by Ambria Davis
I was able to get her to decide to come to West Virginia, where I lived. She was supposed to call me and let me know that everything was okay with her and the kids. I was really worried, because she told me that ole boy had threatened to kill her if she’d leave him. I wanted to go back down there when she told me that, but she begged me not to and promised that she would be okay. Hell, this nigga had me ready to bring it to him behind a female, and she wasn’t even my woman. Like I said before, though, Mimi had me like that. She’s the kind of woman that you would want to make your first and your last. I’d be devastated if I lost her.
As I walked around pacing back and forth, trying to get in touch with her, my phone started ringing. I looked at it hoping that it would be Mimi, but it wasn’t. It was my boy Mark calling me. I really wasn’t trying to hang out tonight. Well, not without seeing or making sure that Mimi and her kids were okay.
“Yo, what’s up with ya, man?” I asked, answering the phone.
“Shit, I can’t call it. You done heard from ya girl yet?” he asked, referring to Mimi.
“Nah, man, she hasn’t returned my calls, and I’ve been trying to get in touch with her for hours,” I replied.
“Yo, my man, you might need to check that out. Something is definitely not right,” he said.
“Man, I’m trying, but she’s not answering. I know that punk-ass nigga had better not touch her, though.” I was getting heated again.
“Yo, man, let me call ole girl and see if she know something. I mean, they are friends and shit,” he said.
“Oh, yeah, they’re friends. Shit, man, I didn’t know you was still talking to her.”
“Yeah, bruh. We be kicking it on the phone every now and then. Lemme call her and see what’s up with ya girl. I’ll call you back in a minute,” he said.
“Yeah, you do that, while I try to call her again,” I replied, hanging up the phone.
After talking with Mark, I tried calling Mimi once again, but I still didn’t get an answer. Just as I was about to call her once more, my phone started to ring. I looked to see that it was an Atlanta number calling. Thinking that it was Mimi calling from a different phone, I answered in a hurry.
“Mimi, hey, ma, what’s up? Why you haven’t been answering the phone?” I asked.
“Hello, I’m Detective Webber with the Atlanta Police Department. I’ve seen that you’ve called Ms. Washington’s phone a countless number of times. May I ask who you are,” I heard a deep voice say.
“I-I’m Jayden. I’m a friend of Ms. Washington. Can you tell me what’s going on, and why do you have her phone?” I asked him.
“Well, it seems that Ms. Washington has been in an accident,” he responded, making my heart rate speed up.
“An accident? Can you tell me what happened?”
“I’m sorry, but I’m not at liberty to say,” he replied.
“Well, how am I supposed to find out what’s going on?”
“You could come down to the station if you like.”
“I live in another state.”
“Well, I’m sorry, but like I said, I’m not at liberty to discuss the situation over the phone.”
“Okay. Thank you anyway,” I said, hanging up the phone.
I went to my room to pack some clothes. I was going back to Atlanta to find out what was going on with Mimi. When I was done packing, I tried to call Mark to see if he’d heard anything from Troy, but like everybody else, he wasn’t answering the phone. Fuck it, I thought as I grabbed my bags and headed for the door, where I ran straight into Mark. I realized that he had a bag on his shoulder and a suitcase in his hand.
“What’s up, man? I just called you, and what’s up with the bags?”
“I know, but I was so busy packing for our trip down to Atlanta, that I didn’t hear the phone. Besides, I wanted to tell you what I had to, face-to-face. Let’s go back inside right quick, though.”
“All right,” I said, as I followed him back into the house and went into the living room in silence.
“Yo, man, what’s up? Why you so quiet?” I asked him once we were seated on the sofa. He said nothing as he just stared into space.
“Yo, my nigga, what’s up? Why you so quiet?” I asked him again, nervously.
“Not too long ago, I got off the phone with Troy,” he replied, sitting back on the sofa.
