Testimony

52. Problems

Draya came running through the door with her daughter in her arms and bruises covering her face. I jumped up out of my seat and ran over to her taking the baby out of her arms.

Nicki- what the hell happened to you?

Draya- he beat me up

Lindsey- who beat you up?

Draya- my boyfriend

Nicki- did you call the police?

Draya- so he can kill me? No!

Nicki- you gotta do something Draya, this is not ok.

Draya- I am doing something. I left so he could cool down a little. He didn't mean it, I know he didn't.

Nicki- are you out of your mind? Have you seen your face?

Draya- I'm ok, I just need somewhere to stay for a while.

Lindsey- of course you can stay here. Come on let's get your face cleaned up.

Nicki- you hungry baby" I said to her daughter who looked terrified.

I fixed her a bowl of whatever Lindsey was cooking and sat her on the couch. I turned on cartoons and went in Lindsey's room to check on Draya.

Lindsey- she has bruises all over her Nicki.

Nicki- oh my god Draya. Does he hit her too?

Draya- no! You know I'd never let anything happen to my baby. Where is she, is she ok?

Nicki- she's fine, I gave her some food and she's watching tv.

Lindsey- like seriously Draya you can not go back to this idiot. If he keeps hitting you like this then he's going to kill you.

Draya- he doesn't mean to, he has PTSD. I can't just leave him alone.

Nicki- yes you can. I bet he beats you in front of your baby doesn't he?

She put her head down.

Nicki- take it from someone who seen her dad beat her mom, she shouldn't be seeing that Draya.

Draya- if I leave him I'll have nothing. He owns the house and he makes the money.

Lindsey- you can stay here for as long as you want. I'm not letting you go back.

Nicki- and neither am I.

Lindsey- I'll go and get you some ice for your face

..

Meek- it's ok pooh, stop cryin. Please?

I got one baby down but the other one just wouldn't go. I changed her diaper and tried to give her a bottle but she won't stop cryin. I was starting to get a headache.

Meek- you must miss mommy huh? I know pooh, I miss her too. Let's call her.

I picked up my phone and dialed Nicki's number. It rung and rung but she never picked up. Now I was really mad. Her being gone for hours and not telling me where she was going was one thing but then not answering my calls was another.

Meek- look like ya mom is ignoring daddy's phone calls. What you think I should do?

I was gonna give her one hour to call me back or I was going out to look for here. At least when I leave I come back within a couple of hours and I answer my phone.

..

Nicki- so he's done this before?

Draya- yes, but it's usually not this bad.

Lindsey- well what made him do it this time?

Draya- he found a number in my phone and he thought I was cheating on him.

Nicki- well are you?

Draya- yes...

Lindsey- why would you do that?

Draya- because I know I deserve better but I just can't leave him. He's the father of my baby and honestly he's my first true love. He changed me in so many ways and he helped me through a lot so I just feel like I owe him my help. Y'all don't see what I see. I have to watch my love suffer every day and there is nothing I can do to help.

Nicki- well why don't you get him some help?

Draya- I ask him every day of he'll go but he won't. He's scared that they'll come and take our daughter away.

Nicki- well you have to always put yourself first and then your daughter. You gotta choose y'all over everything and everybody.

Draya- I know, I'm trying.

Lindsey- your a great mother Draya and I know she loves you no matter what.

..

Draya- OH MY GOD!

" WHAT?" Lindsey and I said in unison

Draya- it's almost 7 o'clock. I was supposed to be home by 6:30. He's going to kill me. Come on baby, let's go.

Nicki- really Draya? Your going to really run back to him after what we've been talking about all this time.

Draya- I have to

Nicki- if you leave in calling the police and he's going to jail.

Draya- Nicki just chill ok? I said I was fine." She said while she quickly put on Asiah's jacket

We heard someone banging on the door and we all shot up. Lindsey walked over and looked through the peep whole.

Lindsey- who is it?

" I'm looking for Draya, I know she here because I see her car" the man said.

Draya- oh my god, it's him!

Lindsey- she's not here

Orlando- I'm not leaving until we talk Draya. I just wanna talk to you babe.

She nodded for Lindsey to open the door and she did.

Lindsey- you can't come in here tho, you can talk to her from there.

Draya put down Asiah and slowly walked over to him. Everything was going fine until he grabbed her hair and started dragging her down the stairs. She screamed and so did me and Lindsey. Lindsey ran after them while I held her daughter who was now crying. I watch from the top of the stairs as Lindsey hit him over and over as he beat Draya unconscious. I grabbed my phone and called for help immediately noticing the 4 missed calls and 3 next while in the process.

..

I finally heard the front door open and almost 11 pm. I finally got both kids to sleep and now it was time for me and Nicki to talk. I heard her run up the stairs  and into the room.

Meek- Nicki where the f-

I looked at her and she was crying with blood on her clothes.

Meek- what the fuck happened?" I said jumping up out of the bed.

She ran into my arms and hugged me tight as she cried into my chest. I didn't ask no more questions, I just held her until she was ready to talk.

* SO THIS CHAPTER WAS PRETTY DRAMATIC BUT IM HAPPY WITH IT. WHAT YALL THINK?
* SOMETIMES IT TAKES SEEING OTHER PEOPLES PROBLEMS FIRST HAND TO REALIZE HOW SMALL YOURS ARE. THATS THE MORAL HERE.