Aleena
I hopped into the new car Marcus had bought me as my birthday gift. A nice little 08 Toyota. I had just been dropped off at the telemarketing building where I worked after riding with Maliek from his house. I knew Donovan would check to see if my car was here.
When I pulled into Omega he was pulling in behind me. I went over to his car and. He got out slowly. I stopped when I saw the look on his face.
"What's wrong with you?"
"Noting. Mom is working. Do you want to come inside?
"Sure." I followed him inside. I tiptoed to kiss him but he brushed me off. "Okay, what's wrong with you?"
"What's wrong with you?"
"Me?"
"Yeah you." He stepped closer. "You creepin roun wit Maliek now?"
I hesitated.
"Oh, you didn't tink I would find out?"
"No." I said calmly. "We are strictly friends. We don't even look at each other like that."
"Den why did you sneak off wit' him? You were supposed to be at work."
"We weren't doing anything. I just wanted to hang out with one of my friends without you losing your mind."
"So you've never been wit' any of your friends?" He asked looking me straight in my eyes as if he were daring me to lie.
"No. I've never been with Maliek."
He paused. "Have you been with Antonio?"
"I really wish you would stop asking me that. I'm with you."
"Have you?" he asked firmly and stepped even closer.
I hesitated and sighed. "We had broken up Donovan."
He paused. The hardness of his eyes weakened. "So you slept wit' him?" His voice now soft and vulnerable.
"I'm not trying to hurt you Donovan."
"Do you love him?"
"I-I care about him."
"Dat's not what I asked you. Do you love him?"
"I..." I paused. "Yes I do."
He backed away shaking his head and flexing his fists. I had butterflies in my stomach. I wondered if he would ever hold a gun to my head. Suddenly he grabbed my arms so tight his nails pierced my skin. I screamed and he slammed me against the wall. Pictures fell to the floor.
Holding me there for a moment he just looked at me. When he let me go I fell to the floor. I was in too much pain to hold myself up. He burst out of the screen door, got into his car and sped off.
Soon after Ms. Bonny walked in. she looked at me lying on the floor. "Are you okay child?"
I nodded in too much pain to speak.
She kneeled down beside me whipping the tears from my face. She looked at the nail marks in my arm. "Is dis the firs time Donovan has done dis?"
I shook my head no and took a deep breath. "It's okay. I'll be fine."
"You'll be fine. Aleena he's my son but I'm not gon make excuses for him. Nieda should you." She pulled me up onto my feet. "Now come. Let's get you in some warm bath water to ease the pain." She said looking at the broken picture frames along the wall.
Later I went home lay in my bed and cried. Antonio called but I didn't want to talk to him. He would know that something was wrong. I didn't want to risk him going off on me again.
Donovan called but I didn't want to hear the yet again regretful voice of my abuser. I just wanted cry.
