I Am Harlem (urban)

Chapter 3

I sat on my windowsill for the rest of the day. Kaden was at daycare and Ricky well who knows where he is. I watched the cars drive by, the people. Watching drug deals go down, and prostitution right in my front yard. Funny what you can experience well see through a window. Taking a deep breath I closed my eyes and pulled my blanket over me some more. I just wanted to leave, I don't need this.

..............

I walked down the steps, rubbing my hands together with my gloves to keep them warm. I had to go to work. Working at the diner on the corner was a good and bad idea. Joe the owner made me go outside to keep they drug dealers off the block.

"Harlem I need you too.."

"Yeah yeah whatever"

Walking outside in a waitress dress, apron, tights and flats I had to tell all of them to get off the block. Sometimes it went well other times it just.. Well went like this.

"PJ look you know my boss don't like y'all standing around here. It stops business."

"Look Harlem I don't give a DAMN about cha bosses business. Is his white ass paying my fucking bills?!" He pointed his finger in my face. Sucking my teeth I moved it out of the way and stepped closer, lowering my voice.

"Look you little wanna be gangsta if you don't get the fuck off this corner I'll let the Feds come down here and handle ya black ass. Iight?"

PJ rolled his eyes and walked off. Yelling back "you gone get yours Harlem! One of these days! You betta watch ya self!!"

And that's how things went down. As I stopped at the cross walk, I shoved my hands in my pockets. Suddenly I felt eyes on me. Watching my every move. Docking me. From how many breaths I took, to where I was going or coming from. I didn't like it, it made me feel uneasy. Looking around I saw people rushing home, and drunks getting thrown out of the bar. You know the usual.

"Just get to the diner and you'll be okay. Just get to the diner" I repeated it to myself as I rushed to the diner pushing the doors open looking back.

"Ayo har..."

I ran into Gina and she spilled her water.

"I'm sorry!!" I ran to the back, grabbed a mop and rushed back in to clean up.

"Harlem"

I kept cleaning, not paying attention.

"Harlem... HARLEM!"

She snatched the mop away from me and I looked at her with bloodshot eyes. She grabbed my hand and pulled me to the bar.

"Child what is wrong with you? Coming in here like you seen a ghost."

I looked at her, then looked around the restaurant. No one was paying any attention to us so I told her what's been going on. I've been feeling like people have been watching me everyday but today after all the stuff with my mom. I don't know what's going on.

"Oh baby.. You will be fine. They just trying to frighten you."

" they are doing one hell of a job at it.

I hopped off the stool and got to work.

"You'll be fine. Just keep your mind busy. Don't think about it."

-4 hours later-

"Alright well I'm off y'all! Thanks for the bonus Joe! See you next week"

I walked down the street with my earbuds in. Blasting ASAP Rocky. My phone buzzed and I looked down to see Gina texting me. Making sure I was okay. I replied back to her that I was fine and kept walking..... All of a sudden.

BAM!

I woke up with a heavy head. My eyesight was blurry, I was cold, and laying in water. Where the hell was I at? An alley? Who hit me? I rolled over groaning in pain, only to get hit in my ribs with a bat.

"Ah!" I coughed and spit out blood. One blow after another. Over and over again. But then they stopped. I laid there drowning in self pity, drowning in blood, bruises, and pain. My breathing slowed, I could feel my heart beat slowly decrease.... I was numb, sore, and the feeling throughout my body was unbearable.

"I'm not done with the bitch yet."

Coughing, I felt my dress rise. I tried to find some kind of voice. Something to help me scream for help. But all the energy in my body was gone. I couldn't do it. I laid there and cried as I felt nothing but pain go through me.

"HELP!! STOP!!!"

No matter the burning, no matter the pain the fire running through my muscles I tried pushing him off of me.

"STOP!! Help!!"

"Shut up trick!!"

"Stop! Ricky! Help! Someone help!! Ricky!!!"

I slapped him across the face hoping that would buy me time to grab my purse. I looked around and it was no where to be found. Another blow to the head came and that was it......

Everything's a blur... My eyes opened only to fall closed again. Things slowed down, the world closed down on me, and my breathing slowed. Drifting in and out of consciousness at the sight of seeing red and blue lights..... Seeing a face so unfamiliar but so helpful and concerned... The feeling of my body slowly shutting down. The feeling of taking that last hopeful breath. What more is there? My eyesight is blurry, "just hold on" I hear. Hold on to what? I was slowly drifting.... Drifting away from what?.... Drifting.... Slowly..... Out of..... Consciousness...

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