point of view - alaysia brown -
It all seemed to be happening in slow motion. My body felt still. It was like I was having an out of body experience.
I couldn't bring my body to move. I couldn't yell. I couldn't help her.
I wanted so badly to help her.
But I couldn't.
The sound of her sobs knocked me out of my thoughts.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw jahseh leave the hotel room angrily while Mari sat on the floor curled into a bruised ball, crying.
"I'm so sorry!" I began crying to Marianna. "This is all my fault."
"No it's not." She whimpered.
She slowly and shakily stood from the ground, using the small leather couch as support. She stumbled to the bathroom and I followed behind her.
"I-it is actually." I feel so guilty.
If I confess she won't be so mad at me... right?
"How?" She turned on the water before looking up at herself in the mirror.
Her face was decorated with a black eye and a huge bruise on her forehead. Her shoulder was bruised as well and she had a little bit of blood spilling from her lip.
She filled her hands with water and began rinsing her face.
"I... I told stokes that you hooked up with someone and he told jahseh."
She didn't say anything she just grabbed a towel and began drying her face.
A few long seconds passed and she still hadn't said anything or even glanced in my direction.
"Mari."
"I'm sorry can you just spare me the bullshit apology. Please?" She laughed.
"W-what?"
"I just got my ass beat, like actually beat. For defending you and protecting you. And you're the one who told him."
"I didn't tell him that was St-"
"and what did you think Stokeley wasn't going to tell his brother that the girl he likes slept with someone else?" She laughed. "Like you cannot be that fuckin slow."
"You don't have to be mean," I pointed out. "I feel bad and I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry too," she shook her head. "I'm sorry that I met you and I'm sorry that I trusted you."
"This isn't my fault you slept with that dude on your own."
"After you convinced me to go out and do it, you told me to let go and let loose after the breakup. You encouraged me. And you had no business telling Stokeley my business ." She ranted. "You lied to me. And I trusted you."
She just shook her head at me and I stayed silent, knowing she was right. "He's never beat on me like that."
"He might've choked me out or something but that has never happened. And he was more angry because I defened you. And you just sat there and watched it happen."
"Mari I'm so sorry," I started.
"Just go. Just get out and leave... leave me alone. I don't want to be friends anymore."
