Explaining the Unexplainable

Entire Truth.

"You driving back tonight?" She says looking at her Apple Watch with a concerned look. "Just come inside and rest a little at least if you are. I don't want you falling asleep at the wheel."

"Girl if I come in that house I'm going to bed. Night night! Buenos noches!!"

She laughs before opening my car door. "Come on. I'll get the room ready for you now."

"Did you ask your sister? I don't want to just intrude!"

"My sister is in Jamaica with her husband living her best life. She gets back in two days so you are good! And either way she wouldn't trip. You would just have to be up before her husband. You know how women act when other women are around their man in their home. I don't want no problems!"

I roll my eyes and laugh as I grab my purse from the back seat. "Alright." Well this works out perfect. I can lay my body down and get some rest and get the answers I need before I get back on the road. I've just gotta find the right time to ask..I know she's just finally getting settled and trying to clear her mind. Maybe the earlier I ask the better..it's still fresher..right?

I walk in the three story home to see a gorgeous safari decor layout in every room. It was like something I have never seen. I forgot her sister is a travel agent and loves to go to different countries collecting things. It is amazing how many authentic pieces she has alone just in her living room. Real elephant trunks on the fire place, a real leopard skin rug that takes up the whole front of the chocolate couch. You can smell the pine wood and incense in the air.

We walk upstairs to a guest room that sits at the corner of the hall way by the steps. As Raven grabs fresh sheets to fix the bed I sit on a fluffy white fur bean bag by the window. "This is really nice! Lenae should get a decor page going! She would definitely go viral for this stuff!"

"I agree! I told her the same thing" she says as her voice echoes from the hallway before she shuts the linen closet door. Shortly after she walks in the room laying the fresh lavender smelling sheets on the bed still folded. "She says she'll think about it. Something about she don't feel like making another social media page promoting outside of her travel page."

"GIRL! That can be on one page! The marketing for her agency would be on fire!!"

"I agree! Now that I have a witness I'll tell her again and let her know you think she should too." Silence hits the air as you only hear the sliding of the fitted sheet against the mattress cover. Out of breath she continues. "I think next month she is going to Israel. I KNOW she will find some raw pieces. I'll make sure  to tell her before she books the flight."

"Cool." I say getting up to help her with the last corner of the sheet being tucked in. After laying the comforter on the hotel quality bed, Raven plops on the edge looking at the wall in tunnel vision. I walk back over to sit in the fluffy bean bag for comfort. The air is heavy. If I got paid to know what she was thinking at the moment I would tell them to write me a fat check. "Can I ask you something." I say seizing my moment.

Raven doesn't look my way. Still staring at the wall she nods softly.

"Why do you keep running? You have worked so hard to get to where you are. The salon is doing great, you had pretty much everything paid off. Why give this man so much power?"

She continues to stare at the wall as the air gets heavier in the silence. After 30 seconds my heart starts to pick up speed before she answers. "It's hard to give a man power that already has it."

Confused I open my mouth to speak but she continues.

"Tye and David's parents are best friends. That's how they became close." A quiet rush comes and I impatiently break the silence.

"AND?!! They need to go to jail and p—"

"ITS NOT THAT SIMPLE!" Raven shouts in distraught. Shocked, I lean back in the plush bean bag. Still confused I stay quiet. She sighs before speaking again. "Tye and David's parents are both cops.... Tye's dad is the Lieutenant of the Dekalb County Police Department. David's dad works for Georgia State Patrol. They both threatened that their parents would both have me forgotten and locked away in a crazy house before I would get them charged for anything. So..I basically became a slave. Running away is the only way...if I don't run I will be subject to losing my life for good. Everything...gone! Losing everything and giving it all away is totally different."

In disbelief I sit in silence. Dryness on my tongue forms as my mouth stays open. I mean...in this way she is smart. I think anyone in this situation would feel helpless. But there has got to be a better way!! No one can go this long with traumatizing women and get away with it. My friend can't live this life. She will never be at peace. They are still out there! Knowing that, I don't think she will ever be able to truly heal. But knowing this entire truth now makes me want to find all the loopholes to her healing.