Let Me tell you a Story

I am

All I could do was shake my head at the scene that had just unfolded in front of me.

I obviously bought a house in the ghetto cause how the f**k do I manage to just move in and every day there was something new. A few days ago I caught a few young boys selling drugs right on the corner. The day before that it was a group of young girls fighting. Now today? I don't know what or rather where I actually moved to.

Today was a real-life ghetto show maybe I should appreciate it since I haven't seen one or anything in a while.

I brushed it off like everyone else and I closed my blinds before I went on to count my money.

It had been a while since I had done so. It wasn't like I was just spending but I had moved 3 times in the last 6 months. During that time I had gotten an apartment twice but this was my first house and it was so far from LA that I was sure I was safe. That entire time I didn't work so it covered my rent, food, and all small purchases.

As I sat in the living room I pulled out the single business card I assumed MJ had left for me.

I still don't understand why he did it or how he knew I would be able to make it but I did and it was all thanks to him.

I "fell" off that cliff after the gunshots were fired and swam for hours. By the time I made it to shore, I didn't know where to go. The first thing I did was buy new clothes and got a hotel room.

I had wanted a new life, my own life so badly that now I had it I didn't know what to do.

After months of paranoia and moving around, I settled down here. I finally called the number on the card and he asked me what I needed. I already had a fake passport but as a back up I created a whole new name and with that, I needed a few other things to be able to start over.

Crazy how I wanted to leave everything behind and as I sat there I couldn't help but think of my unborn daughter.

I wonder what she would have looked like and how it would have felt to hold her. After all, I felt her inside of me but even so, all these thoughts plagued me. Mostly guilt while sitting here now I let the tears fall and I wondered if Paige had the right idea.

As much as I wanted to die, as much as I didn't want my baby before I knew she was there. It was weird now that she was gone. That we weren't one. My body held no reminders that she was there. my hips were wider and my chest a bit bigger but my baby was gone.

The thoughts of wanting her to still be here often ran through my mind.

"Fuck." I jumped.

I quickly turned to another knock at my door.

My heart was racing as I wiped my face from the tears that were falling as I turned to the front door.

I had just started self-defense classes since moving here but I was in no way in shape or form ready to fight. The best fight I had ever been in was a girl fight, well outside of my husband who beat me. I knew if it was someone who was looking for me I wouldn't survive.

Me getting away scott-free.

There had to be a catch right?

I still strode to my door as I felt the need to find out if I was really being followed.

I glanced at the gun I had hidden on the table by the door.

"What if it's just a package?" I asked myself trembling as I reached for the doorknob.

"Hello?" I heard a man's voice and immediately panicked.

"It's yo neighbor." I heard and looked out my peephole.

The same man I could have sworn just pulled off was standing at my door.

"Uhm hey." I answered as if I was busy.

Busy looking a mess really.

"Yo mail came to me, Ava? Ava Green?" He said and I quickly grabbed it.

I was sure it was my new ID.

"Sorry mail from my cousin I been waitin on." I said and he smiled.

"Thank you." I said finally calming down.

"No problem Ava. I'm Key." He said extending his hand.

The woman who sat in the driver's seat looked at me as she kept glancing up from her phone.

"Thanks again." I said shutting my door and he stopped me.

"It's nice to meet you." He said with a smirk.

I nodded.

I would have rolled my eyes but instead, I nodded and thanked him again before shutting my door.

"Men." I laughed seeing right threw him.

I heard the car door shut as I debated on sitting back and accepting my depression.

"Ava." I said out loud.

I liked the name. I went by the fake name I used to give guys on campus. It wasn't as if it was unique but it would fit me.

Ironically it was the same name I had given Seven the night we first met.

That didn't matter now I was on to a new life as I waited for my fake degree and training certificate to come next. Until then I figured a part-time job should hold me over. Anything that could get me back to the real world.

I opened the piece of mail and looked at me on the ID photo.

