Nia and Damien were childhood friends growing up together in the projects of LA, when one day Damien runs into trouble with the law forcing him to move to Chicago with his Uncle leaving Nia by herself..
I put the bat down against the wall and opened the door. Damien and I stared at each other for awhile before he pushed past me into my apartment. I closed and locked the door behind him. He stood in the entryway of my apartment just looking around.
"Why are you here?" I finally said. He turned around and glared at me coldly. "For answers." I drew a confused look on my face. "Answers to wh-" He had cut me off "why did you leave me Nia." He said clenching his jaws making me even more confused. "D, what are you talking about?" He shook his head "YOU LEFT ME. YOU LEFT ME IN CHICAGO BY MYSELF. YOU DIDN'T CALL, YOU DIDN'T TEXT, DIDN'T EVEN WRITE A FUCKING LETTER. WHY?". He stared me dead into my eyes as if he was searching for the answer. "I was scared." "SCARED OF WH-" I cut him off "I WAS SCARED THAT YOU DIDN'T NEED ME ANYMORE D. You went to Chicago with your BLOOD family. I- I thought that you'd love your new life more," I locked my eyes with his "and I was scared that I didn't fit in your new life." We stared at each other in complete silence.
"Bullshit." He said quietly "Look you asked for an answer." I replied. "Nia I love you... I loved you. So why THE FUCK wouldn't I want you in my life, huh?" He just looked at me desperately "You know what. I blame you for how I turned out." He said. I cocked my head back "What?" He laughed "You were the only person that could've kept me from ending up like this.... but you left me when I needed you the most." His last line hit me the hardest, "D what do you me-" "I BECAME LIKE THEM NIGGAS THAT CREATE PEOPLE LIKE MY MOMS AND I BLAME YOU." Tears started to fill his eyes. He walked towards me viciously I backed up until I couldn't anymore. He slammed his hands sternly on the wall behind me and tears started rolling down his cheeks. "I'm sorry D, I'm so sorry." I reached up and brought his head to my chest. We slowly fell to the ground while he sobbed and all I could do was repeat "I'm sorry". Then he said quietly "It's too late."
15 minutes later Nia
Although the situation was unfavorable, I felt content knowing Damien was here. I was sitting against the wall on the floor of my apartment with Damien in my arms who had cried himself to sleep. I just stared at his face, all the crying had turned his caramel skin slightly red and his eyelashes still had bits of tear droplets on them. For a guy of his stature he seemed so small in my arms.
I watched as his body slowly shifted and his eyes fluttered open. He groaned a little and then looked up at me. We stared at each other in complete silence. I reached slowly to lay my hand against his face. He grabbed my hand still looking at my eyes and slowly rubbed his thumb up and down my palm. "Why didn't you tell me your mom died?" He asked, taking me by surprise. My body stiffened "How was I going too?" His eyes lowered. "Did she die peacefully?" He said gripping my hand tighter. "I would hope so." I replied.
"D... when you said you create people like your moms, did you mean you slinging dope?" He let go of my hand and sat up facing away from me. "Yeah." He replied. "I... didn't want to, but for my Uncle, I had too." He said still not facing me. "What do you mean you had to? Nobody can make you do something you don't want too." He got quiet for awhile. "He did a lot for me. He didn't have to take me in and treat me well. He didn't even know me, but he decided to care for me. I don't know anyone besides your mom who would do that for me. The least I could do was help him out... but in the end I got roped in for longer than I expected. Now I can't get out." He looked back at me while I stared at him with apologetic eyes.
Damien was always innocent and naïve. He's never done anything with malicious intent, but for some reason life hasn't been good to him. I haven't been good to him. I crawled toward him and wrapped my arms around his back, he touched my hands preciously as I rested my head onto him. "It May take awhile, but we'll find our way back."
4:37 p.m. Damien
Nia held me for what seemed like forever. Honestly a lot felt lifted off my my shoulders in those few minutes, although I feel like I've been carrying the baggage for a long time. I was now on my way back to my moms house. When I left Nia's place I didn't say anything when I left nor did she, I just... left. Knowing her, she probably trying to give me time, and that's probably what I need.
When I made it back to my moms house I went through the back door that I had busted in earlier that day. I was heading towards the stairs when I heard "I'm guessing you broke the lock on my back door?" She said sitting in the living room. I looked over "yeah." I kept going up the stairs, but stopped when she said "So you're not even going to tell me why?" "You wasn't home and I ain't have a key," I shook my head "probably still out there getting high." She stood up abruptly "HEY. What you are not going to do is throw that in my face. I've been clean ever since you left. I was at the rehab center helping out other struggling addicts, but you wouldn't know that cause you ain't care to ask." She took a long pause before walking towards the kitchen "The extra key was under the rug."
When I got to my room I laid down on my bed and stared at the ceiling. I picked up my phone only to see the unopened message from my Uncle with the address. I immediately put my phone back down and let out a hefty sigh. So much had changed since I had left California. People seemed to be doing good since I was gone.... and I have a feeling me being back, is going to bring my demons with me.
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Damien
It's been a hot minute since I've updated I'm honestly just lazy ash, but thank you for reading and please comment any suggestions 🤗.
