Sinner's Heist

"30

"And the new car?"

"Picked it up before coming over here. I was actually doing that when you sent me that last message." She nodded slowly, admiring everything about it as she looked it over. His story seemed to line up, she'd have to check the location in the messages part once getting ahold of her phone again. It wasn't she didn't trust him in particular, but that her trust had been abused in the past few months —specifically by his cousin. Zeah word's of same feather, flock together would replay in her head whenever she was in  doubt. She hoped she was wrong and Amos kept proving she was, by proving he was different with her.

"Umm miss lady, you gonna go take that shower or do I gotta' carry ya'?" Amos derailed her train of thoughts and brought her back to the current moment. She blinked and looked at him, recalling what was going on. Apryl tossed her arms around his neck as he placed his palm against her waist. She massaged the skin of his neck and said back seductively, "Yeah, carry me and then take one with me."   Glancing into her face and reading it of her seriousness, he declined, knowing he had somewhere else he wanted to go before night fell.

"I'm tryna' be somewhere soon and fo' you to go with me. But after, do ya' worse." He stated, with a wink at the end as her bottom lip fell into a pout. He placed her gift in her palms.

"Okay." She agreed finally and softly. "I'll wait." He tells her and backpedals to the side of the truck as he opens the door. She repeats okay and jogs up to her house with the fruit basket in her hand, noticing Kennedy was long gone. She guessed their conversation had got a bit lengthy and her neighbor took the hint. As Amos climbed into his vehicle, Tameka exited hers.

She glanced up at the building, the heavy feeling she has had for months returning to her heart. It was as if she could feel the bags beneath her eyes weigh down the skin of her face. The pain was evident in her whole demeanor. Ma, you got this. I'll be here. It'll be over soon. Her daughter said in a message she saw once she glimpsed her phone screen while checking the time. She releases a shaky breath with her eyes closed as she slowly took steps up the concrete steps that led into the establishment. She took notice of the signs that were posted up that read Ms. Ziggs' Support Group and followed the arrows whatever direction each was pointed.

Finally, an identical sign was taped to a set of double doors. Tameka pushed it open slowly, slight creaky noise sounding from the hinges. She peaked into the dim room, noticing a group of women who sat in metal, stackable folding chairs in the shape of a circle. Eyes were on her as she shut the door behind herself and walked forward to take the only empty seat. She sat her purse in her lap and cleared her throat, avoiding contact with the other orbs that stared her way. She faced the direction of who she assumed was Ms. Ziggs. Ms. Ziggs extended her hand outward, asking, "Thanks for joining us. Can I have you say your name to the group?"

Perking her lips and then relaxing them, Tameka answered, "Tameka. Tameka Shaw." The social worker nodded slowly and continued by asking, "If you don't mind sharing, who did you lose? And how exactly?"

"My son. .my baby." Tameka shook her head in distraught, a small lump forming in her throat. "Latrell. I named him Latrell Keshawn White. I-I remember namin' him that. Yea. T-they shot. .they shot my baby. I lost him t-to. .to gun violence." She stuttered, talking a tone to almost convince herself of this reality though over two months had passed by now. She felt the tears well up in her eyes as she lifted her chin up and sniffled, reading the sympathetic expressions on everyone's face as the social worker thanked her for her answer that required much strength on her part.