I actually looked like myself.

I mean my face was fuller. I wasn't big but I wasn't as small but not as nearly as frail as I had been the last two years. This was me at 25 and really it wasn't how envisioned it. I used to think it would be something else but I was here.

Today was actually my birthday.

That was something I kept the same.

It was the only thing I felt that I could keep since I felt stripped of everything else.

"Happy Birthday." I smirked at the license, a gift to myself.

I guess you can say this was a good birthday.

My 21st birthday was the last descent party I had.

I remembered my sister's face and my brother's. My mother was so busy she was late but I was grateful she was. That was still during the time when Seven loved me, or so I thought. That night I came home to my apartment full of gifts and flowers. I thought then he loved me but really he bought me and that's all there was to it.

I thought I would be done crying but I wasn't as my mind kept going to the last last 8 months of my life being in shambles.

I can't help but question why I even fought so hard.

For Seven.

For my life.

As 'Ava' looked back at me I wondered if she truly deserved a life.

I logged into my fake f*******: and noticed my siblings were still looking for me.

Lauren "Goody two shoes" was "missing".

I'm sure my mother-in-law told them some lie at the request of Matthew. My mother likely accepted it especially since I kicked her out the last time I saw her. As I searched on social media I went to my page.

Looking at 'Lauren' smiling holding Seven's face.

"What the f**k?" I said lowly as I jumped.

There was another knock at my door.

As I slowly crept towards the door I looked through the peephole to see an unfamiliar face.

Well, I had seen him before but I wasn't sure exactly where.

"Who is it?" I asked.

"Casanova." His deep voice replied.

I opened the door and immediately couldn't help but stare. He was a little on the light side but he was cute. He had to be 6 ft at least with a low cut and a straight white smile. Although he was fine and looked nothing like him deep down something about him reminded me of Seven and it rubbed me the wrong way.

"Can I help you?" I asked.

I wasn't exactly sure what it was about the men in my neighborhood but damn they were too friendly.

"Oh my bad. I just moved in." He pointed to the house a few houses away.

There was a moving truck that I noticed earlier.

"Oh sorry." I apologized somewhat embarrassed.

"I was just gettin a feel for the neighborhood." He laughed and his smile caught me.

"Yea I jus moved in a few weeks ago myself. Gentrification is a few blocks over." I joked and he nodded, the joke apparently didn't land as I noticed him looking at the other houses around me.

Normally I would know my neighbors but since moving in I had kept to myself.

"Yea, I don't really know anyone." I admitted and he nodded before he turned and looked back at me.

It was as if he actually saw me as he looked into my eyes.

"Oh okay, you know where to find some gas?" He asked and I looked confused.

Not what I expected at all.

"My bad you don't smoke?" He asked seeing the look on my face and I shook my head.

"It was nice meetin you." I gave a forced smile pressing my lips together.

I never really was into men who smoked.

It was one of Seven's secrets but not a secret as I scoffed.

"Damn, my bad." He said looking at me.

"It's fine. no, I don't smoke but I'm sure those young men that way can help you Casanova." I pointed to some young group of young men who stayed on the corner.

One of them was always with Key I noticed.

"Sorry, errybody call me Cas." He extended his hand.

For the second time today, a man came knocking on my door, I answered it and even shook a hand.

Something I would never dare to do with Seven around.

"La- Ava." I said almost catching myself up as he laughed.

"La Ava?" He shook my hand with a smile.

it was hard not to see him flirting with me but his vibe was different.

"Ava, just Ava. Sorry force of habit-" I started.

"It coo shawty you ain't gotta give me no fake name." He chuckled.

"I'm serious." I said and a smile finally appeared since I couldn't help but chuckle and his smile was even bigger.

He was without a doubt handsome.

"Well it's nice to meet you Ava and I'll see you around." He walked off.

I shut my door but noticed him glancing back with a smile.

"Where did he come from?" I wondered.