Ashanti: A Tale of Dark Love

Ashanti

"You can't leave me here Ashanti. Why are you doing this to me? To your family? I thought you love me? Who is going to protect me?" Anaya cried holding on to my waist.

I wanted to change my mind. I wanted to stay but I couldn't. I had to leave this place and I had to leave now.

"I'm sorry Anaya. I have to go, if I don't you know that father is going to make me marry Dofi. I can't have that! Please don't be mad at me Anaya." I felt the tears falling down my face.

"Well take me with you. Why can't you just marry him and stay here. When will you be back? This is so not fair. Please don't leave me."

I prided her hands from around me and tried to ignore her when I heard her scream. I needed to leave. I had to leave. I couldn't let anyone tell me what to do or who to marry. This was unfair and I was going to make a change. I was leaving and never coming back.

"Ashanti." I heard from behind me and started running as fast as I could.

"Ashanti."

"Ashanti." I felt someone grab me and shake me.

I grabbed the hand that was holding me and felt myself getting angry.

"Ow! Ashanti, what the hell is wrong with you?" I heard my best friend Bianca say.

When I finally got myself together, I realized I was about to break my best friend's neck. I quickly let her go and felt myself calming down.

"Bianca, I am so sorry. I was having a nightmare and I." "Girl are you alright?" I asked trying to help her.

When she backed away from me, I felt bad. I didn't mean to hurt her I hated that I kept having this same dream over and over. I wanted the dreams to go away but no such luck.

"Bea, come on girl." I tried to say but she just held her hands up.

"I know A, it was a mistake and I should have known better to grab you like that. Anyway, are you alright girl? Were you having that dream again?" She asked me.

I sat down on the bed and ran my hands through my hair. I was tired of having the same dream over and over. I wanted all of my demons to go away.

"Yea I did." I told her still looking down.

She came over to me and put her arms around me.

"Look A, I know you ran away for a reason, but how long can you really go without seeing your family? I know you miss them." She said.

I know she means well but I could never go home. I will never see my family again. I felt the tears wanting to fall but I couldn't let her see them. I had to get it together.

"Look, I'm sorry again. I guess I better get up and go to the store. How busy are we tonight?" I said hoping to get her out of my room.

"OK I can see you don't want to talk about it. Once again Ashanti changes the subject. I don't even know how you can call me your best friend when you can't even talk to me about what's going on in your life." She said.

I knew what she was trying to do and even though I wanted to tell her what happened in my life, I couldn't. For her safety I had to keep my past from her.

"You are my best friend. I love you! Besides that, not only are you my best friend, but you are my sister." I said laying on the charm.

"I mean how many women can say they have the sexiest woman as their best friend and sister?" I said with a huge smile on my face.

Rolling her eyes at me she started smiling. "Yea I guess you are right. But It's crazy busy tonight. Also, you have some customs orders too."

Now she was standing there with a huge smile on her face.

I looked at her with a frown on mine. I shook my head as she laughed running out of my room. She knows that I hate to deal with the customers, I like to stay behind the scenes.

"Oh, and also just to let you know, you have a lot of boxes that needs to be put away." She yelled out still laughing.

I looked at the clock and saw that it was 10 O'clock, I stood up and took a long stretch. I loved nights and that is why I only worked them. I jumped in the shower and washed all this hair I have on my head.

My name is Ashanti and I work at the most popular store here in Atlanta named V'S Clothing. Well I really own it, but no one really knows that except for Bianca. I like to keep a low profile and that's why I'm not sure why she would even do a custom order. I don't like dealing with people and I don't go into the shop until we close, that way I can have peace and quiet.

I'm pretty quiet and stay to myself. I don't do the whole friend thing well except for Bianca. She is the best friend a woman like me could have. I just wished I could be the same for her.

I've been holding back a secret from Bea as I call her, and I know I need to tell her, but I just can't. It's hard keeping things for her, but for her safety I have to.

No one could ever know who I really am and who my family really is. I do miss my family, but I couldn't stand living by their rules. The rules were stupid, I'm me and I follow my own rules.

I walked out the house and felt the cool air hit my face. I didn't have a car because I like to walk, the walk to work was so peaceful especially at night.

Being winter-time the air was cold, but to me, it was perfect. I love the winter time.