Dahlia

Beat Down

Dahlia was sitting at the kitchen table eating breakfast with Kal before she headed out to work. “Definitely next weekend.” Dahlia said. “Are you sure you can get off?” “Absolutely.” Kal said. “And Buckey?” “He’s ready.” “Dahlia danced in her chair. “It will mean so much to me having you here for my graduation.” “I told Linda but she wasn’t interested.” Kal flinched. “I’m sorry Dee.” She reached for Dahlia's hand. Dahlia found Kal’s hand and squeezed it. “It’s nothin.” Dahlia said. “I never actually expected her to show up.” “She’s always been busy sleeping with someone else’s man.” Dahlia sighed but there was no pain. She knew from the beginning the type of person her mother was, so she already knew what time it was. “And don’t worry.” Dahlia said. “I didn’t tell Linda anything about you being here, so Rose doesn’t know.” Kal scoffed. “She probably didn’t even ask.” “She actually did.” Dahlia rolled her eyes. “But Linda told me that Rose said if I had talked to you to tell you to get your ass home.” Kal laughed bitterly. “Probably to tell me that she needs me to clean the house, cook for my sister and wash asshat’s clothes.” “f**k em.” Dahlia said as the two of them burst into a long fit of giggling.

We are happy you guys chose us at the witnesses.” “I mean, who else would we choose?” Dahlia said. “I only have two friends in the world.” “You and Tania are all I have.” “You both would have been my maids of honor anyway, so I figured you both would be witnesses at our wedding too.” The two cousins chatted excitedly about Dahlia and Cortez’s wedding. “I love that you decided to just go for it.” Kal said. “Even though you have never done anything without planning, you two deserve the happiness.” “Things have been a little crazy over the last few months.” “Did you already apply for the marriage license?” “I did it online yesterday and I got the email that it is ready to print out.” Dahlia said. “There is a color printer in the library so I am going to go print it out before my graduation meeting.”  “So, what time is your first class today?” Kal asked her. “Oh, it starts at 12:00 PM.” “All I have to do is take one last exam and I am finished!”  “I have a short break after that and then I have the graduation meeting at 3:00 PM.” “It’s the last week this week and I am so excited.” “I am so ready for a break.” “I can’t believe that I am on the verge of graduating “That’s exciting!” Kal said. “So, will one of the places you interned at last year hire you when you graduate?” “Ah, it's no guarantee but a possibility.” “I certainly hope so.” “I am excited!” The last week of school was always stressful and a little bit exciting but for Dahlia even more so because it was leading up to her graduation.

 This was a school day for Cortez, meaning that he was off work but had a few classes so he was already at school. It was always the most difficult time of the school year for Dahlia because the weather was so gorgeous and Dahlia would rather be outside than cooped up in a classroom. She had one more final and she was finished with undergrad!. Kal looked at her phone and said “I’d better get going.” “Who knows that the bus ride into the city is going to look like today.” “Kay.” Dahlia said brightly. “See you later.” “Maybe we can get the guys to go to Central Park this evening.” “I kinda want to go to the zoo.” Kal smiled. “That would be fun!” “I’ve never been to the Central Park Zoo.” “I’m looking forward to it.” She grabbed her purse and walked out the door. Dahlia cleared the breakfast plates and did the dishes, then she went to shower and get ready for school.” It was really warm today so Dahlia decided to wear a simple pair of ripped skinny jeans, a black tank top and her black, white and red Retro Air Jordan 11’s. It was too hot for her hair to be down so she decided to wear two french braids in her hair. After she was dressed she grabbed her water bottle, backpack and keys and left the house.” She went to her first class and completed her final a little bit over halfway through the class. As she was walking out of the class she received a text from Cortez asking if she wanted to meet up for lunch. She replied for Cortez to meet her at the chill spot so they could eat together. Dahlia spotted Cortez sitting at a table with both of their foods sitting there with him. “Hi baby.” Dahlia said kissing his cheek.” “Hey mi amor.” “How was your class baby?” Dahlia asked. “Glad it's over.” Cortez smiled. “The final was easy but I am especially happy to not have to go back to that professor.” “But I’m happy that I am done for the semester.” “How was your last class ever as an undergrad baby?” Cortez said with a huge smile. Dahlia smiled big. “It was amazing.” “I feel so accomplished!” 

 “After we eat lunch I am going to meet up with Johnny.” “He said he wanted to talk to me about what happened at the cookout on Saturday.” “Ok,” Dahlia said. “I know that it was bothering you and I am glad you are at least trying to resolve that situation.” “I still don’t trust him or like him but if it’s important to you then I’m down for it.”  The two of them sat and talked holding hands. Cortez was asking if she was excited for her graduation meeting and if she was going to sign up to go to graduate school right away. When Dahlia was with Cortez it seemed like the whole world disappeared. She would get lost in his eyes when he spoke, and today was no different. She was so engrossed in the conversation that she didn’t realize how late it was getting. She just happened to glance down at her watch and she gasped. “Oh s**t!” Dahlia said. “I have to print out the marriage license.” “I gotta go baby.” She kissed him. “I’ll see you at home babe.” “By the way, Kal and I want to go to the zoo when you get off.” “Love you!” She said giggling before Cortez could get another word. Dahlia quickly headed to the library and printed off the marriage certificate. She put her airpods in and prepared to head back towards the auditorium where the graduation meeting would be. On her way back to class she read over her marriage certificate and smiled. She was listening to “Why Don’t We Fall In Love?” By Amerie, which was a song that always reminded her of the beginning of summer. The butterflies in her stomach were fluttering around in anticipation of this last final being over and a whole summer to enjoy herself as a married woman. 

She was daydreaming about being Mrs. Dahlia Flores as she bopped along, reading the document and checking for errors. She didn’t notice the three girls watching her from behind a cluster of trees. They were clearly waiting for her to come out of the library. When she did they gave her a 30 second head start before they started following behind her . They were dressed in all black from head to toe which should have been suspicious given that it was so warm outside. As they got closer to Dahlia, they pulled down their sunglasses and surgical masks. She didn’t hear when one of them called out “Hey b***h!” She was oblivious to the three people behind her and by the time Dahlia noticed anything she felt someone grab her shoulder. They turned her around forcefully and her face was met with a fist to her jaw. Before she could recover the three girls were on her. She curled up into a ball to try to protect herself while she was being stomped and kicked. Someone who was walking by pulled their phone out to record but did not make any attempt to help Dahlia. 

A few other people gathered around, concerned but not enough to intervene. The three girls were relentless. They didn’t let up long enough for her to do anything other than lie there and take the beating. Dahlia’s airpod fell out of her ear after a stomp to her shoulder. She heard a girl say “You not so tough now b***h huh?”  One of them ripped her marriage certificate out of her hand. “f**k this shit.” The girl said and tore it into pieces. After a few more kicks and stomps a bystander coming out of the library decided to come and help Dahlia. When the attackers saw them coming they ran away but not before one of them spit on her and tossed the shreds of her marriage certificate on top of her. A young lady knelt beside Dahlia. “Hey, miss?” “Are you ok?” “Is there anyone I can call?”Dahlia barely heard the person who was talking to her. It sounded like the lady was talking to her from the middle of the East River. Her head was ringing and her vision was blurred. She was vaguely aware of some other people coming near her when she heard a familiar voice but couldn’t place it. “It almost sounded like someone was calling her name. After what seemed like hours of dizziness, she blacked out.