1969 | a.u. a.i

22

Ashton's P.O.V

I'm closing up the shop. It's been a couple of weeks since I had my encounter with Mr. Walker and his colleagues. I take the key out of the door and then I hear a car door being closed.

I turn around and it's Tom. He jogs across the street to meet me. He stops in front of me. I put the keys in my coverall pocket. "Do you need something?" I ask. He huffs, "It's Grace. She's hurt real bad." I look at him with so many emotions running through my body, "Where is she?"

He runs his fingers through his hair, "She's at the hospital. I'll meet you there." He runs back to his car. I run to my car and started her up. I back out and drove off following Tom to the hospital.

We sped pass each road and each pedestrian to make it to the hospital. We pull up to the hospital and turn off my car. I get out of my car and followed Tom into the hospital. I follow Tom through the hospital until we're in front of a door.

He opens it revealing Brock, Felicia, Shelby, Mary Lou, and Harriet in the room surrounding Grace. I walk further into the room. I take in the sight in front of me. She's a sleep. I swallow the lump when I check out her condition. Her right leg is broken along with her left arm. She has two black eyes and cuts on her face. I fall to my knees and looked down closing my eyes. Tears start to form in my eyes. I look up with my vision being blurry, "Who did this?" Asking nobody in particular.

I hear Tom sigh from beside me, "For all we know so far it was Mr. Marshal and a few of his colleagues. It happened when she was walking home from school. Shelby and them found her on the side of the road. And then they brought her here." He explains. I shake my head. Then we hear a groan. All our eyes looked over at Grace. She moves opening her eyes slowly. She looks around the room.

Then her eyes land on her mother, "Hey mama." A small smile forms on her lips. Tears balled up in Harriet's eyes as she brings Grace's hand to her lips to leave a small kiss. After awhile of visiting with Grace, Harriet leaves to go home to get some clothes to stay with Grace for a few nights. Mary Lou left when Marco came to get her. Then Brock and Felicia left and then Tom and Shelby. Now it's just us. I take a seat at the chair that's beside her bed. I take her hand into mine. She slips her hand out of my hold and avoids eye contact. My heart broke.

Grace's P.O.V

I've avoided Ashton all day until we are alone. He takes my hand into his and I slipped it out. I glanced over at him and hurt is written on his face. I look away quickly, so I don't tear up on what I'm about to do.

I clear my throat and I finally looked at him, "Ashton, I love you so much but we can't be together anymore." His eyes widen at my words, "Why not?" He takes my hand into his. I look at our hands and I sighed, "You're white. I'm considered black. It wouldn't work. You'll open your eyes and realize that loving me was a mistake." I choke at my own words.

He shakes his head, "Nothing in this world will make me look at you differently." I see tears forming in his eyes. I look away from him and took my hand out of his crushing my own heart, "Just go. I don't want to see you anymore." He's quiet and then he starts to speak, "Grace, I-" I look at him with tears in my eyes, "Go!" I exclaimed pointing at the door. He sighs and gets up. I look away from him and looked at the wall in front of me.

He leaves my side and walks to the door. He opens it and looks back at me, "I love you. I will never stop." And like that he's gone. I cup my face with my not broken arm. I sob for what felt like hours but it's only been 15 minutes.

I calm down and thought on what I just did. I didn't want to but I had to. I didn't want him to be next. I didn't want to see him hurt like this. I had to break it off. I relax and fell to sleep with a broken heart.