Zacariah
I had never seen so much blood in my life. How could so much blood come out of one skinny person? I couldn't move. I was paralyzed in a state of panic. To see this woman plunge that enormous butcher knife into her stomach instantly made my stomach throb.
The door opened at the time she wounded herself so another woman witnessed the attempted suicide. She did what I couldn't do and screamed. Moments later, herds of people came scampering in and around the bathroom door while the body of the skinny chick lay on the cold tile floor. Her eyes were bulging, and she was making a gurgling sound, like she was trying to catch her breath. Blood oozed from her mouth as she continued to try to breathe. Each breath taken was a struggle, sounding like it was her last. Then she stopped moving or saying anything. Her body lay still as her hands fell from her wounded abdomen unto the floor. Her eyes were still open.
Is she dead?
I thought, and
Why would she do something like this to herself ?
Several bouncers pushed their way through the crowd to get to what everybody was looking at. Once they saw her lying on the floor, one of them kneeled down beside her to feel her neck for a pulse, but he said he couldn't feel anything. Another came over wanting to remove the knife from her abdomen, but the bigger bouncer pushed him away, telling him he could not remove it. He didn't want to risk any more damage being done, just in case she did have a faint pulse he couldn't feel.
My feet were rooted to this spot. I was watching as they frantically tried to stop the bleeding. Then I heard sirens in the distance, hoping they would get here soon to save her. Three other bouncers began to clear the area to let the paramedics through.
That's when I felt a warm hand on my bare shoulders. It was the woman who walked in and saw the incident with me. She was trying to get me to leave the scene. She pulled me into her and escorted me out of the area. With all eyes on us as we both exited, people were whispering and some were loudly asking what happened over and over again. Neither the woman nor I said a word.
Red Bone was in the crowd, and he came over to me, putting his arms around me, also asking, “What happened ?” I scanned the crowd to see if I saw Essence, but neither she nor Jaquon were in sight.
Good,
I thought.
After answering Red Bone's questions, I got another hundred asked by the bouncers, the manager, EMT, and the police. I had nothing else in me and wanted to tell them all, “You should have all stood together so I could have explained the incident once.” They could've at least tape-recorded my story so I wouldn't have to keep repeating the same thing. Or maybe that was their way of interrogating me. Ask the same question several times to see if they got several different answers. But the only story they were going to get from me was, “She plunged that blade in her own stomach.”
By the look on a couple of the officers' faces, I could tell they thought I was responsible. I was the only one in the restroom with the victim. Salt and Pepper they were. One was white and the other black. Both were of burly stature, and both had pen and paper out scribbling my feedback. Maybe they thought I did it and made it look like she did. Maybe I was one of those females trying to get rid of the competition ruining her relationship with her man. Or maybe it was because I was black. Whatever, I was not happy with them scrutinizing me with suspicion like a criminal. If it wasn't for the other woman walking in at the time of skinny girl's stabbing, they'd probably be putting handcuffs on me reading me my rights.
But I had Red Bone by my side. Plus, the lawyer in me watched enough court cases to know I could talk my way out of this. Where was the blood on my hands? Why wasn't any blood on my clothes? Why were my fingerprints not on the weapon? If I wiped my hands off, where was the evidence? Check the toilet, my purse, the pipes of the sinks and the stalls. I was innocent, and this was a crime that was not going to be pinned on me. Open-and-shut case it was. Just the thought of them thinking I did this ticked me off.
After the police questioning, they did their jobs keeping the area secure. When the paramedics wheeled the wounded woman on the gurney past everyone, Red Bone gasped, making me jump.
“Angela,” he said loudly attempting to run over to the wounded woman.
“Stand back,” the police officer said grabbing him.
“But that's my wife! That's my wife,” he said hysterically. The officer looked at him, and then at me. I knew what he was thinking as more doubt registered on Salt and Pepper's faces. Damn, I would think the same thing too. In that moment, I was guilty until proven innocent in their minds. I was the other woman with the victim's husband.
In shock myself I kept saying, “His wife?”
You mean to tell me the man I was hanging out with was the husband of the suicidal woman holding the knife who I was alone with in the bathroom? She had to have seen the two of us together, which explained her tears. No wonder she was staring at me like she was. She could have stabbed me, then herself. Lucky for me, she didn't. This could have been a murder-suicide case due to a jealous woman who had finally had enough from her cheating husband.
Unfortunately for her, she succeeded in showing him because later I found out she was pronounced dead at the scene. The news shook me up. I knew in that moment the paramedics could have been saying those same words over my body but fate stepped in and saved my behind.
Needless to say, it was a night I would never forget. Red Bone didn't have to worry about me again, even though I was pretty sure he wasn't thinking about me anyway. He now had to plan his wife's funeral. I guess she really did show him, by proving that she loved him 'til death do them part.
