Brotherly Love

Chapter 9

Mom dropped me off at gymnastics practice twenty minutes late. I walked in and over to coach Lindsay.

"Hi Giona. You're on the beam today. Go warmup and we'll get started."

I nodded and walked over to the girls in my age group stretching. After warm ups I went and dusted myself in chalk before mounting the beam. I began my routine stumbling and falling when I did my aerial. I got up and climbed back on and I fell when I landed from my backhand spring. I sat next to the beam and rested before attempting my routine again and failing. Coach Lindsey walked over and told me to give the beam a break and try the parallel bars. I failed at everything that day. I went in the locker room and cried. I pulled my knees to my chest and cried the rest of practice. I had never had a day where I couldn't do anything right. I wiped my face and walked out to my moms car.

"How was practice Bun Bun?" My mom asked as soon as I got in the car.

"I don't wanna do gymnastics no more." I said pulling my hair from its messy bun.

"And why is that?"

"I couldn't do anything right. I made a complete fool of myself. The Junior Nationals wouldn't even bother scoring me making those careless mistakes."

"Everybody has bad days and this one is one of them."

"I never have them."

"Well I ha---" She jerked the car steering wheel as a car running a red light tried to hit us on her side. She pulled over at the nearest service station and called someone. I looked at her frightened and started crying.

"Mama, why would someone do that?" I asked interrupting her rant on the phone.

"Calm down Bun Bun. Some people are just really stupid and should have never gotten their license. It had to be a drunk driver. Nobody is going to hurt you." She said brushing her fingers through my hair and kissing my cheek. I nodded not believing what she said. The part about nobody going to hurt me proved to be a lie later that night. I was in my room putting on pajamas when Gio walked in. He sat on my bed and sighed.

"Why are you home? Weren't you supposed to stay at a team mates house?" I asked him sitting next to him.

"I got Sav's mom to drop me off two hours ago. I was taking a nap. GiGi, I'm scared."

"Why?"

"I feel like something bad is going to happen. I feel it in my gut that something might happen to you or mom. I wanted to be here to make sure nothing happens." He said putting his hand on top of mine. I hugged him and kissed his cheek. We heard the front door open and neither of us moved thinking it was Bryson coming home. Then we heard somebody talking. I walked to the top of the stairs listening. I watched Gio creep down the hall following me. I signaled for him to pause where he was.

"I haven't seen you in so long. Where are my kids?" Said a deep male voice.

"They're not here. Nobody is home but me." My mom said talking loud enough so we'd hear the safe words. I mouthed the word "closet" letting Gio know to go hide. He went to go hide and I proceeded to the third stair. I peeked over the rail and saw a tall muscular man who was about in his mid thirties.

"Regina, you shouldn't have ran away and took my kids with you. Are you and the kids coming back with me?" He said reaching for his waistband.

"No, I love my life without you Sergio."

"I thought you'd say that." He said pulling out a gun. I held in a whimper as a tear ran down my cheek.

"Please no don't do this." She screamed begging for her life.

"If I can't have you nobody can...not even the kids." He said maniacally before pulling the trigger. She stood holding her stomach where he'd shot her. I ran upstairs to the closet where Gio was. As I closed the door quietly I heard two more gunshots. I looked at Gio who was silently crying, and wiped his tears and mine. "You weren't here. Okay?" I whispered and he nodded. Shortly I heard the front door slam, so I ran to Bryson's room and called 911. I made Gio go over to the neighbors so that he wouldn't have to get questioned. We would lie and say he wasn't there, but I had seen the worst of it. I witnessed my mother get murdered. I tried calling Bryson, but he didn't answer. Shortly, the house filled with police officers and paramedics. I sat on the stairs not saying anything. A paramedic checked my moms pulse but I already knew she was gone.

"Can you tell me what happened sweetie?" Said a nice white female officer.

"I'm not talking until my big brother gets here."

"How many of you are there?"

"Three. I'm the only girl and I have a twin. He's the youngest. I don't really feel like talking right now."

A bad day had turned to the worst day in the world. I heard Bryson screaming my name and attempting to run into the house. A few officers held him back trying to calm him down.

"Giona. I live here. I'm just trying to get to my baby sister." He said fighting back tears. We ran to each other and met each other halfway. He scooped me up and I cried on his shoulder.

"Where's Gio?"

"Next door."

"Did you see everything?"

"I saw enough."

"Did Gio see?"

I shook my head no lying. An officer walked over and tapped Bryson's shoulder.

"We need to go to the station for questioning."

"Just let me grab some things. GiGi go get you and Gio some clothes." I nodded and ran upstairs with Bryson not far behind. I packed Gio a full duffle and myself too. I grabbed the picture of me, my mom, Bryson, and Gio that we took at the fair the other day. Bryson walked out his room with a duffle and backpack. He grabbed one of the duffles from me and walked downstairs. We walked out the house and saw Gio walking out the neighbors house with an officer. He ran over and hugged Bryson. We got in the car and was escorted by two police cars to the police station.