Broken Apart

Chapter 3

Michael's POV: I walked to open the door. "Hey Mike." LaToya said as she hugged me. "Hey." I said, putting a smile on my face. "Ooh Mike, your voice is hoarse. You ok?" She asked. "Yeah, just a sore throat." I replied. I lied. I chickened out. I should have told her right now. Maria came into the room. "Hey LaToya!" She cheerfully said as she approached my sister. "Hey! How are you hun?" LaToya replied as she hugged Maria. "I'm good. You?" Maria said. "I'm fine too." LaToya replied. "So what brings you here?" I asked. "I thought I'd stop by to visit the artist of the year." She said with a smile. I chuckled for the first time in a long time. But then the reality set in, I need to tell her, now. "Uh, LaToya, can I talk to you in private for a second?" I asked. "Sure Mike." She replied. I took her into my bedroom and locked the door. "Why'd you lock the door? Are you ok Mike?" She asked. I let out a sigh. "No, actually. I'm not." I said as I looked at the ground. I could see the concern on her face out of the corner of my eye. "What's going on Mike?" She asked. I rolled up my sleeves. I didn't cover up past my elbows, now she could see the bruises. Her eyes widened and she covered her mouth. I grabbed a makeup wipe off the nightstand and wiped my face, revealing more bruises, some redness from the coffee burn, and a black eye. She cupped my cheek, but quickly pulled away when I flinched. I could see her eyes start to water. "Michael– why didn't you say something?" She said. "I– I don't know. I still love her." I said. "Well she clearly doesn't love you if this is how she treats you! I'm calling the police!" She said. "No! LaToya! Please don't! I don't want her to get in trouble!" I said. "If we don't let the authorities know she'll keep doing this!" She replied. "What are the  chances that they'll believe that a woman is abusing a man?!" I said. "With all your evidence they will!" She said. "No, please don't. Just let me deal with this. Please. I really do love her, and I feel that deep down, she really loves me." I said. LaToya let out a sigh. "Fine, I won't. But if this gets worse, I'll have no choice. I'll check up on you once a day." She said. I gave her a hug as I started crying. She gently rubbed my back, making sure not to hurt me. "Thank you." I whispered. "It's ok." She replied. I stopped crying , reapplied the foundation so the bruises were covered, and the two of us walked back out to where Maria was. She always puts on this "good-girl" act when others are around. "Everything ok?" She asked. "Yeah, we're fine. Mike was telling me about some new ideas for his next album." LaToya said. I'm glad she didn't bring it up. After about an hour, LaToya was ready to leave. She gently gave me a hug. "Please let me know if you need help." She whispered in my ear. We all said goodbye and she left. Maria closed the door behind her and quickly spun around. "You told her didn't you?" She said angrily. "No, I swear on my life that I didn't." I lied. "Don't lie to me Michael!" She said as she got closer to me. "Maria, I didn't tell her. I promise." I said as I backed up. She punched me in the stomach and I fell to the ground in pain. She kicked me in the same spot she punched me a few times. She bent down, grabbed my hair, and pulled me back to my feet. "You better not have." She said before forcefully throwing me to the ground. I grabbed my stomach in pain. Fuck...