by Margo
Mal contacted one of the hottest hosts from Detroit, Rob. Rob was always entertaining the crowd. He cracked jokes. He was definitely good at what he did.
“Uh-oh. My niggas Mal and E just walked in the building. Shit about to get real. What up, doe?”
The DJ mixed in Meek Mills’ lyrics: Now there’s a lot of bad bitches in the building (Amen). A couple real niggas in the building (Amen).
Rob continued, “And they didn’t come by themselves tonight. They got their baddies with them. College graduate baddies, too! One time for the college girls! Congratulations, beautiful ladies.”
“Ayyyyyyye,” Dior said, doing a little booty shake.
Aaliyah saluted the host of the event as she did a little slow wind.
“This one is for my college girls!” Rob yelled, prompting the DJ to play the hit “Scholarships” by rapper Juicy J.
They finally made it to their booth to find Ashley, Sincere, and A.J chilling with drinks flowing. Eron and Mal both cringed at the sight of A.J. but for two different reasons. Eron cringed because he never liked the nigga A.J. There was no trust there. He did good business though. Business trumped personal feelings for now.
Mal was irritated because he didn’t want Dior feeling uncomfortable in any shape, form, or fashion. She was going to have a good time with him and his people.
“I wasn’t sure what y’all were drinking, so I got a bottle of Patrón and Rémy Martin.”
“That’s a start! I need my graduates to catch up,” Eron said.
Meanwhile, Dior felt A.J. staring at her. Mal watched the exchange. “What up, A.J.?” Mal asked, tired of the nigga being a creep.
“Ain’t shit. Are we having recap of the other day or something?”
“Nah, it’s a wrap on that,” Mal said, taking a shot and turning the other way. A.J. was looking dumber than usual. The energy was good. After a couple shots, everybody was on their feet vibing to the music and with each other.
“Another shot. One time for me and my new friend Dior on completing such an irritating task. And shout out to the amazing people who made sure the knob was broke all day.”
“Ayyyyyyeeee,” the group cheered.
Rob was on the mic, acting a damn fool and talking about all kind of shit. “Aye, but, DJ, I heard the college girls want some T.I. What you got for them?”
T.I.’s “Whatever You Like” came on.
Rob busted through the music. “Nah. Nah, they ain’t ready! What else you got for them, Mr. DJ?”
The DJ changed the music, and people were walking around mean mugging. That’s just what T.I.’s classic hit “Motivation” did to you. It put you in a zone.
“Shot!” Dior yelled, handing everybody shots.
A.J. thought he was being incognito about the confusion and dislike for Dior being there and not with him. A.J. was really mad at the fact that he been trying to get close to Mal and Eron forever. A.J. knew that Eron never cared for him. That was no secret. A.J. figured that he would work on trying to be Mal’s right-hand man. That would never happen. Dumbass A.J. showed how dumb he really was by thinking he had a chance.
Sincere tapped Mal and Eron. “This nigga is going to be a problem.”
“I been telling this nigga that, bro. And the nigga took his bitch? Oh yeah, he hot about that.”
Mal laughed even though they knew this wasn’t a situation that should be taken lightly. “Shit, this ain’t what he really want. Man, he better take a different route.”
“Straight up!” Sincere and Mal slapped fives while Eron balled his face up, shaking his head.
“Most definitely. Y’all ready to go?” Eron asked without waiting for an answer. By the time they made it back over to the booth, the ladies were taking another shot.
“Damn, cuz! I didn’t know y’all was coming here tonight. I would’ve just rode with y’all.” Eron turned around to his ratchet-ass cousin Tierra’s voice. He was shocked at who was standing next to Tierra.
“What, dog, you knew we were coming here?”
Tierra laughed. “Maybe I did. Hey, Aaliyah, and what’s your name? Dior.”
Dior laughed. “Oh, you know my name.”
