by Linda Wright
Then she saw a hand pulling him back and reaching for her. It was her mother. Her face was streaming with tears as she pulled Keisha out of Jason’s arms and into her own. Keisha muttered a weak, “Mama?”
“Yes baby. I’m here. I’m so sorry, baby. I am so sorry. Your father is on his way.”
Keisha sat up a bit to see who else was in the room. She realized that there were a few police officers and most of her family. They all began to gather around the couch where she had been laid. Her aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents all loomed around her, offering soothing touches. She could see towards the back, the devastated faces of Natasha and Sicily. They were both sobbing and didn’t seem to want to come any closer. Keisha drew a few deep breaths and said, “TaTa and CiCi, come here.”
They looked at each other and slowly moved forward until they were standing at the front of the group. Keisha reached a hand out for her sister. Still shaking with tears, she stepped forward and took it. She leaned in and said, “KeKe, I’m so sorry. I should have never believed her. I feel like this is all my fault. I love you so much.”
“It’s okay. I understand. I love you too. And you CiCi.”
Cici fell forward and put her head against Keisha’s. Keisha turned her head and planted a kiss on her forehead. Then she turned to Jason and said, “Where is she?” No one had to ask who she was referring to. Jason took her hand and said, “The police took her. Don’t worry, you won’t be seeing her again. There are outstanding warrants on her.”
Keisha shook her hand in understanding. She still couldn’t believe it. Someone who she had held as a dear friend, almost family, had tried to kill her and take over her life. She would later learn about Takia’s history of psychological problems and the slew of crimes she had left behind her. The real reason she could not go back to her home town was that she had been tied to three assaults and at least two murders, the murders of her grandmother and her older sister. Keisha felt blessed just to have made it out alive.
Jason moved up the wedding to the first available date. He said he had almost lost her and he was going to keep her close to make sure that it didn’t happen again. She moved into his house. She had always loved it anyway, but it was decidedly better than her condo now with everything that had happened there. In most ways things went back to normal.
The one thing that did change was that Keisha decided not to be so naïve. She realized that everyone trying to be in your life is not your friend. Some people are not there to add to your life, but to take away from it. She would try not to be bitter or paranoid, but she would be cautious. From now on she would be careful with anyone coming around trying to flatter her by saying they wanted to be just like her. They may just mean it…
*****
THE END
Enjoy what you read? Please keep flipping to the end of the book to leave a review on Amazon. Thanks!