“Yeah? Some detective just called me and said something about Mimi being in an accident. Did she say how bad it was?” I asked him, but he said nothing.
“Yo, man, what she said?” I asked again, not sure I really wanted to hear what he was about to say.
“She’s dead,” he replied.
I sat there stuck. A lump formed in my throat, and I tried so desperately to swallow, but it wasn’t budging.
“Dead? What happened?” I asked, not believing him.
“Man, she said ole girl planned to leave her man today. They got in a fuss earlier at her club, but she brushed it off because she had made plans to take her kids and leave Atlanta tonight. She went to pick up her kids from school early, and they went to the mall to get a few things. After they left the mall, she called to let her know that she was on her way over to the house and that she was leaving after. Before they hung up the phone, she promised her that she would call her once she was on the road to wherever she was going. Hours went by, and ya girl never called, so she called her, but she never answered. So she decided to drive by her house. When she made it to Mimi’s, there were cops and two ambulances there. When she got inside, there were blood and shell cases everywhere, but ya girl Mimi was nowhere in sight,” he said, stopping to catch his breath.
“She asked the cops what was going on, but they asked her for her identification and shit. Once she gave them her info and shit, they asked her to identify two bodies. She said the first body was some dude named Tyreek, but the second body was Mimi’s. She said homeboy shot her like three or four times. He must have taken the kids and left before the police got there, because when they got there, he was nowhere in sight. She also said something about a chick named Stacy being there or something like that.” He got up and walked over to the duffel bag that he’d brought in. He picked up the bag, then came and sat down.
“I know it’s hard, being that you just met her and all, but I also know that you’d want to go back down there. Which is why I packed these,” he said, showing me a variety of guns. “I also packed myself a bag, because you know I wasn’t going to let you go alone.”
I sat there for a minute, trying to get myself together. I mean, like he said, I just met her, but I couldn’t let him get away with it. I felt something for her, and for that, this nigga was going to pay. I had planned on making a future with her, but I couldn’t now.
“All right, man, thanks. I know that I can always depend on you, because you always have my back,” I said, giving him a dap and brotherly hug.
“Fo’ sure. man, you already know that you my nigga,” he replied, returning the love. When we were done, we just stood around until I broke the silence.
“All right, man, let’s go bring some of the West Virginia heat to the A,” I said, picking up my bags and heading for the door.
“Shit, I know they ain’t ready for this here,” he replied, as he followed me out the door.
Atlanta PD better get ready, because I’m not leaving until I find that nigga. And when I do find him, there’s going to be a lot of flower bringing and sad song singing, I thought as I locked up the door and headed to my car. All I know is, if they ain’t ready, they better get ready.
Mimi
Opening my eyes, I looked to see that I was standing in my living room. As I looked on, I noticed there was blood all over the place. I began to walk around to see what was going on. As I was walking around, I saw Troy bent over by the door. I walked over to her so that I could see what she was doing. Looking down, I noticed Tyreek’s lifeless body in a body bag. My head immediately started to spin as I tried to figure out what was going on.
; Turning toward Troy, I asked, “What’s going on, Troy? What happened to Tyreek?”
Troy said nothing to me as she continued to talk to a detective. I watched her mouth Tyreek’s name as the detective wrote something down on his notepad. He said something to her and motioned for her to follow him to the back of the house. I walked to the back of the house too, where I saw more blood and shell cases everywhere. Stooping by the stairs, I saw another body there. The detective waved for the coroner to remove the cover, and when he did, I almost passed out.
I started shaking as I looked at myself lying there in a body bag. I then realized that I was wearing a long white gown, and my skin had a glow to it. Looking around, I noticed that everyone was moving past me and around me, and not one of them could see or hear me.
“Where am I?” I asked out loud.
“You’re between the lines of the living and the dead,” I heard a voice say. Turning around, I saw my grandma standing there.
“Oh my God, Grandma,” I said, walking over to her, not believing my eyes.