Aaliyah ignored the greeting, looking dead at Jessica. “So you’re Jessica, huh?” Aaliyah had never really seen Jessica. The young girl had been talking shit via Instagram and Facebook forever. Aaliyah just never fed into it. Aaliyah looked the girl up and down. She could see why Eron didn’t take the kid seriously. The girl was the club in street clothes. Aaliyah had nothing against gym shoes, but Lebron’s shouldn’t have been a part of any chick’s attire who was in Club LAX. Jessica wore Detroit’s own “Jo’s Coney Island” tee and jeans. The bitch wasn’t seeing Aaliyah. Point blank period. The proof was written all on Jessica’s face. She appeared to be uncomfortable and sneaky.
If looks could kill, Jessica and Tierra would be dead, Eron’s cousin or not.
“Aye, cuz, we were just heading out.” Eron’s tone was even, but the look on his face was deadly. It scared the shit out of Tierra. She held a knowing look. Tierra knew that she may be meeting the person she thought she was exempt from meeting: Street Eron, the monster. She grabbed Jessica’s hand and couldn’t get out of the club fast enough.
Sincere ushered the group through the crowded club. He knew somebody was about to feel Eron’s fire. Niggas weren’t going to like it. They were going to feel it.
Eron whispered in Aaliyah’s ear, “Go to the car, and let me go to the bathroom.” He could feel Aaliyah tense up.
Yup. She’s pissed.
Mal, Sincere, Ashley, and Dior all walked out of the club. The valet brought up all the cars but Eron’s. Aaliyah was beyond pissed and just wanted to get in the car. Nobody wanted to say anything to Aaliyah. The look on her face said, “I don’t want to be bothered.”
Aaliyah marched over to the valet. “Just give me my car keys. I can cross the street and get it.”
“Are you sure, ma’am?”
“Jay, man, just give her the keys. Thanks. And we are going to have a talk about promptness. Especially when it comes to taking care of my family.”
“Yes, sir,” Jay, the valet, replied, handing over the keys.
Aaliyah snatched the keys. “All right, bro. Bye, y’all.”
“Be safe,” came from Ashley and Sincere.
“I’ma get your number from Mal to call and check on you tomorrow.”
“All right, cool,” Aaliyah replied with sad eyes. She wasn’t even sad, just pissed that Jessica felt that it was okay to approach her. And what the fuck was Eron doing or saying to the bitch that would make her want to make herself seen?
Aaliyah shrugged her shoulders, looking both ways before crossing the street. Aaliyah made it to the two yellow lines that split the streets. She looked both ways and proceeded to cross the street.
“Car!” a person outside the club yelled just as Aaliyah was picked up by the car. Aaliyah lay on the bumper of the car until the end of the block when she fell off the truck. Upon impact, Aaliyah felt her teeth rip from her gums. Aaliyah was able to glance at the driver, who laughed wickedly. The truck sped off. Aaliyah slid up the street, scratching her whole body against the pavement. She was left lying in the middle of the street, hearing people screaming for someone to call for help.
Am I okay? Did I die? What did I do wrong? Did I look both ways? Aaliyah’s mind ran rampant.
“Aaliyah!”
“Oh my God!
“Baby, it’s going to be all right!” Eron, Mal, Dior, Sincere, and Ashley made it down the block in record speed. Eron immediately fell to the ground with tears in his eyes.
Aaliyah glanced at Mal and Dior standing off to the side with a surprised look on their faces.
“The EMTs are on their way,” someone from the crowd hollered.
“Eron, did I do something wrong?”
It broke Eron’s heart even more for Aaliyah to ask what she could have done differently. “Nothing, baby! They were just being reckless and probably
drunk.”
“I’m scared. I can’t feel my legs. What’s wrong with them?”
“I don’t think—”
Aaliyah cut him off as his tears met the tears on her face. “Don’t play me. Be honest.”
“Aaliyah, shit. I don’t know. They are going the wrong way.”
Aaliyah cried even harder. “I’m twenty-two with broken legs. What am I going to do? Maybe I shouldn’t have gone and got the car myself.”
“Come on now. Stop it. You’re going to be okay. I promise the person who did this will not live let alone walk. I mean that.” Eron meant every word. “Somebody call the EMTs again. I don’t want her just lying in the street.”