Derrick
Picking up Zacariah was the last thing I wanted to do tonight. She found her way here. Why couldn't she find her way home? Soon as I pulled up, I could tell something was wrong. The many police cars were a clear indication. I saw Zacariah standing at the curb and pulled up for her to enter. She jumped in without saying a word. I mean I didn't even get a hello or thank you for coming to pick her up. She sat in the passenger seat with her arms crossed looking straight out the window not acknowledging me at all like I was her mortal enemy or something.
“So you are just going to get in here without saying a word?”
“I called you over thirty minutes ago,” she said rudely.
“And I'm here.”
“But you took too long getting here.”
“Did you forget where we live? It's not like I was around the corner, you know,” I said defensively. “And I couldn't fly through every stoplight or pass every car to get here for the almighty Zacariah. You're lucky I even came to pick you up. You want to run your mouth about me taking too long? It could have been all night,” I said, driving off, hoping my slight squealing of the tires wouldn't cause a cop to come after me.
“And what is
that
supposed to mean?” she asked.
“It means I could have stayed in my bed instead of coming to get you.”
“You know what? Can you just shut up and get me home?”
“Not until I find out why I'm picking you up in the first place.”
“Because I asked you to, that's why. Is that a good enough reason?”
“Zacariah, I don't need your attitude.”
“And I don't need your questioning me either. Can't you just take me home and shut the hell up? Damn.”
“Hold up. You better watch how you talk to me. Just because you're having a bad night doesn't mean you're going to take it out on me. I'm doing you a favor. I could have left your stank behind still standing on the curb.”
Still looking out of the window Zacariah said, “Derrick, I'm in a bad mood because a woman took her life in front of me tonight, okay?”
“Whoa,” is all I could say.
“You see now.”
“Baby, what happened?”
“Just a few minutes ago my name was stank behind. Now it's baby,” she said looking at me.
“I'm sorry. I just didn't appreciate your attitude when you got in the car.”
“Now you know the reason for my mood. And to be honest, I really don't feel like talking about it right now. Maybe I can tell you about it in the morning. I've had to explain this same story too many times tonight. I really don't feel like repeating myself again.”
“Maybe this will stop you from going out now. Maybe this is a sign for you to slow your roll and stay home with your man,” I said.
“I guess you want me to become Susie Homemaker and stay under your ass all the time,” she said looking over at me.
“I'm not saying that. My point is it doesn't look good for you to be out at all times of the night every weekend. And please let me state, you can never be Ms. Susie Homemaker.”
“First of all, I don't see anything wrong with me going out,” she said with the folds in her forehead coming together for a meeting on frustration. “Second, don't ever say what I can't be because I can be anything I damn well please, okay? I just don't choose to be waiting on no man hand and foot, cleaning house and cooking dinner all the time. That ain't me.”
“Which is why I said you can never be Susie Homemaker. Plus, you can't cook.”
“Yes, I can,” she squealed.
“Boiling water doesn't count. You have to actually stand by the stove and put something into the water and tend to it for it to be considered cooking. How many pots have you burnt up boiling water?”
“I walked away for a few minutes.”
“That few minutes nearly burned the house down. Face it, Zacariah, you can't even heat a microwavable dinner.”
She smacked her lips, tightening her demeanor, not wanting to deal with the facts presented.
“Baby, I'm just saying, you don't have to get upset.”
“I'm not upset,” she said sternly.
“Yes, you are. And maybe that's because you know I'm telling the truth.”
She rolled her eyes, sighing.
“Not many men would put up with your diva behavior. Not to your extreme anyway. I'm a good man who sits home waiting for his woman to get home after she flirts, shakes her ass, and consumes as many drinks as men will buy her.”
“How do you knowâ” she attempted to speak.
“Don't even say it. I know men buy you drinks because you have never purchased one on your own for as long as I've known you.”
“Derrick, enough knocking me tonight. You don't have to be with me if you don't want to. I'm not forcing you to stay with me. And if you have such a problem with me going out, why don't you go yourself?”
“So you saying you wouldn't mind me going out with Jaquon?” I said laughing. Zacariah didn't reply because I knew she couldn't stand him. “You wouldn't mind me going out with him, having a woman buy me a drink, and having her grind all up on me all night?” I asked approaching a green light.
“You damn right I would mind because don't no woman need to be putting her hands, breasts, or ass on you. And as for Jaquon, he's a bad influence,” she said.
“And all your friends are a great influence.”
“Essence is,” she retorted.
“She's a liar.”
“No, she's not.”
“Well, she lied to me to protect you. You cheated on me before, remember, and I know she knew about it,” I countered pulling up to a red light.
