Nothing Stays A Secret Forever

- 15 -

JAROD

Aaliyah just had to come to the mall today. I normally don't go out in public with her. But, I was already in the car and today I needed some fresh air.

Since I've gotten out of jail I have been a home body. I really don't like people in my space and I definitely don't like being in theirs.

"I'm done." I looked up from my phone.

About damn time.

I was sitting down in the massage chairs people watching. Waiting for her to finish shopping.

"Cool. Let's go!" I hopped up and put my phone inside of my pants pocket. She grabbed my hand and I was trying my hardest not to pull away.

Sometimes I wished that I could allow someone to get close to me. To actually care about me. I only know how to push people away. For years I'm the only friend and family I got. I've become accustomed to being alone.

I've experienced a lot of shit in life that I wouldn't wish on my worse enemy. The most devastating moment of my life happened when I was 12 years old.

My sister Angela has always been beautiful, creative and strong willed. My father on the other hand was an abusive, drug addicted cross dresser.

My dad and Ang would always argue. It was mostly because my sister would always find my father taking her belongings. Clothes, jewelry, shoes you name it.

Their fights would always end with him putting his hands on her. Ang never understood why he hated her the most. But, she would always say that if something happened to her it may be at the hands of him.

One night she got tired of being pushed around and fought back. My Dad use to smoke cocaine faithfully. This night he was not himself.

After breaking up the fight between the two. Literally dragging my dad off of Angela. She spit the blood from her mouth in his face.

"I fucking hate you! I'm tried of this! You can't control my life anymore." The kitchen was completely destroyed.

My father wiped his face, pulled down his night gown and headed towards his bedroom. He was completely silent which wasn't like him.

I helped my sister up from the floor. "Leave Jarod!" She looked me in my eyes with tears coming down her face. "I love you forever. No matter what happens. Just know I will never come back here. I don't know where I'm going. But I would rather sleep on the street then stay in this house hold." She kissed me on the cheek. "I'll see you around baby brother!"

I grabbed her into a tight hug. "I love you so much Angela!" I couldn't stop my tears from falling.

My sister was the only family I had. We never met our mother because she was killed in a car accident. Our father was the only family we knew.

My sister limped over towards the front door.

"We cool..." I said before she opened the front door. She turned around to face me with a huge smile on her face.

"Like the other side of the pillow." She blew me a kiss. It was a childhood saying that we would always say.

I smiled at her. Next thing I know her eyes widen and she dropped to the floor.

"Angela!" I rushed over to her grabbing her hand into mine. "You shot her!" I looked at my dad. "I hate you! Your own daughter!" He just stood there. Not realizing what he just done.

He was wearing a white night gown which had blood stains from the altercation with my sister. The gun was by his side and he was rocking back and forth. Staring at Angela on the floor.