𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙱𝚘𝚢 𝙽𝚎𝚡𝚝 𝙳𝚘𝚘𝚛

16

Isaiah

October

The days had flown by with my never ending schedule. So many faces I've had to see this past month. Dealing with my father's rowdy crew was nerve wracking.

I always seemed to be cleaning up there mess. The first time I met them, one of them punched me in my face. I had a black eye to show for it, but that didn't scare me. It only made me angrier.

I blacked out only to wake up to them dragging his lip body away.

Haven't seen him since. A darkness lingers in my mind making me wonder if I had killed him. I was too afraid to ask anyone, so I pushed it into the back of my mind.

Those thoughts were for my dark days. The days I couldn't handle when I let myself get too sucked in.

I've found myself spending more and more time with Imani when I was alone. These have been some of the best days I've had.

Either the both of us just randomly finding each other or me telling her to come over whenever I heard her mother yelling at her.

She doesn't talk about it. In fact she pretends like it never happens, so I don't push her. I have my own secrets that I would rather not talk about.

But I'd wish she tell me. I'd keep her secrets for her.

She spent the night quite often too. Laying in my bed and drifting off like she was in the most comfortable place in the world.

I don't know when, or even how it happened, but the closer we got, the more I felt myself attaching to her in the most dangerous ways.

Anytime I had a moment to think, my thoughts were always consumed with her.

I'd never tell her these things. Why would I? We could never be together. My life was going to be nothing but a violent path that would lead to my death.

My father got me into something that I would probably never make it out of.

Imani sat in my lap facing me as I sketched in my sketch book. Her face in the crook of my neck. Her soft breaths telling me she was taking a nap.

Her body was soft against mine. Wrapping around me and tucking into mine like the perfect puzzle piece.

Days like these just always felt like everything was going to be alright. Like I could be normal like the other high school kids.

Not some thug who deals with the mafia or cartel. My grip tightened on my pencil while my my arm tighten against her back.

"What's wrong?" Her voice was groggily but still soft as she spoke. I could tell she had just woken up.

"It's nothing. Go back to sleep." I tried easing her back into our mold, but she broke free of it. "Actually I need to be heading back home." She spoke softly. She looked off into the distance at her house.

The same look that has crossed my face many times. One of confusion and loneliness. As if the world rested on your shoulders and you didn't know what to do with it.

She slid off my lap and began to grab her things. "Are you coming back?" I stood, following her down the stairs towards the door.

"I'm not sure. Don't count on it. I'll see you tomorrow Isaiah. She gives me a smile that makes my heart beat faster.