In Due Time...

||Misunderstandings||

In Chicago
Damien

BANG! Only five pounds of pressure was needed to blow a hole through Manuel's skull. His body hit the floor laying lifeless. I quickly snatched his gun from his hands and noticed... the gun had jammed. I snickered and thought to myself 'I guess I am lucky'. I heard groaning, and quickly remembered Uncle Hareem and the others. I looked up to see the two men with Manuel laid out on the floor. I looked behind me and saw Armand laying face down with a pool of blood around him and shook my head. I turned around and saw Lamar trying to help Uncle Hareem who had a bullet hole in his lower abdomen . I rushed over and kneeled next to him. The sight made me start to panic,"UNCLE! What can I do!? What can I do!!? TELL ME!" I pleaded. My uncle reached up and grabbed me by my collar " Listen here boy, I'm gon' be good. I ain't bitin' dust just yet." He laughed a little, and started to cough up blood " You need to leave. NOW." My eyes started to fill with tears, but I quickly stopped them from falling. "But, where do I go! I don't have nobody Unc'.. please." He looked at me "Away." Was all he said before pushing me from him "NOW GO!" he said as I took off with my gun still in my hand. When I came out of my Uncle's office, Tez was running towards me "WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED!?" "WE GOT TO GO NOW." I screamed at him and we took off through the crowd of screaming people running frantically. When we got to the car we drove off to my house.

I busted through my front door with Tez behind me and began packing. "Dawg what happened? Where are you goin?" He said with a look of desperate confusion on his face "Unc' got shot he told me I got to go away." I said still packing "Away? Where? Who shot Reem?" I didn't answer and continued to pack. "CAN YOU STOP FUCKIN' PACKING FOR ONE SECOND!?" I stopped and turned to him "LOOK NIGGA ION GOT TIME FOR THIS SHIT." We now stood toe to toe looking at each other. I let out a sigh "Look the meeting went south. The cartel tried to take out Unc' and we clapped back." I took a long pause "I killed the head of the Cartel, so I got to leave." Tez stared at me in shock "Damn." He said, then he patted me on my back "Yeah you got to go man." He started to help me pack. "Where you gon' go though?" I stood there and began to think about it. Where would I go? Where could I go? Then I answered "Home."

In LA
Damien

Standing outside of LAX, breathing in the California air, a nostalgic feeling overcame me. I took in a deep breathe trying to calm my nerves from everything that's happened. "Damien?" The man in the Uber said, I nodded my head and hopped in the car. "So uh.. Why Nickerson Gardens projects?" I shot him a look from the backseat "It's the only place I know." I replied. The rest of the car ride was in silent, but my thoughts were loud. I began to think of my momma who I haven't seen nor heard from in three years. What was I going to say when I knocked on the door or how she would react to seeing me. Knots began to form with each turn we took.

I fell asleep to rest my nerves. "Scuse' me. We here." I jolted up. I looked out the window to see Nickerson Gardens staring back at me. I looked for what felt like forever. "Do you need help with your bags?" I snapped back to reality "Nah, thanks man." I dapped him up and got out the car with my bags. I stood on the side walk for a while before taking my first steps back in my old hood. Walking throughout the gardens, memories started to course my mind. I was home. I was actually home.

When I finally made it to my house, I just stood outside. My breathing was labored my palms were sweating. I was nervous. Although I had no reason to be, but when I left, I told myself that'd be the last time I saw my momma. Now I'm running to her for shelter. "Is there something you need?" I heard a women's voice from behind me. I froze and turned slowly on my heels towards her. I slowly looked from the ground up. " Oh my god... Damien?" My mom covered her mouth in disbelief and tears started to flood her eyes. " Hi momma." She ran to me and embraced me. I stood in shock. I didn't... I couldn't hug her back. She pulled away from me "Why are you here? How are you here?" She looked at me with adoring eyes. I studied her face, she looked so... different. She looked healthier, her hair look stronger, her skin looked full of life. "I- I just need to stay for a lil' while." I replied "Ok baby, you can stay as long as you need. Let me help you with your bags." She took my bag from my hands and opened our front door.