Zacariah didn't answer. I sighed looking at the light which was still red. I noticed a white coupe pull up to my left side and admired the rims. In the car sat two females who were very attractive. Both looked over at me and smiled. Neither broke their stare, that was, until Zacariah leaned forward and started screaming at them.
“Who the hell are you looking at?”
“We're checking out your man,” the one in the passenger seat said with long hair sweeping her shoulders.
“He's cute. Maybe he should drop you off and follow us so we can get to know him a little better.”
The woman turned her attention to me and asked, “Have you ever been with two women at the same time before?”
I wanted to say never but Zacariah yelled, “Don't make me get out of this car and snatch that weave outta your head.”
Both women's facial expressions changed from smiles to straight up wanting to beat Zacariah down.
“Get out of the car then, trick,” the girl snapped back.
Zacariah reached for the door handle, but it was locked. The light turned green, and I sped off, eliminating her possibly catching a beat down.
“You should have let me check those whores.”
“And catch a charge? I don't think so,” I said minutes away from pulling up at my house. I looked in my rearview mirror making sure the coupe wasn't following us. It wasn't. It was just some girls wanting to start trouble.
The garage door opened, and I pulled in. Zacariah had already taken her seat belt off and didn't let me stop the ride completely before she jumped out. I, on the other hand, took my time. By the time I made it up to our bedroom, Zacariah had gotten undressed. She screamed, “I'm going to take a shower.”
“Do you want me to join you?”
“No! I don't need you crowding me. Go back to bed or watch television,” she yelled, slamming the bath room door.
On cue, the doorbell rang and I knew who it was. I swear he stalked my house.
Wishing this night would end with some peace, I opened the door saying, “Not again, Jaquon.”
“Just tonight, man,” he said walking pass me.
“When are you going to learn that you can't come here every time you do your dirt?”
“Come on, Derrick. I haven't been over here in weeks.”
“Who was she tonight?” I asked shutting the door.
Jaquon ignored the question, walking toward my basement entryway. He proceeded down the stairs like I didn't say anything. He took it upon himself to make himself at home, as usual. My basement was completely finished and looked like a second apartment with a living room, bathroom, small kitchen area, bar, and pool table. He walked over to the coffee table, picked up the remote control, and turned on the fifty-two-inch flat panel TV. He then went to the fridge and pulled out a beer, kicking off his shoes, and plopped down on the sofa.
“You know you are making this too much of a habit. You barge in my place, taking over like you pay bills here.”
“Derrick, this is my second home.”
“Then contribute to the mortgage, my light bill, cable, and food.”
“I don't have any money today,” Jaquon said with his eyes fixed on the score to the ball game that was on earlier.
“Who was she tonight?”
He laughed saying, “She was tight. Body was like,” moving his hands in the air to represent her having a big round bootie and nice-size breasts. “Shorty was hot, and she had me on fire.”
“If you keep this up, you're going to be on fire, burning,” I said chuckling.
“If I'm burning, I swear tonight was worth it because homegirl had it going on.”
“I thought you weren't going to cheat on Kea anymore.”
“I wasn't, Derrick, but this chick came on to me. We had a couple of drinks. Then we had some more drinks, and then I took her home.”
“And you just had to tuck her into bed,” I said.
“We never made it that far,” he said reminiscing on the evening. “She started hitting me off. My mic enjoyed the sounds she played with her lips.”
“TMI, Jaquon. TMI.”
“We did it right there on her kitchen table. Shorty had some skills, and she was straightforward with what she wanted. I couldn't deny her.”
“Yes, you could have. You could have walked out that door and took your ass home to Kea.”
“Oh, my baby, Kea.”
“I guess you forgot about her in the midst of you blowing this chick's back out.”
“I did think of her and tried to resist, but, oh, girl was persuasive,” he said.
“Your trifling ways are going to catch up with you.”
“Maybe, but for now, I'm going to enjoy myself.”
“You need to go home to your girl.”
“Where's your girl at?”
“She's taking a shower,” I said.
“Washing off her trick's cum?”
“Man, don't be talking about her like that,” I said with irritation. “Would you like it if I called Kea a trick?”
“You couldn't. Kea is a good girl. Zacariah, well, we know what she's done in the past. I still can't figure out why you took her back,” he said, taking another sip of his drink.
“The fact is we are still together. If you keep doing what you are doing, Kea is going to get smart and leave you,” I said.
“She's not going anywhere,” Jaquon said arrogantly.
“Keep thinking that. Eventually, sweet, innocent Kea is going to retire you and find herself someone to take your position, if you get my drift.”
“No one can fill my position, if you get what
I'm
saying.”
“Funny, but please believe there is always another brother who will work harder at filling Kea up since you never seem to have time to do it yourself.”