Dior yelled through tears, “I just called back. They just keep saying that they’re on the way.”
Flashing lights could be seen in the distance, and sirens could be heard. It was the police coming to do crowd control. The cops got out of the car. “Sir, please don’t attempt to move the body.”
Eron looked at the young cops like they were crazy. “I’m not going to move her, but I’m not about to let my girl lie out here in the street without me near.”
“Sir, we are just making sure.”
Mal walked out into the street to give Eron some comfort. The last thing he needed was to be in jail.
“Ma’am, the EMTs are near. We need for you to keep talking. Can you do that? You’re going to be fine.”
Mal just wasn’t feeling the cops, so he jumped in, sitting on the ground and rubbing Eron’s back. “Sis, man, you gon’ be all right.”
“Man, Mal, don’t come over here being soft,” Aaliyah said, amazing everybody as she giggled.
“Man, Aaliyah, you are crazy.”
Eron was a mess watching the exchange. He felt horrible that he wasn’t there to protect her. “Did y’all call Mama and my auntie?”
“No, we haven’t called them yet.”
“Aaww, man, don’t call them. They are going to blow it all out of proportion,” said Aaliyah.
“Babe, we have to tell them,” Eron replied. “Sin, call Mama and Auntie Jackie. Tell them that we’re going to St. John Hospital since it’s the closest.”
Just as Eron finished his statement, the EMTs pulled up.
“All right, baby. They are here.”
“Please. Don’t leave me.”
“Baby, I’m not. I promise.”
“Hi, sir,” the paramedic greeted Eron. Eron couldn’t speak even if he wanted to. He was in a zombie state as he stepped back out of their way.
“Ma’am, we’re going to get you to the hospital. Can you tell me your full name?”
Aaliyah’s adrenaline had been pumping earlier, so she wasn’t feeling much pain, but now she was coming down from the adrenaline high. She was in pain. “Aaliyah Marie Banks.”
“Okay good. Stay with me. How old are you?”
“Twenty-two.”
“Okay. We’re going to place you on the stretcher.”
Aaliyah busted out in a heaving cry. It was heartbreaking for everybody to watch from the sidelines. “No. No. Please don’t move me. It’s going to hurt.”
“Ma’am, we have to get you to the hospital. It will be quick, I promise. Count with me. One, two, three.”
“Ahhhh.” The paramedics lifted Aaliyah, and she let out a bloodcurdling scream. Aaliyah cried and cried. Her family watched on helplessly, wishing they could help alleviate her pain.
“Eron, ride with me.”
“I’m right here. Y’all meet us there.” Everybody ran to their cars.
The ride to the hospital was painful for both Aaliyah and Eron. Aaliyah was feeling every bit of the accident. Eron was upset because he couldn’t stop her from hurting. It was the longest ride ever. Finally, they pulled up to the hospital entrance, and Aaliyah started to go in and out of consciousness.
* * *
“Damn.”
“That’s crazy.”
I was met by so many different emotions. So many feelings were pouring out from the group, even from the boy who gave me such a hard time.
“But what happened after that?”
“Two broken femurs, fractured face, fractured pelvis, nerve damage. I have two rods that my femur bones have grown around.” I turned toward the guy who had just given me such a hard time, lifting up right Pink jogging pants leg.
“My scars may not be as visible as yours, hers, or his.”
I showed him the long scar that covered both sides of my leg, mimicking a two-sided coin. I took off that same shoe, tapping the heel of my foot and showing how my foot sat straight up with my toes hanging.
“I have no movement in my foot. During the forty-seven days I spent in the hospital, I developed foot drop.”
Dropping my pants leg and standing straight up, I pulled the front of my pants down, and everybody gasped. I rolled my eyes because in that moment I didn’t give a fuck.
“These incisions right by my crotch are where the doctors put the rods in.” The band of my pants snapped against my waist.
“This is a bed sore that goes from one side of my body to the other.” Turning around to face them again, I lifted my shirt, just revealing my stomach. “This is where the doctors pulled out the feeding tube.” I pointed to the center of my stomach. “This is the mark the tracheotomy left.” I wiped every tear that fell because I was angry.
