Saving August

Numb

"Rhonda, you got anything else?"

"Nothing."

"Are you sure it was Tia?"

"Zeke, IT WAS HER!"

I rolled my eyes at my step sister cause she had to be bull shittin, there was no way. My Tia was living with her ex fiancé, so she says. It could be true though, I wasn't going to find out just yet. Tia thought I forgot about her, she thinks she's living the life, care free, no worries.

"So, what.. you don't talk to me in years and you show up at my door step asking for revenge? You think that's how it work? No Rhonda, I forgive but I don't forget."

"Zeke, can we at least talk about it?"

I sighed folding my arms leaning on the wall. "Talk."

"Okay, I-I kind of have HIV."

"Kind of? Its either you do? Or you don't?"

"Okay I do, I told him, he broke up with me. Thats my side of the story, whats yours?"

I explained everything to Rhonda, even the beatings, I know I was wrong for putting my hands on her, but its just everything that's built up in me. I can't control this.

"So, here's what we can do." She smirked and begin telling me her so called plan.

-

I racked the last few eggs from the pan onto August's plate, he was still asleep. Im sure his head was on 10 cause he was really drunk last night.

I took the plate and the orange juice into his room, he was shirtless and I could see the scar from his gun shot wound. "August."

"Hmm."

"Here, some breakfast. I'll get you some Tylenol or something."

He yawned and sat up grabbing the plate and immediately started going in. I waved it off and went into his bathroom to find medicine.

"You work today?"

"No."

Im sorry about last night, I was aware, but not fully-"

"Don't worry about it."

"I was thinking, maybe I can take you out tonight? We haven't really did anything together since you've been here."

"Are you okay to leave? I don't think you should put a lot on you."

"Im straight, I just want you to be comfortable around me you know? I want you to trust me, so you can stop locking your door at night."

I made a face cause how did he know that, I never heard him jingle the knob but that was weird. I laughed and he shrugged. "Im just saying, im not some crazy person, you can trust me."

"We'll get there August. Eventually."