Save Him

22.

Taelynn.

I sat and listened to the news as they gave the police officer paid time off until they investigated further and the smile on this bastards face pissed me off. My best friend was took from me and they're paying him for lying when he know first hand that Josiah didn't have a gun since he was the one to throw him onto the ground and the bullet he shot him with killed him. He shot him right in the heart, with no remorse, it was fucked up he didn't apologize to the family nor even shed a fake tear at least.

He was about to even shoot me if a officer hadn't stepped in as I tried to hold on to Josiah wounds. I had a gun pointed to the middle of my forehead for resisting an officer, but I was trying to save my friend. After Quincy had left to get his brother, I almost lost my life to an racist officer. My dad was furious, he wanted to take matters into his own hands but he had to understand the consequences and his kids needed him before anything.

This past week had been hectic for everyone, everything was over the place. Me and Quincy had broken up two days ago, because he had started smoking out of nowhere, and I wasn't a fan of it so I voiced my opinion and he snapped. I understand we're all stressing but him and my dad smoked every hour on the hour, and my dad rather quincy smoked with him before he went out buying from someone else how he had done the first time and since he was eighteen my dad allowed him to smoke with him since he was going to do it anyway.

After we'd argued he told me he was stressing enough and if i was going to nag and not be there for him then he didn't want to be together anymore, because I was being selfish of his mother being in a coma and not making any progress, and how he has basically lied about Quadir being his, being he can get took any day. He told me how he was there for me i could do the same, which was true. I was being selfish about his situation and he'd made sure I was good and I never even once thought about his mental state nor how stressed and hurt he was.

He'd told me he was tired of my attitude, and how everything was always about me. He'd told me how selfish I was, inconsiderate, and I wasn't there for him how I should have been so he figured we needed a break. I haven't only being crying over Josiah, I was now crying because he broke up with me and hadn't said two words to me since two days ago.

"We're heading out baby" My dad kissed my forehead and I smiled. "Are you sure you could watch your brother?" He asked and I grabbed for my brother and assured him that I was going to be fine.

Today was the funeral and I couldn't dare go see my bestfriend like that, I just couldn't. Maybe one day I could go visit his grave but right now? I couldn't.

"Are you going to speak up? Do you want to get justice for him or let this officer go?" He asked me and turned the TV off as I cried over the picture of me and Josiah that flashed on the screen, it was article of me walking across the stage to get his diploma for him. Graduation was yesterday, and I was honored to walk across that stage for my best friend. It was sad I couldn't even enjoy the best day of my life, neither could he.

Zhyre was supposed to walk with me but she'd had to be rushed to the hospital after her suicidal attempt, and then found out she was pregnant while at the hospital, she had lost her boyfriend and now her child wouldn't have a father. She was taking this hard; and I felt for her.

"No one is going to believe the black girl, and no one else is going to speak up for him." I sighed. "What difference would I make?"

"What difference do you want to make?" He asked me and lifted my face to see him. "You got a voice, use it babygirl" He kissed my forehead and wiped my eyes.

I didn't want the officer to get away with it at all, but I was one person and my color was going to play a big part in it. I sat for a while and looked at my brother, even those around me could be in this situation. That was the moment I realized that my brother could be the boy walking down the street with a hood on, skittles and an Arizona in hand. I realized that he could be the man pressed against the ground screaming "I can't breathe". I realized that he could be the man pulled over late at night, shot and killed in front of his girlfriend. I realized that no matter how bright Josiah's future was, It was not promised and it was took away from him and for what?

I thought about all the victims around the world that has shot or killed by an officer when they did nothing wrong. For instance:

Dontre Hamilton, 31, was fatally shot 14 times by a police officer in a Milwaukee park.

Eric Garner, 43, was killed after he was put in an illegal chokehold for 15 seconds by a white police officer - allegedly for selling loose cigarettes. Garner said "I can't breathe" 11 times as he was held down by several officers on a sidewalk.

John Crawford, 22, was shot and killed by a police officer at a Wal-Mart in Beavercreek, Ohio. There did not appear to be a confrontation with the police, and Crawford was unarmed - he had been holding a toy BB gun.

Unarmed Michael Brown, 18, was shot and killed by Ferguson policeofficer Darren Wilson.

Ezell Ford, a 25-year-old mentally ill man, was shot three times , including once in the back, by a white police officer. He was unarmed.

Dante Parker, a 36-year-old father of five, died in police custody after being repeatedly stunned by a Taser in San Bernardino County.

Tanisha Anderson, 37, died after officers in Cleveland slammed her head on the pavement while taking her into custody.

Akai Gurley, 28, was shot and killed by a police officer while walkingin a dimly lit New York City public housing stairwell with his girlfriend. Gurley, who was unarmed, was pronounced dead at a hospital. New York Police Department Commissioner Bill Bratton called the shooting an "accidental discharge."

Tamir Rice, 12, was shot and killed by Cleveland police after officers mistook his toy gun for a real weapon.

Rumain Brisbon, 34, was shot and killed by a Phoenix police officer who mistook a pill bottle for a weapon.

Jerame Reid, 36, was shot and killed by police officers in Bridgeton,New Jersey. He was a passenger in a car driven by his friend, who was pulled over by police.

Tony Robinson, 19, was shot and killed by a Madison police officer who was responding to reports of someone disrupting traffic.

Phillip White, 32, died while in police custody in Vineland, New Jersey.

Eric Harris, 44, was shot and killed by a 73-year-old reserve deputy officer who allegedly mistook his own gun for a Taser. The entire incident was captured on a dashcam video.

Walter Scott, 50, was shot by a police officer while running away from a traffic stop for a broken taillight. Officer Michael Slager claimed Scott had taken his stun gun.

Freddie Gray, 25, died of a spinal cord injury a week after he was arrested by Baltimore police.

Of course the list went on and we knew about some of the popular ones, like Trayvon Martin, Sandra Bland and as far back as Rodney King. It was so many more, and I wouldn't let my best friend fall victim to this.

"I'm going to make a difference, and fight for my best friend" I made up my mind, and would be that voice for Josiah and many others. No matter if I had to stand alone, I was standing for many victims of Police Brutality, and I was going to make a difference.

I had a voice and I was going to use it.