Jasmine
I inhaled and exhaled a long breath as we walked in the doors of the church. I sat in the very back so that pastor or First Lady wouldn't notice me. Look at them, they're sitting up there looking all happy and in love and these people are eating it up. Only I know the truth. "Amen Saints." Marcus stood up and said getting a chorus of 'amens' from the congregation. My mother and I rolled our eyes at the same time. "Forgiveness." He said and stopped, pausing for dramatic effect. How ironic! "Is a wonderful thing when we can forgive whole heartedly we are letting go of all the pain that was done to us. Forgiving is important to move on. Jesus forgives us every time we sin. He got up on that cross and showed his love for us. What if he didn't forgive us? Then what y'all think life would be like? Everybody would be due to burn in eternal damnation. But because our Lord forgives us, He give us a chance to take a seat next to Him in the kingdom of heaven." Marcus walked around the stage preaching and getting people to agree with him. I looked over at First Lady who looked as if she was bored. I don't blame her. After he finished the sermon, he called for the altar call. "I have something to say." I stood up and all eyes went on me immediately. "Oh lord." I heard somebody say. "This ain't confessions, sit down somewhere." Somebody else said. "I've been involved in an affair with the pastor. And he is the married man that I told y'all about. My daughter is his baby." I closed my eyes as I heard the murmurs start. "Be careful what you say child." Marcus said from the front. "Why? Because you're gonna beat me again? Is that it Marcus? Tell the church how you stepped out on your wife and made a baby. Tell them how you go to see prostitutes. Yeah you left your phone on the sofa and I went through it. Tell your wife how you got a key to my apartment and that's how you found your phone, you came and got it. Tell them Marcus because you're going to jail." I picked up Malaysia and handed her to the girl sitting next to me. "Look at her. Who does she look like?" I asked the girl. She looked at my baby's face and gasped, looking back up at the Pastor. "She looks like him." She said passing my baby back to me. "Exactly." I say as the police came walking into the church. "Marcus Williams? You're under arrest for the assault of Jasmine Smalls." The police was walking up to him with handcuffs as I looked around the church. My eyes fell on First Lady and if looks could kill, I would be dead. I don't understand, I thought she'd be happy to have in jail. He beat on her too. People were walking up to her saying they were sorry and if she needed anything. You know, the usual shit. She just sat there as they walked her husband out of the church. People were looking at me like they hated me and some was saying that they were sorry that he beat me. I collected my purse and my baby and I walked out of the church. "Jasmine." I turned around to see First Lady coming up to me. "Ma'am?" "I forgive you." She said out loud because people were looking at her trying to see what was about to happen. But I know it was all a fake. "Watch your back because when he gets out of there he is going to kill you. You just messed up his reputation. Marcus is a dangerous man." She whispered while giving me a hug. I nodded and she nodded and walked to her car. "It will be okay First Lady." Somebody shouted as she got in her truck and drove away. She blew the horn as she pulled out of the parking lot. I don't know if she was trying to scare me, threaten me, or warn me so I don't know how to take that message right now.
