Pieces of Me

by Aubry J.

“Tell me you love me, Cross. Tell me you won’t ever leave me. Tell me you don’t regret us. Tell me we will always be.”

“Tell me you love me, so I won’t have to kill every muthafucka on this earth that looks in your direction. Tell me you love me so I can walk out of this house tonight knowing that you just saved the fuckin’ world from my wrath!”

“I love you, Mecca Strong.” Tears fell from my eyes, and I didn’t stop them. “I’ll love you forever, and that still wouldn’t be enough time.”

Loyalty ain't always loyalty; sometimes it's jealousy hiding behind fear.”

“Cover him, lord. He isn’t perfect, but he was made for me. He is my protector, lover, my other half. I pray to you now just like I do every time he steps away from me. Allow this man to come home to me tonight and every night after. In your name, I pray. Amen.”

All my cousins dealt with it in their own way. Krude withdrew into himself for a while, only opening up to Madea. Exodus became the boss of everything, having to know everyone’s moves at all times. Judge kept his head buried in a book. Mercy spent all her time on the basketball court. Psalms grew her flowers and plants. Corinthians learned to cut hair to keep busy. And I tried my hardest to cling to my parents. It wasn’t until two years later that I found out they’d turned to drugs to cope.

“If she wants his death on her hands, that's her business. Who am I to stop their tragic love story?”

“This is just rebuilding our foundation. I’ve loved you since I met you. I’m sorry for hurting you.”

“Nope, and Auntie Remi told her one day a dog is going to take a chunk outta her ass because she does white people shit like try and touch one,” he said, shaking his head.

“Because he said to!” Krude threw his hands in the air and sighed. “He said to shoot him. All you muthafuckas heard him, so stop playing dense.” He smirked. “It was a through and through. He’ll be alright. Plus, I know I’m not the only one who wanted to do it. He stays trying folks, and has a smart ass mouth. I was just the lucky one who pulled my shit and popped one off first.”