One Shots

Yesterday

Ja'rai
2007

"What happened last time Rai?!" Chris squeezed my neck in one hand while waving his gun in the air with the other. I coughed trying to breathe. "Don't act stupid today, I just might let yo ass pass out. What. Happened. Last Time?!" He adjusted his grip. "You was out there!" I cried out and he let me go, pushing me down onto the bed. He tucked his gun in his pants and fixed his jacket. I laid there winded trynna catch my breath. "Rai, you know you special to me. I'm sorry." "I know Chris... I know."

He started to kiss me and I felt queezy inside. "I'll bring you something special tonight, ight? Get some rest. Get all fly like you do. You know I keep you fresh, baby. We got some work to take care of tonight." He slapped my ass and I sucked up my pride.

"And next time you call me Chris, I'm gone knock the teeth down your throat." He slapped me hard and walked away out the door.

I laid down crying and praying to God. I turned around aching in pain to open his laptop and get on YouTube to put any gospel playlist on shuffle. Let Go Let God was the first song to play and I remembered it as a childhood favorite of mine. Next some Mary Mary song came on uh... Yesterday. It was the music video.

Damn... he beat her up. Oh great... this girl ran from this man. He gone get her ass! I watched the video all the way through and listening to the words and watching her get away... made my heart feel like it was about to pop out of my chest.

He told me to get dressed. I know he's gonna be back soon, I need to eat. Getting up, I pulled my shirt down my scarred bruised body and stood putting my tights on. I ran downstairs to see the key still in the top lock of the door and froze. I looked out the windows and made myself a turkey sandwich.

I ran upstairs in the room while eating my sandwich looking out the windows all down the street. I turned looking on the other side and down at the house. He's actually gone. Last time he was standing right next to the door like he was waiting for someone to open it. He beat me all while dragging me up the stairs. He beat me until I fell unconscious. Those two days I could barely move was the first time in a long time I ain't spend my nights tricking to fill Chris's pockets. He has other girls that I've met... but he kept me by his side.

He buys me shit... and he sex's me like he loves me... but the truth is he snatched me away from my life three years ago. He was obsessed with me in high school and I gave him a chance six years later. But one care free night changed my life. I woke up sore in a dark room wrapped in his arms. My abdomen felt like it was falling apart. And I could barely move.

I tried to escape once before six months in and that was the trap. I never tried again. He still leaves the key in the door and sometimes I do see him standing out there... testing me. I didn't see him today. But he could be just down the street, I thought to myself.

I couldn't get my mind off that music video though... that girl got away. I don't wanna cry no more, I can't keep doing this... "Lord," I took a deep breath, "I prayed for strength." I put my vans on and looked out the windows in the room again before running downstairs and checking those windows.

I ran out of the door, not caring if I closed it or not— running as fast as I could all the way down the street. I ran and ran and ran until I got to an avenue lined with shops, pubs, and lights. I approached an elderly woman, "Miss! Miss, miss, miss!" She looked startled, "Are you alright young lady?" I shook my head, "Please, help me! A man took me— he's probably looking for me, I need to use your phone, please?!"

"Oh good Lord, of course. Come over here." We walked closer to one of the buildings on the pavement and I dialed 911. I started explaining my situation when the glimmer of hope I had started looking real slim. "JA'RAI!" I heard Chris bark and I dropped that lady's phone and took off running down the street.

I ran as fast as I could into an H&M screaming, "Please somebody call 911! He's going to kill me! He kidnapped me!" Someone with a name tag approached me. "Come on let's get you in a safer place than this."

He took me in the fitting room. "Thank you!" I exclaimed. "Hey!" Another employee ran into the fitting room shouting. "I think whoever you were running from is already being arrested. Someone's outside in cuffs going off."

I ran to the door feeling my nerves tremble all over my body. I walked out of the store to see a cop put his hand over Chris's head and forcing him into a cop car. I let out the breath I was holding, "Thank you Jesus!" I cried out holding my arms in the air. A cop approached me. "Were you the young lady who made the call to the police claiming to be kidnapped?" I nodded with tears streaming down my face. "Is the young man in the back of this police car your abducter?" I nodded. "Yes he is."

"I'ma kill you, bitch!" Chris hollered, banging his body up against the door before spitting on the window and I jumped before the police car drove away.

After interviewing me he took me to the station and got in contact with my family. My mom was so thin and my father's hair had grayed out. They both looked like they'd aged at least ten years. Being shackled to Chris for so long changed me but one thing I know now is that God really does answer prayers. No more pain. Tomorrow I'll be able to say I cried my last tears yesterday.

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