(NO) Ordinary Love

two

Jamie

It was the first day of junior year, I was putting on my uniform when my cousin, Micheal burst through my door. "Say son, chill out you gone wake the whole house up." I looked him up and down he was sweaty and looked like he saw a ghost. He looked completely different from his usual funny and upbeat self. "You good?" 

His dark skin looked like it paled grey, something was up with him. Micheal paced back and forth and eventually squatted down in place and put his head in his hands. "You know the kid that got killed at the pawn shop?" 

I looked at Micheal like he was crazy, why was he asking about a kid I am more than sure he never ever met and didn't seem like the type of kid he would care about.

A kid named Jamal got killed at a pawn shop he was working at about a week ago, his funeral was yesterday. He was a good kid he was the type to either always have his head in the books or on the field. Completely different from what I was used to being around. I guess it was a robbery gone bad cause the person who killed him didn't even steal any jewelry. The witnesses say the robber told them to give him everything Jamal had behind the counter but slipped up and shot Jamal before he could even think about giving him what the robber wanted.

"Jamie listen man, I fucked up. Bad, Jamie." Tears were streaming down his eyes and by this time my alarm to start walking to the bus stop went off. 

"Bro, whats going on, talk to me." I put my hand on his shoulder but quickly moved it when his body jerked. Why was he so anxious?

"I did it, it was me Jamie." I stepped back and looked at him, then I turned around and looked out the window. My mind was blank.

I wasn't about to tell my blood to turn himself in but he killed a innocent kid. I just looked at him until we were just looking at each other. Our silence was thick but we both were thinking the same thing.

"I know, I have to turn myself in." I had to sit down. How did everything get so messed up son?

"I love you bro."

"You too lil one." Micheal and I walked to the front door silently careful not to wake my parents and baby sister up.

We stood at the bus stop silently until the bus pulled up. I faced Micheal and we dapped each other off, this was the most meaningful one. This was how it was before he dropped out and started dealing with the streets. When we were youngin's and because I lived in a better neighborhood he had to come sleep by me and catch the city bus back home. This was gone be the last dap in a long time, if ever again. 

Micheal stood at the bus stop from when I got on the bus and  until it pulled off. As he faded into the distance I couldn't help but feel heavy. I couldn't help but think about what my parents are going to say when they have to tell me, but I already know. Do I tell them I know? My Aunt LeShaun is going to be even more broken than she already is.

I pulled my headphones out and blasted some rap music, I needed to drown my thoughts out.