“Here it is years later, and I probably won’t ever be able to wear a pair of heels again. Hell, even gym shoes can be uncomfortable. Purses aren’t even the same for me. I have to wear a cross-body style or fanny pack so that it’s more secure. Therapy will always be a part of my life. And I mean physical and mental therapy. I have a question. Somebody asked me what it felt like to be young and old at the same time.”
“Yeah, right.”
“No, they did not.”
“Yes. Initially, me and this person got into it. I felt that it was an insensitive thing to say. But you know what? It made me think, I am young in age but going through the same things as if I’m old. From wheelchairs to walkers to canes, I have experienced all types of leg and foot braces. I’ve even learned from an older person to wear my keys around my neck since my balance is not that good. And that’s just a piece of my story.”
I made no eye contact with anybody as I stopped talking. I was rambling, and I knew it. Some of these feelings I kept buried. So it was a relief getting some of these thoughts out in a room full of like-minded individuals.
“Okay. I think this is a good place to close. But I will say this: God gives His toughest battles to his strongest soldiers. My goal is to get all of our mental capacity to its fullest potential. Do you realize the amount of strength that you all embody? I’m in a room full of fuckin’ Transformers!”
Dr. Jenn caused the whole room to bust out laughing. “See y’all next week. If anybody needs anything before then, feel free to contact me. Not all of my patients have my personal cell phone number. But you all do.”
Chapter Sixteen
Tineya
It had been weeks since I’d heard Aaliyah’s story, and I was still blown away. I was so busy thinking that my situation was so bad that I didn’t think about people who had similar situations.
After that session, Aaliyah and I kicked it for a minute. She was cool, and we’d been hanging ever sense. Being around her and her being around me had proven to be therapeutic for us both. She was everything I wasn’t. She was strong by nature. She was going with me to handle a situation. She didn’t judge me.
Knock. Knock.
I rolled my eyes because whoever knocked at the door was unannounced. Today was a little bit different because I didn’t want any influences or opinions on what I felt I needed to do.
“What?” I yanked the door open.
“Damn. What the fuck is up?”
“Nothing. Why are you popping up at my house, Dro?”
“What you mean?” He was stuttering, really looking confused, like he just knew things would be okay.
 
; “Dro, listen. I’m not about to play this game with you. I got something to do so I’ma make this short and sweet. You stood me up. You’re a manipulating-ass nigga. You’re into me as long as nobody else knows just how much you’re into me. You stood me up to ensure that I would stay in the house.”
“But—”
“Nah, let me finish. You then come over here with a made-up-ass gift since your ‘friend’ found what, I’m assuming, was originally meant for me. You allowed this girl to put on a charm bracelet with intricate parts of our relationship on her wrist. Then you took the bitch out that same night that you stood me up. Sounds to me like that’s where you’d rather be.”
“Man, Tineya, I fucked up. I’m sorry. Let me make it up to you.”
I could only laugh at myself for thinking this was the only man I could get. Maybe I was meant to be alone. I didn’t know, but I did know I wouldn’t settle for what Dro was attempting to give me. I’d be glad when this last piece to the puzzle was over.
“Not to mention you don’t like me. Not all of me anyway. You would rather people knowing that you fuck with me but don’t fuck with me. You sold dreams, and my dumb ass was buying. But not anymore.”
“Tineya, just listen for a minute,” Dro reached out, grabbing me by my crossed arms. I stood firm in my stance. We were still in the foyer of my apartment. Dro pushed. “Can you let me in? Damn. Now I get it. I been moving in a fucked-up way. I want you. I always do. I always will. The shit you got is amazing. Best shit I’ve ever had. Why are you fucking up our shit?”
Is this nigga serious? I blanked out for a minute. I couldn’t believe the candidness of this nigga. But it was my fault for allowing his bullshit to stand on a real nigga’s ground. I was so hung up on the way we met that I allowed him to treat me mediocre as hell. He really did the bare minimum, and I was okay with that just because of this scar.