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PART 1: 2011
Melvoni sits in an interrogation room of a Broward County precinct trying not to let his thoughts overpower. It's hard when the room is dead silent as only a clock ticks. His leg bounces until his father puts his hand on his knee to stop him.
It's been a few weeks since Dually died...since he killed him.
In that time, Melvoni hasn't left the house. He hasn't even been to school. Meanwhile, they had taken DeJuan's body back to Jacksonville and laid him to rest.
He stands pacing the room because investigators called him in. They initially questioned him after that night to figure out what happened. They said they would look into it and determine if charges will be pressed.
"You have to calm down," Melvin stands following his son in the small quarters.
"How can I?" He's thinking about everything. What if this effects his baseball prospects of going to the league? College? What if he has to go to prison?
"You did nothing wrong."
Melvoni turns towards his father as tears well up in his eyes. "I killed somebody..."
"You did what you had to do," he grabs Vonni by the back of his neck pulling him closer so they can look eye to eye. "You did right. It was either you or him."
"It not okay, Dad. I hurt a lot of people. Not just him. His family, friends, Nation. She can't even look at me."
His eyes water and his lip quivers. That's all Melvoni really cares about. He couldn't stand the fact he's the cause for her current pain.
"I know," he pulls his son into a tight hug. "Let that shit out. My boy. You're my sweet boy. You came home to me. My son!" his voice cracks feeling his own emerging tears. He's imagining it being the other way around where Melvoni was killed. "It'll be alright," he kisses his son's cheek.
No one can ever prepare you to be a parent. When Melvoni was born, Melvin already had a child. He had 3 years under his belt, but it still felt brand new. Neither one imagined life going down this path.