“Yes, baby, it’s me,” she replied, taking my hand into hers.
“Well, if you’re here, then that means that I’m—” I paused, not wanting to finish my own statement.
“No, baby, you’re not dead. It seems that your soul is not yet ready to cross over,” she responded to my statement.
“How did I get here, and where are my children?” I asked her.
“Your kids are fine for now, and if you’d turn around, I can show you how you got here,” she said, waving her hands for me to turn around.
Turning around, I watched as I pulled up to the house and got my kids from out of the car. We then went inside, where I instructed them to get one thing that they really wanted.
“Do you remember how you got here now, Amina?”
Shaking my head, I said, “No.”
“Well, let’s continue on with this, shall we?” she asked, as I nodded my head for her to continue.
I then watched as I ran upstairs to my bedroom. Once I was in the room, I went into the closet and removed a couple of envelopes from the safe. After getting whatever it was that I needed, I hurriedly ran out of the room, into the kids’ rooms. Once we were all finished, we were prepared to leave.
“Do you remember what happened next?” I heard my grandma ask, stopping yet again. I closed my eyes and tried so hard to remember, but I came up with nothing.
“It’s okay, baby, don’t try so hard to remember. You’ll get it, and if you don’t, then I’ll show you,” she replied, moving along.
I watched as Stacy entered the door, stopping us from leaving. What the hell she was doing there? I thought to myself. She said something to me, and all I did was look at her. She then pointed to my daughter Kayla, and I watched as she moved to the side, to reveal a little boy who looked just like Kaylin. She said something and pulled a gun from behind her back and pointed it at me. Tears started to fill my eyes as she said something about Kaylin, and right after, he and Tyreek walked through the door.
“Mimi, where you at, and why is the door wide open?” I heard him ask. I said nothing as I watched him walk into the living room, where Stacy and I were.
“Mimi, what’s going on and why you are here, Stacy?” he asked, looking from me to Stacy. A lump formed in my throat as I tried so desperately to remember what happened next.
“I came here to introduce Kaylin Jr. to his sister and brothers, but I was shocked when he actually got to see both of his twin sisters together. I also caught little Ms. Mimi about to leave,” she said to him.
“Twin sisters? What are you talking about? Kailay’s not a twin,” he replied, looking at me, then to Kailay and Kayla holding hands.
“Daddy,” I heard my daughter Kayla said, running to Tyreek.
“Daddy? ’Reek, I thought you said that you didn’t have any kids.”
“Well, I lied. This here is my and Mimi’s daughter Kayla. She also happens to be your daughter Kailay’s twin sister,” he responded.
I instantly broke down as the events from tonight flashed before me and I remembered exactly how I got here.
I cried as I remembered Stacy saying that she and Kaylin had a nine-year-old son and how Kaylin moved her up here. I also remembered her telling Kaylin about Kayla. Still crying, I remembered Kaylin and Tyreek having a few words and fighting, then Kaylin killing Tyreek with gunshots to the head. He then turned his gun on me and started shooting. I was going in and out of consciousness as he walked over to me and said something, and then everything went completely black.
“Oh my God! Kaylin did this to me?” I asked my grandma through tears.
“Yes, but it looks like it’s not your time to go yet,” she responded.
“Why? I’m getting so tired of living with secrets and regrets. I just want to stay here with you and be in peace,” I said to her.
“Chile, your secrets aren’t really secrets anymore, and besides, you have some important business to tend to. Now, go ahead and get out of here. When it’s your time, you’ll be seeing me again,” she said as she started to back up. She then turned and was walking toward a bright light. But before she could leave, she said something else.
“Pay attention, Mimi. You have a lot at stake here. Your kids need you, but before you go looking for them, you must pay a visit to your mother first.”
“Wait! Why do I have to go see her?” I asked, but before I knew it, she was gone, and I felt my soul being pulled . . . and just like before, everything went black.
