happened." He asks.

I don't say anything. Instead, I fall to my knees and bust out crying. Tony runs to me and wraps his arms around me.

"It's okay. It's okay." He repeats himself, trying to comfort. We stay there for a few minutes before he lets go and rests his hands on my shoulders.

"What happened?"

"The Jets. A-Anita and I were leaving, and they grabbed us. They unzipped my dress, the-they pushed me onto the floor." I stutter as Tony's eyes change from concern to anger.

"Jesus...I'm gonna kill 'em." He says under his breath. I look up at him, and he sighs, "Sorry."

He helps me up and sits me on his bed. We sit there in silence before the door from upstairs opens. Valentina walks down the stairs with tears in her eyes.

"What was that? What was that? You can never hear nothing from down here." Tony asks her in a panic.

"It was...it was...uh, now it's all right. Tony, let's sit down for a second, huh?"

Tony runs to his closet to finish packing and meet up with Maria, "Listen. I got something to ask you."

"No, no, wait. I...I got something -"

Tony cuts Valentina off, "It ain't easy to ask this, so let me just go, okay?"

"Wait, wait. I have something to -"

"You've given me so much already, but when she gets here, just...if you could help us out with the bus fare..."

"Tony..." I say, trying to get his attention.

"I-I have no idea what it's gonna cost to get far enough away, out west someplace. 100 bucks for both of us. And we'll get work when we get there. We'll pay you back every cent. I know you ain't got money, so if it's too much to ask-"

"Tony!" I yell. He looks up from his bag and stares at me. I nod my head towards Valentina, and he gives her his attention.

"That was Anita upstairs." Valentina says.

"What's wrong?" He asks.

"Chino..." She mutters.

I turn my head to her. What did Anita tell her?

"What?" He asks.

"Chino has a gun. He...Chino shit Maria. He killed her. She's... she's dead." She says, placing her hand on his face. Tony's face drops, and tears immediately start forming in his eyes.

Tony steps away and whimpers as he walks to the steps that lead outside. I stand up from the bed and walk towards Valentina, who is just standing there with tears in his eyes.

She's lying. Anita is lying.

He runs up the stairs and I try to run to him but Valentina stops me, "Wait, no! Tony!"

"Let him go. Let him go, Mija." She says, rubbing my back.

"No, no. Valentina she was lying. M-Maria was right in her room and safe. She's lying. " I tell her.

Valentina sighs, "Wishful thinking, Mija."

"No! I just saw her. She's okay! He has to know." I run up the stairs and feel the cold air brush up against my skin as the lights of the lampposts hit my skin. I look around and don't see anyone.