Beyond

86

*Zion

"What's going on??" Milan asked looking at me

"He left the hospital and he's not even healed. The city let him slip right between their
fingers..." I said

"They let him go. He didn't slip away. Those are his friends so he don't have to do much to get off..." she said

"That's why you gotta stay here..." I said looking at me
"He's out on a mission looking for you. At least here you're safe. At that hotel, no one could protect you. But for now, he's free that's until the county find him. So, until then can you please stay here. For your safety and my peace of mind..."

"Okay..." she said
"I'll stay..."

I let out a breath before drinking half of the cup of water. I felt her staring at me.

"Why now??" She asked

It was silent. It was soo much running through my mind to answer that question but nothing came out my mouth.

She got up and was finna walk off but I grabbed her arm.

"Because I care about you Milan..." I said looking at her

"You ain't been cared about me. You ain't care when you left me after what you did. You didn't care when I seen her come to your door after you told me you wasn't going to use her number. You didn't care when I told you I was pregnant with your child and you left me sitting at that damn table. You didn't care when you didn't come to me as an adult and talk about the situation at hand. You didn't care about me..." she said

"Milan I did care, a lot actually. I was just so in my head that I broke both of us. I know you prolly tired of me saying this but women has really messed me up. They've messed me up badly. It's hard for me to say I love you, hard for me to express what I feel about, or even trust. I hurt you, I realized I did and I'm sorry. I have things I have to work on within myself. I have very bad trust issues and that played a major part of me acting the way that I did. I couldn't go through that type of pain no more. One of my exes got pregnant on me and she said it was mine. I believe her until it came looking like her best friend. To me it felt like it was that situation all over again, especially right after that party situation. I just couldn't bare that pain anymore..." I said looking at her

"But I'm not your ex..." she said

"I know you aren't. I see now that you telling the truth, that you wasn't doing anything behind my back, or doing anything that would hurt me. And I'm so sorry for doing all this things I've done to you. I really am..." I said still holding her arm

She let out a sigh and sat back beside me. We were silent for about 30 minutes.

"Zion..." she called me

I looked at her and she was playing with her fingers.

"What are we going to do??" She asked looking up at me

"I don't know..." I said honestly

It got back quiet.

"I'll get with Terry and we'll find a way to get a hold of Titus. With that we can get him into the county, where we have multiple charges against him. Treasure, I can handle her myself. Until then stay here. I know you may not want to but please. Here is the safest. After everything, you can leave..." I said

She looked down at her lap and nodded. I ran my hand ova my face with a sigh.

We sat in silence but I can tell that she had something that she wanted to say, but wouldn't. I mean I had a lot to say too, but I rather keep it in cuz it's not the right time.

"I'm heading to bed..." she said while getting up

"Okay, Good Night..." I said softly

"Night..." she said before going into my room

She left the door cracked.

_______
*Milan

I went in the room and left the door cracked. I was looking out the crack in the door at Zion. She was still sitting in the couch looking into a daze.

I didn't want her to stress herself over things about me. I felt bad.

She walked back and forth all night. From the kitchen back to the couch. She came to the door a few time to check on me. Me playing sleep but I wasn't. She looked so defeated and it was on the count of me.

"Zion..." I said

Within seconds, she appeared at the door.

"You okay??" I asked her

"Yes, I'm fine. Why you asked??" She asked

"You've been walking back and forth all
night..." I said

"I'm sorry. I can't sleep..." she said

"No, it's fine. I was just making sure you was okay..." I said

"I'm good, just a lot on my mind. I'll try to sleep and you should too..." she said

"Okay I will..." I said

"Goodnight for real this time..." she said with a small smile

I laughed a lil.

"Goodnight..." I said

She left the door and she cut the front room light off. I seen her lay on the couch and pulled the cover ova herself. I pulled the cover up, balled up, and closed me eyes. After a few, I slowly dozed off.