Shattered Love

Part 2

        "My name is Harmony Ashanti Thomas. I'm 25 years old and it all started this morning. I live with my wife Makayla Nicole Thomas and every morning we wake up at 6:30. We did our normal routine. We showered, I got in first because I always make her breakfast before she goes to work and pack her lunch because I go to work later than she does. I made chocolate chip pancakes with bacon and scrambled eggs for her because it's her favorite and today's our anniversary. We've been together for seven years and married for one. We ate breakfast and she left for work. I went grocery shopping because I wanted to surprise her with dinner tonight. Usually I grab my headphones so I can listen to music and ignore people on the way to the store, but I lost my headphones looking for my bank card, so I left them. I walked about 3 blocks before I heard it. Three shots each with a pause in between. He shot the man once in the leg and asked him where's the money that he owed him. The man fell and tried to crawl away begging him not to shoot again. "Please Carlos I have kids I'll get you your money I just need more time" he pleaded. Carlos shot him again this time in the stomach. "You're out of time I want my fucking money Donny" he said as he pulled the trigger. Donny screamed with tears running down his face still trying to crawl away for his life. I was completely frozen .... I was terrified. I didn't know what to do. I wanted to run, I wanted to get out of there as fast as possible, but my feet were cemented to the ground. I couldn't move, I couldn't speak. I could barely breathe. "Carlos ... Carlos please I just need one more week. Pl ... "he started to cough up blood. "pl.... please don't take my kids father from them" he cried. Tears ran down his face and I couldn't do anything to help. It felt like time stood still, everything froze while I was watching him kill a man for money. "Your time is up, maybe your wife will pay me faster than you could". One head shot. Donny's blood plastered across the sidewalk, spilling out where his head lied. Three tears raced down my face before he saw me. By the tears he knew I was standing there the whole time, just 8 feet away. We exchanged a silent yet intense look, as if he was trying to tell me I'm next. He took a step closer and I ran; as fast as my feet would take me, I ran here and asked to speak to the first officer available. I knew I needed help; I knew I wouldn't be safe if I just went home. So here I am. You have to understand that I just wanted to get out of there. I ... I didn't want to be next."

     Christine and Howard exchange looks with Brooks as he turns off the camera. Christine looked back at me "thank you for your statement you're a truly brave woman" she said in a kind of sarcastic tone. I didn't say a word, instead I tried to figure out the feeling of the room. Christine had this dreadful look on her face as if she was about to ruin my life. Howard looked scared as if he was about a rampage gorilla up close and Brook couldn't even look me in the eyes. Something was off but nobody said anything. I raised my right eyebrow in confusion. "What's going on? What are you not telling me?" I said in frustration. At this point my eyebrows were scrunched up and I folded my arms, nobody said a word. "I asked you a question Christine. ANSWER ME!" I yelled spamming my hands on the stone-cold table as my chair flew backwards. "Okay, Okay, Mrs. Thomas please calm down" again with the condescending tone of voice. I pulled my back toward me and sat down, at least now somebody would tell me what the fuck was going on, but I was still skeptical. "Mrs. Thomas about your witness protection, because of the connections the Kila Mafia has you'd have to go into witness protection ... alone." Christine tried to say that in the nicest way possible as if saying it nicely was a sure-fire way to not piss me off. I stayed silent. The word "alone" rang through my mind like the sound of the bullets. I froze as if somebody had just told me my mother died all over again. Howard and Brooks looked terrified as if they were about to lose their lives to me, as if they were terrified to see me get mad. "Excuse me? What do you mean "alone"? As in, leave my wife here?" I said with the craziest attitude and that's when it struck me. My wife has absolutely no idea what's going on. My phone has been off all day and it's 6 o'clock, and she gets home at 7:30 but always calls me at 5:30. She's always worried about me. "You'd have to, to protect her it's a greater risk of Kila Mafia finding you if you both go into witness protection, you have to leave her here, I'm sorry but she can't go with you. If you love her, you'll leave her behind and away from everything, you can't even tell her what's going on or you put her life at risk." I heard everything Christine just said, she'd make a great actress. She said that line perfectly, like she'd rehearsing it for hours in her head, as if she was truly concerned about what'll happen to me, but the only thing that stuck with me is "if you love her" as if she was questioning me, as if she was testing my loyalty to Makayla. I didn't think before I spoke "who in the actual fuck, do you think you are? You played me and now you have the nerve to question the length I'd go to protect her. Why? Why would you not tell me that BEFORE I gave my statement? You don't care what happens to me all you care about is catching Carlos. I guess using me was the only way to do that huh. "I yelled to the top of my lungs filling the room with my voice. I took a deep breath and attempted to compose myself. I closed my eyes and just let my mind drift away. I felt the real world just melt away as I imagined the day, I married Makayla. I remember how beautiful she looked in her ivory Cinderella dress, how she walked down the aisle with such grace, such confidence. I remember how the sun gave her a phenomenal sun kissed glow that left me memorized by her. I remember how my eyes watered as she slowly approached me and placed her hand in mine with her freshly done manicure. She had long ombre white acrylic nails on. I remember flipping her vial over revealing her beautiful light hazel eyes, I remember cupping her high check bone in my hand as I rubbed my thumb across her cheek, rubbing my thumb across her thick lips that was perfectly covered with soft pink lipstick, that made her bright white smile even brighter and the dimple on the right side of her face even deeper. Her beautiful brown skin and long black hair that was perfectly curled hair made the whole look complete. She was truly breathtaking. I remember part of my vow "I promise to protect your mind, body and soul no matter what, with me you're safe". I started thinking ... could I really put her life in danger? Can I really bring myself to risk her life? "I'll do it," I said with my eyes closed holding back my tears. "I'll do it on one condition ... you have to fake my death. They looked at me in shock, as if I said I just committed a mass murder. I didn't care, all I cared about was Makayla and I couldn't risk her life, not for this ... not for me.