𝐇𝐎𝐋𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐇𝐈𝐌 𝐃𝐎𝐖𝐍.

17

Moni was sleeping peacefully in her hospital bed. She was curled up into a tight little ball, snoring loudly. A warm, firm hand caressed her thigh, causing her to open her eyes.

She squinted at a figure who sat on the plastic chair that was next to her bed. She waited for her eyes to focus until she made out who it was— Shawn.

He was wearing a black True Religion jacket with gold letters and symbols embroidered on it, his all black True Religion jeans, and black Timbs. He was a very simple person.

Moni sat up and rubbed her eyes, just to make sure she wasn't hallucinating or anything. Hospitals carried all types of medicinal drugs and shit, she just had to be sure. Seeing that he was in fact in front of her, she smiled sheepishly.

"Hey," Moni said softly, placing her hand over his which was still on her thigh.

"Wassup baby?" He greeted. Shawn glanced over at the heart monitor that was on Moni's right and at a surgical tube that was inserted into her left forearm. He felt awful deep down inside. Because of his involvement in the game, the one female that he truly cared about, other than his mother, was in danger.

"Well, I was sleep," she answered, chuckling lightly. "I'm being released today. It was just a flesh wound that they had to treat."

"That's good. But listen, I'm so fucking sorry for putting you in this mess. That's the last thing I wanted to happen," he started to say as he held her hand. "You been holding me down for the longest. And I'm still surprised that you still by my side, even after the shit you was in, like yo."

"Yeah, I was too," Moni replied, softly. A little tear began to form in her eye. "I constantly yell at yo' ass and get mad at what you do that's wrong cause I love' yo ass a lot. If I didn't care about you, I wouldn't give a fuck about what you do."

Shawn nodded in agreement. She was right. He leaned forward and wiped her tear with the back of his hand.

"Like I been telling you that the game is gonna be the death of you or me.." Her voice trailed off. "I don't wanna see you hurt."

"I understand baby, but I'm also doing it to support both you and me. I don't wanna see you struggling." Shawn sighed before he continued. "I want you to come and stay with me."

Moni's eyes widened in disbelief. "You want me to live with you?"

Shawn nodded, rubbing her hand.

"Why?" She questioned, confused that he blurted that out of complete nowhere.

"If you continue to live with your mom, I feel like she's going to be the next target and I don't want that to happen," he answered truthfully. He studied her face expression for a little bit. Hot tears began to roll down her eyes and she didn't say anything. She just looked at him in both pain and shock.

"Bae-"

"What the fuck?" She cut him off, glaring at him. "Look at this shit. Now I gotta leave my mother's because she could be shot and killed too?"

"It's the only best thing to do right now," Shawn informed her. "I want y-"

Before he could finish his sentence, Moni quickly slapped him across the cheek, causing his face to twist to the side. Shawn clenched his jaw at the sharp pain he was feeling. He didn't think that she'd do that, especially where they were at, but he knew how she was feeling and knew he deserved it.

Shawn grabbed Moni up into a tight embrace and squeezed her. She was struggling to break free, causing the tube that was in her arm to constantly move the infusion pump, but his hold was getting tighter and tighter. She soon gave up and began to cry into his chest. He placed his hand over her disheveled hair and consoled her.

"Bae, it's gone be okay," Shawn promised, kissing her on top of her head. "Trust me."

Moni pulled away from him, her chest heaved up and down dramatically. "How? Look at this bullshit. Look where I'm at now."

"Bae, just do it bruh," He asserted, fixing his gaze on Moni before pulling her into an embrace again. "You been holding me down for so long. Just listen to me."

She sniffled and nodded her head, giving him a hug. The shit that he was putting her through put her in a bad position. She wondered if he was truly going to keep her protected as he promised and what the future would be like for them.

"Now get ready and check up out of here," Shawn instructed, getting up from the chair, making his way towards the room door. "I'll be waiting for you down in the waiting room and then we're going to your mother's house."

"Alright," Moni said, moving her legs over to the side and standing on her feet. She watched as he walked out and closed the door. She sighed, wondering what was to come next.

~~

Shawn turned up the Radio. August Alsina's song, "No Love", was playing. He was nodding his head to it and then glanced over at Moni, who was staring out the car's window, faintly singing to it.

"August you know, I'm here to save you, me and them girls, we ain't the same boo, you know I hate it, when you leave me," She faintly sung, barely moving her lips.

Shawn chuckled then diverted his attention back to the road. She noticed him laughing at her and looked at him, raising a brow.

"What's so funny?" She asked, pouting.

"You funny," He replied.

"Shut up," She said, playfully rolling her eyes.

Moments later, they pulled up to Moni's house. Her mother's Benz wasn't in the driveway, indicating that she was probably out, which gave Moni a time to pack all of her belongings and leave a note for her.

"Remember to grab only the shit that you need," Shawn told her as she hopped out of the car. "I'm gonna buy you some new stuff."

"I will, bae," Moni replied, closing the car door and making her way to the front door. She looked under the mat and still saw the spare key there so, she picked it up and unlocked the door.

She looked all around the living room before making her way to her room, which was the same way she left it. Moni made her way over to her closet and tip toed on her feet to reach the suitcase that was on the shelf in there. Once she got it, she threw it on her bed and walked over to her drawer, grabbing all of her clothes and belongings.

She leaned forward and grabbed all of the stuffed animals that were on and stuffed them in her suitcase, until it was full. They were memories that were given to her by her parents that she couldn't leave behind.

Before she left, she grabbed a piece of paper and a pen off the coffee table and began writing a note for her mother.

Dear momma,
I wanna thank you doing all that you've done for me in my life. Raising me wasn't and isn't an easy job. You've stayed by my side no matter the situation which what makes me respect you the most. I can no longer stay here, because my presence is a problem and is putting me in a situation that I wouldn't want to put you in. Continue holding dad down like you've been doing. I wish you the best.

Sincerely,
Moni

A tear escaped the corner of her eye and she quickly wiped it, leaving the note on the kitchen counter and making her way out the front door. She locked the house back up and left the key under the mat just as she found it.

Shawn noticed her coming back to the car and hopped out of it to help her put her suitcase in the back trunk. Once it was there, the two went back in and he started the engine up.

Before pulling off, he looked over at Moni, who looked a bit uneasy.

"You okay bae? Did you grab everything that you needed?" He questioned, making sure that she was able to go through with this.

"Mhm, let's go," She replied, taking one last look at the house she grew up in before he took off.