Kayla made it to the apartment shared with Greg. When she walked in, she froze at what she saw, or what she didn't see. Her furniture.
Her heart dropped and she began to panic. Checking the entire, one bedroom apartment, she was only left with her clothes and other things that only she used.
She called Greg, afraid that he was going to flip out when she tells him that their stuff was gone.
Holding the phone to his ear, the call came to a voicemail she wasn't expecting.
"We're sorry, the number you're trying to contact is no longer in service." The computerized voice said.
"No." she mumbled to herself. "No!"
She called again to make sure she hit the right contact. She received the same message.
Kayla looked around the empty apartment and fell to her knees, crying. How could he leave her high and dry?
She cried, not knowing what her next move is. How can she pay for the apartment all by herself, along with all the bills?
Her life was falling apart all because of Greg. He talked her into stealing money, saying that he was going to make them rich.
After crying for a few minutes, she got up, wiping her face and went outside. Someone had to see him move their stuff out.
When she walked out the door, her neighborhood across the hall was Keyshawn, he was almost thirty. He and Greg would talk every now and then. She was glad that Keyshawn was coming out the door.
"Hi," she tried to prevent her voice from cracking as she spoke, "I'm not sure if you remember me, I'm-"
"Kayla." He answered. "I know you. I thought you and Greg moved. I saw him earlier moving stuff with some people." He informed.
"You did?" Kayla frowned. "Not too long ago?"
"You seem like you didn't know." He said.
She shit her eyes, placing her hand on her forehead.
"Everything okay?" He asked.
She wanted to break down again, but she heard her name coming from the first level. She was standing by the stairs and can clearly be seen by someone who was at the bottom of the stairs.
She looked down and saw Greg glaring at her.
"Greg," her eyes lit up, glad to see him, but afraid of the expression he held.
Greg marched up the stairs once he saw her talking to Keyshawn.
"What the hell you doing?"
"Where were you and where's our stuff?" Kayla asked, ignoring his question.
"It doesn't matter where I was. So you think you're just gonna talk to other niggas when I'm not around?"
Keyshawn was gonna leave the conversation at that and get out the way. He decided against it when Greg grabbed Kayla by her hair and dragged her down the staircase.
"Get ya ass in the car!" He pulled he to the car.
". Greg, let me go!" Kayla was crying, in pain from hurting herself on the stairs.
"Say, man, let her go!" Keyshawn approached them, stepping to Greg.
"How about you mind your business?" Greg shoved Kayla in the passenger seat.
"Nah, man, she don't need to be going with you." Keyshawn pulled on the passenger door.
Greg pushed him, but not hard enough to knock him down. Keyshawn pushed Greg to the ground and held him down.
"Kayla, get out the car. You can't go with him." He ordered.
Kayla couldn't understand why this man was protecting her, but she didn't want to leave Greg behind.
"I swear to god, if you go with him," Greg began to threaten her.
"You ain't gonna do nothin, punk!" Keyshawn spat. He then gave Kayla a hopeful look, "Kayla, please, let me help you." He stated.
Kayla's eyes were on Greg for a moment and then she finally managed to get out the car, limping to the curb. Keyshawn knocked Greg in his jaw one good time, knocking him out then he got up.
"Come on." He grabbed her hand and tried to move but she was holding back.
"I can't move that fast. My foot hurts." She said, limping in his direction.
Keyshawn picked her up and carried her to his car. Getting her settled in, he drove her to the hospital.
"I don't need to be here, I'm fine." She said, but he wasn't convinced.
"You're hurt, so too do need to be here."
"No, I really need to go back home and figure things out."
"So he can find you there and try to hurt you. I wasn't gonna let that happen. Not again. You don't need to put yourself in that kind of situation. You surely don't need a sucka like that in your life anyway."
When she wasn't called to be seen, the doctor admitted her in the hospital. Keyshawn was still there.
"I guess now is a good time to thank you for everything, but I certainly don't want to take up more of your time."
"Is there anyone else that can sit here with you?" He asked.
"Not really." She answered. "I'm afraid to call my parents and explain to them what's going on."
"Why? Will they be mad?" He asked.
"I don't think so." She paused to really think. "I doubt it."
"Then call them. They should know and I'm sure they'll help you."
"I don't want to scare them. The doctor said I'll be fine so I'll be out of here in no time, then my parents can never know that this has even happened." She explained.
"Listen, let me confess something." He relaxed in the chair. "I know what he's been doing to you. I hear him snap at you all the time. Those walls at home, are quite thin and certainly not soundproof." He said.
"Every time I saw you, I saw a precious jewel. You need to be loved and adorned, and taken care of. That's not what he's doing to you. Why do you accept that? The way he talks to you, no man should talk to you that way. And no man should put his hands on any one and treat a lady the way he treats you. What I saw today was the last straw. I feared for you life more than I believe that you did. Domestic violence is not something I'm gonna sit back and watch and just let happen. If I can do something, I will, and I did. Call your parents and they'll be there for you. That's what you need."
Kayla was in tears. Keyshawn had to be some kind of angel sent directly from heaven to save her today because she knew she would be somewhere with Greg, being abused more than she's already been for the day.
"I don't mean to make you cry. I just want you to want better for yourself. You may be so deep in love with him that you don't even notice what's really happening in your life."
"Calling my parents is not that simple." She finally said. "I'll have to tell them the truth about everything. Greg made me do things that I regret and it's effecting my parents. Really my dad, and I can't come clean about it. He'll be so pissed at me."
"Do you think he would care more about what you did or the fact that you're in the hospital after being abused? I'm no parent but I know that they'll be more than happy to know that you're okay."
"You don't have to stay here with me. I'm gonna call my mom and have her come here."
"I'll just wait with you until she gets here then."
Keyshawn waited until Kendra got there to leave. Kayla was talking to her mom the moment Keyshawn left, coming clean to her.
"Kayla, how could you do that to your dad and LaTrice?" Kendra asked, not wanting to fuss at her daughter. "She's really trying to get you for that and I'm not going for that. Have you called your father?"
"No. I'm not ready to face him with this." Kayla admitted.
"Well, you're gonna have to talk to him because I called him."
"Mama..."
"Kayla, you're in a bad situation right now and we gotta figure this stuff out. I'm gonna find Greg and have his ass arrested, then we're gonna try to settle things with LaTrice. I can't believe you let that man talk you into doing all these things, but I'm glad you're okay."
Kayla cried for the hundredth time today.
"Baby, relax." Kendra shredded a few tears. She didn't like to cry in front of her children.
"Mama, I'm so sorry." Kayla cried as her mother sat closer to her, comforting her.
"Don't worry, you're gonna be okay. I just want you to rest up." Kendra said, fluffing Kayla's pillow.
"Are you gonna stay here with me? I'd like it if you do."
"Of course I'm gonna stay here, baby. Don't worry." Kendra promised. "And your dad should be here shortly."