All You Need Is Love

Chapter 18

                                                                            (Jacari)

"What's up Ma." I say as I sit down beside her grave.

If she was still living she would've been 36 today.

I stare down at her picture and the old roses I had put there the last time I came.

I remove the old roses and put new ones down.

My mom was so beautiful just like Desire.

I still think it's crazy how their birthdays are on the same day.

Maybe it's faith or something.

I really wanted Desire to come but she had some other stuff to do.

But I guess it's better if I'm alone out here anyway.

"s**t's still crazy but I finally met someone other than you that gives a damn about me." I say to my mom.

Even though she's not here I still feel like she's somewhere listening.

"Her name is Desire. She's the best thing that has happened to me lately." I say.

"Aye man let me hold something." someone says out of nowhere.

I look up at this dude.

He's one of my regular customers.

Why in the hell is he approaching me at a cemetery?

I'm not on the block yet.

I have a little work on me right now but not much.

But I'm not about to sell this man s**t at my mom's grave that's disrespectful as f**k.

"You are not to approach me if I'm not on the block." I say to dude without even getting up.

I expect him to leave now.

What more can be said?

"f**k all that. Just sell me something." the dude says and this time I get up because I feel like he's being mad disrespectful.

Before I can say anything to him he pulls out a gun and aims it at my chest.

I put my hands up.

I'm not really scared because we all got to go some day and some way.

I'm more like shocked.

I can't believe this man is really trying me.

I don't have my strap on me right now because I felt like bringing that to my mom's grave wouldn't be right.

That was a stupid ass move.

"Give me all the money you got" the man says.

"I don't have shit." I say which is true.

I haven't sold anything today and I left my other money at home.

He c***s the gun.

"Nigga i'm not playing with you. Give me all the money or die here" he says.

"I don't have s**t. Do what you have to do." I say.

"Okay"

He pulls the trigger.

I feel a powerful pain shoot through my chest.

Then another in my leg.

Then my arm.

I know I'm dying because my life starts flashing before my eyes.

I see my dad...My mom... My grandma...... Then Desire.

Then everything goes black.

(Desire)

After the Clinic i'm drained mentally , physically and emotionally.

I can't believe I just did that.

I get on the bus and take it straight to Jacari's house.

I think he should be back from his mom's grave by now.

I knock on the door.

No answer.

I knock again.

No answer.

He's probably still gone or doing something that's keeping him from answering the door.

I decide to use the key he gave me and go in.

It was among one of the Christmas presents.

"JACARI!" I yell as I enter the house.

Then my phone starts ringing.

I look down at it it's Jacari.

"Where are you Jacari?" I ask.

"This ain't Jacari. It's Que" a male says.

Que and I have never really had a conversation but I know he's Jacari's best friend.

Why is he calling me from Jacari's phone though?

"Oh hey Que. Where's Jacari?" I ask.

"So you don't know yet?" He asks.

I start to get a little worried because of the tone of his voice.

"Know what?" I ask.

"Jay was shot. I'm at the hospital with him. How fast can you get here?"

I really didn't hear much after the Jacari got shot part.

I'm pretty much frozen right now.

I don't know what it feels to get hit by a bus, or stab, or shot but this how it must feel like.

"Desire you there?" Que asks.

I can't find my voice.

I can't talk.

My eyes are blinded by the big heavy tears that start falling.

I slowly sink to the floor.

"Where you at? If you need me to I'll come get you." He says.

I try to get myself together enough to reply.

I gotta be strong for Jacari.

He needs me right now more than ever.

"I-I-I'm at his house. But you don't have to come and get me. I'll catch the bus somebody gotta be there in case something changes." I say.

I fight the urge to flat out start bawling.

"You sure?" He asks.

"Yes" I say then he hangs up the phone.

I get up off the floor and run out to catch the next bus.