Friends Turned Lovers | Short Story | COMPLETE

5. Who Can I Run To 💚

Tonya starred at Messiah as she tried to grasp the words that he had just spoke to her. "What do you mean?" She asked as tears came to her eyes. She tilted her head to the ceiling attempting to stop them from falling.

"I just can't do this. I can't risk you or Toya being hurt behind my mess" he replied as he reached out to grab her arm but she moved away from him.

It had been a week since the whole ordeal with the men breaking into the house looking for money which was indeed there. After Tonya put Toya to bed that night she went searching around their apartment for what seemed like hours before she located a duffle bag under a floor board in the back of her closet.

She wouldn't have even found the money had she not thought she seen a roach crawling around. While banging a shoe around the floor waiting for it to crawl out she noticed a piece of the carpet was lifted just a bit. Once she pulled it back she got the idea to try and lift the tile that was under it successfully finding his stash spot.

Angrily she removed the duffle bag & began counting the money to find that it was at least half a million dollars stashed away. "Tonya?" Messiah spoke calmly causing her to come back to reality.

"Hmm" she answered as she played with her fingers that were in her lap.

"Look at me" he said as he slowly sat up in the hospital bed. "You know I'd go crazy if anything were to happen to you. I knew that it would only be a matter of time before someone found out about you and I can't continue to take that risk"

"I knew what lifestyle you were in from the beginning. That doesn't change the way I feel about you as a person, let alone my bestfriend" she replied as she allowed the tears to trail down her cheeks.

He reached out and wiped them. It hurt him deeply to see her cry, never had he made her cry in all the years that they've known each other so this was a first. Messiah sighed as he ran his hand down his face. "There is no other option" he said with finality lacing his tone.

Without a word Tonya stood up, gathered her things, picked Toya up, and looked back at Messiah one last time before walking out of the door. By the time she made it down to the lobby her Lyft was already outside. The guy got out and assisted her with the few bags she had while she placed Toya in the back seat and buckled her up.

She got in , put her seatbelt on, and rested her head on the window. 20 minutes later they were turning into their apartment complex. As soon as the car came to a compete stop she unbuckled her and Toya's seatbelt, grabbed her in her arms, and exited the car. The driver met her on the side walk with her bags. "Need help carrying this up?" He asked.

"Na, I got it thanks" she replied as she adjusted Toya on her hip and grabbed the bags. He nodded, got in his car and pulled out of the parking space.

Two flights of stairs later she was walking down the corridor to their apartment door. Right before she made it a little boy ran past her bumping into her, making her drop the bags. "Sshhiitt" she grumbled.

"ISAIAH YOU BETTER STOP THAT FUCKING RUNNING BEFORE YOU FALL" she heard a lady yell from the other end of the hallway.

"I'm sorry for my brother, let me help you" a little girl said as she bent to pick up the bags.

"Thank you" Toya sighed.