I Got You (Urban)

K.O.Q. *5*

"Where are you? I'm getting sleepy bro," was all I kept texting my brother. I had a gut feeling something was wrong. The only thing that still gave me a sense of assurance was the time. Before he left he told us that he would be back 2 am latest and it was only about 1' o clock. I couldn't wait anymore so I went ahead to sleep.

It was early morning and the only thing that woke me up was the sound of a man's voice, "I'm gonna need you to put on some pants and step out of the room miss." As I got a clear vision it was a Hispanic looking officer at my room door. I never slept with pants, they made me feel so uncomfortable unless it was that time of that month. As embarrassed as I was, I walked to my drawer, put on a pair of pants and walked out of my room. I turned my head and the only thing I saw was about three police officers in my brothers room, rummaging and tearing through his room.

"Excuse me sir, umm why are you guys here? And where are my dad and my brother?"

"Your father's downstairs with the other officers and your brother ... he's in our custody for murder," said the officer.

My heart dropped. I picked up my phone to call my mother and an officer snatched my phone out of my hand. "I wouldn't do that if I were you," said the police officer. I told him I was calling my mom and he laughed and thought I wasn't telling the truth. When I went downstairs there were more officers and the first thing I did was hug my dad. I looked outside the window and there were numerous cop cars, this was scenery I never encountered. When I went downstairs and saw my dad he looked so stressed. He got up and hugged me tightly and just told me to stay calm. The officers checked the whole house and warned us that If we knew where something was and withheld information we can be charged. We didn't really care because we didn't know anything. Jah lived a somewhat private life. I noticed the outgoing, coming home late etc tendencies but I didn't think much of it.

Some days later my brother called. I could only cry and tell him what had happened. All he could tell me was, "Aniya, stop crying. I made my mistakes in life and now this is my consequence. I let mommy and daddy down so you gotta stay strong. Go to school, do your work, do everything right, Aniya. Going to school and being successful is the only thing that'll get you far. Just do that for me." That short talk became the reason why I had to get back on track.

               I tried my best to get myself together. I got back on track with school and went on with my life. It was okay to cry to myself, talk to my counselor, and feel sad, but it stopped being my hurdle. It hurt because the only 2 male figures I had in my life were my father and my brother, and now I was left with my dad. My brother was arrested a short time after he graduated so he never got to go to college to start the next step in life. Due to that I was grateful to grasp the opportunity. My grades went up, and I found a job after looking as hard as I could. I was happy so I knew he was proud. I became more hard working and determined than I was before.

Senior year came by and it was time to be on my A game as I sent out my college applications and waited for replies. My brother was sentenced to 10 years in prison since we got him a good lawyer that knocked his charge down to 3rd degree murder. This hurt but I had to keep my promise with keeping my head on straight and not letting my situation get the best of me. Just when I thought that would be the last of my tribulations, I got dropped with another big bomb. My dad was taken away. I was his princess, he made sure I never lacked anything. He was the first man I loved and cherished as a young girl. I was daddy's little girl who got pampered and spoiled. When he was taken away it hurt as if someone had sent a dagger through my heart. The last man I had in my life was taken away.

I was only 17 in my senior year of high school and I felt like I had dealt with all the blows life had to give already. I was drained emotionally and mentally. I didn't have the energy or motivation to do much. I became more reserved and the amount of anger I had built inside of me was dangerous. It hurt me more thinking of what my mother was going through. Losing her mother, her son, then her husband not at her side. It scared me, because it's only so much one can got through before they lose it all and I didn't want to live to see when she gave up.