* * *
When I came to, I was being wheeled down a long hallway. I looked around frantically to see a bunch of people in white coats and blue scrubs, running. Entering what I assumed to be an operating room, I heard a lot of shouting and then felt my clothes being cut off. I felt a cold sensation as the medication was entering my IV, making me sleepy as hell.
I tried my best to fight it, but it was getting the best of me. I watched as the nurse came over and injected something else into my IV. As I lay there falling asleep, I remembered thinking, “I can’t believe Kaylin would do me like that . . . After all of the shit that I’ve been through with his ass.” Then I fell into a deep sleep.
Mimi
I stood on the end of a curb in some unknown neighborhood as I watched the cars that were zooming by.
“Mommy,” I heard a voice say, but I didn’t see anyone.
“Look, Mommy, look,” the voice said again. Turning around I was now facing an apartment building. As I looked farther, I noticed that this was indeed my old neighborhood.
“Mommy,” I heard the voice say again, and that’s when I noticed that there was a little boy standing beside me.
“Where’s your mother, baby?” I asked the child, but he didn’t answer. He kept his head down and covered his face.
“It’s okay, baby, don’t be shy. I won’t hurt you,” I said, but again he didn’t answer. Stooping down to his level, I asked, “Can you show me where your mother is?”
Shaking his head, he pointed at me.
“Me?” I asked in disbelief. Shaking my head, I said to him, “No, not me. I can’t be your mother, baby, because I don’t have any kids.”
“Yes, you are. You’re my mommy,” he replied, still pointing at me. Then he took off running, “Follow me, Mommy.”
I stood there stuck. I knew for a fact I didn’t have any kids. So why is this child calling me Mommy? I asked myself, confused.
“Hurry, Mommy, hurry,” he said, turning around. Even though I was convinced that I was indeed not this child’s mother, I followed him anyway.
“Where are we going?” I asked as I struggled to keep up with him. He was running like his little life depended on it.
“Hurry, Mommy, you have to save me,” he replied. “Hurry, hurry, before it’s too late.”
“Save you? What am I supposed to save you from?” I asked, but he said nothing as he kept running.
When I caught up to him, I asked, “What am I supposed to be s
aving you from?”
He said nothing as he pointed to a closed door. He then said, “In there.”
I was scared, because I didn’t know this child, and here he was calling me mommy. Not to mention that I’m supposed to be saving him from whatever it is that was on the other side of the door.
“Hurry, Mommy, you don’t have much time,” he said as he gave me a little push. Curiosity got the best of me as I wondered what this child could possibly need saving from.
Walking toward the door, I could hear a lot of screaming and crying, followed by a bunch of other noises. When I got closer, I could hear the sounds of someone getting slapped, which had me frozen in fear.
“Mommy, you have to hurry or else you won’t be able to save me,” the boy said from behind me.
Moving at a slow pace, I reached for the doorknob. My heart began to beat rapidly as I started turning the knob. When I finally opened the door, I froze as I watched some big, ugly, black dude roughing up some chick.
“Oh my God!” I said as I looked while he raped her. Shorty put up a struggle, but dude was obviously stronger than she was, so she surrendered. I felt bad because I couldn’t imagine being raped by anyone.
“Mommy, save me,” the little boy said again, pointing in the room. Turning back toward the room, I could see the man getting off the woman.
“Baby, you gotta tell me what I’m saving you from,” I replied, turning around to see that he was now on his knees, holding his stomach as if it was hurting. Running toward him, I dropped to my knees to aid him.
“It’s too late, Mommy, you didn’t save me,” he said, crying a hurtful cry.
“What’s too late? Late for what?” I asked him, rubbing his back as I tried hard to soothe his pain.
“That,” he replied, pointing toward the room. Looking back, I could now see that the woman was crying and there was blood all over the place. When the man left the room, she got up off the bed in a zombielike state. I covered my mouth with my hand as shock came over me.