guess she was here to start trouble.
I walked back to the door and unlocked it. “What is it you want? Your son is not here.” I looked at her with my left hand akimbo and my right hand in my pocket, holding my mace.
“I’m here to see your ass, bitch. You know damn well where my son is at, and you’re playing stupid.” She pushed me out of the way with her big ass and entered my home.
“You can’t come up in my shit. Like I said, you fat bitch, your motherfucking son is not here.” I balled my fist up and struck her in the face without thinking.
I waited all my life to get this bitch. I will never forget how she disrespected me.
Whap! Whap!
That bitch slapped me a few times, knocking me off balance. I stumbled a little but maintained my balance. I used all my strength, leaped toward that bitch, and pushed her ass down. As soon as her big ass hit the ground, I jumped on top of her and started punching her in the face nonstop.
“Bitch, don’t you ever come up in my shit and disrespect me,” I yelled as I punched her in the face.
“Fuck you, you stupid-ass ho.” She hawked up a bunch of phlegm and spat it in my face. Then she grabbed my hair and started pulling it. I was starting to lose because this human gorilla was using her weight against me. I knew that I couldn’t let her hold me too long. I reached into my pocket and grabbed my mace as I sank my teeth into that bitch’s arm so she would let go of my hair.
“Aargh, aargh, you dirty bitch. You bit me,” she screamed out in agony.
She loosened her grip on my hair, and I pulled away, then sprayed the mace into her eyes.
“Aargh, aargh, you bitch. I’m going to beat the brakes off you,” this pig-looking bitch said.
I didn’t let up any. I emptied the remains of the can in her face, all while blocking out the horrible sounds of a gorilla screaming bloody murder.
“You see, bitch, you should’ve killed that bastard when you was pregnant. If you did, I wouldn’t have to deal with his bastard ass. Now, get your ass up out of my shit before I throw you out.”
“Fuck you. I told my son you wasn’t shit. All you are is an uppity-ass ho.”
“Yea, well, it takes one ho to know another ho. You and your family are nothing but parasites. Bitch, you need to thank me, because, without me, y’all would be eating Ramen noodles seven days a week. Now, get your dirty, stanking ass out of my shit before I get yo’ ass locked up,” I said as I grabbed her arm.
I used all my might to push her fat ass out the door. The bitch barely resisted. She was too busy trying to wipe the mace out of her eyes and nose. As soon as I got her out the door, I slammed it shut and leaned against it. My nose and eyes were also burning. I didn’t hesitate, though. I walked to the downstairs bathroom and thoroughly washed my face.
After that, I walked over to my window and peeped outside. The bitch’s car was gone. I was tired, and my head hurt from that bitch pulling my hair. I flopped down on the couch. I was too old for this shit, but I knew trouble had a way of showing up on my steps. I was tired of all these bitches and this bitch-ass nigga trying me. Never in my life had I ever had to act like a fucking animal until I married this bum. When will it end? I thought.
Chapter Three
Imani Gibson
I had mixed feelings when I learned that they locked up Hassan. I was angry that he beat me up, but I didn’t want him in jail. I mean, what the hell was I going to do without him? Tears welled up in my eyes as the thought of loneliness kicked in. Not only did I lose my baby, now I knew for sure that he wouldn’t mess with me anymore, not after all this. Tears flowed from my eyes as I closed them. I had no idea why my life had to be so hard. All I ever wanted was to be loved, and I thought Hassan was going to be the man that loved me. I was so wrong. All I’ve been getting lately from him was pain.
* * *
I was finally discharged from the hospital. My cousin came through to pick me up. We grew up together but split up once we got older. I had no one else to call when I got admitted to the hospital.
“Hey, chica, you ready?” she quizzed.
“Yea, let’s go.” I sat in the passenger side of her Chevy Impala.
The sun was beaming down, and it made my eyes hurt a little. I was still in pain from the beating I took. The doctor prescribed Percocet for the pain. I wondered what I should use for my mental pain.
“Girl, did you hear what happened to Corey?”
“What Corey?”
“Corey, from Edenwald. The one you was cool with.”
Oh Lord, here we go with this shit. What the hell that fool done got himself into? I thought.
“Nah, you know I been in here. What happened?”
“Nah, this happened before you went to the hospital. Some dude walked up on him and shot him multiple times.”
I stared at her trying to see if she was playing.
“Are you serious?” I asked in shock.
I knew I didn’t fuck with him, and I wished he’d just disappear for good, but that’s still my baby daddy. This news was very disturbing.
“I’m dead-ass serious. Yo’ ass don’t watch the news? It was all over NBC and TV One a week and a half ago. They said he was in critical condition.”
This shit just never ended. I knew Josiah wasn’t done with all his questioning. I had no idea what I would tell him if Corey didn’t make it.
“Do they know who shot him?”
“Hell no, bitch. Let me find out y’all had something going on. You look like you ’bout to cry.”
I wished this bitch would shut up. I knew she had no idea that Corey and I fucked around and that he was Josiah’s father. There was no way I was going to put my business out there like that.
“Nah, we were friends. I’m just shocked to hear this. I wonder if Hassan heard about this.”
“What the fuck you worried about that bitch-ass nigga for? Look how he beat you up. Josiah told me everything. I’m happy you got his ass locked up ’cause he ain’t no man. He’s a pussy, and you need to leave his ass alone,” she yelled.
“I’m grown. I know what I need to do,” I snapped.
“Girl, bye. You getting upset over a nigga that takes you for a punching bag. You need help,” she said sarcastically.
“You know what? Just drop it. It’s my fucking life, and if I choose to stay with him, then I’ll do just that.”
That was the end of the conversation for me. It was taking everything in me not to jump on this bitch while she was driving. Who the fuck did she think she was talking to? It was my pussy, and I’d do whatever the fuck I wanted to do with it. I remained quiet for the rest of the ride. As soon as she pulled up, I got out of the car.
“Do you need me to come in with you?”
“Hell no, bitch. I don’t ever want to see yo’ ass again,” I said as I walked off.
“You know what, Imani? Grow the fuck up,” she yelled as she pulled off.
I stuck my middle finger up, walked up the stairs, and opened the door. I was happy to be home. I hoped Josiah wasn’t home, because I’d had enough of everyone’s opinion of my fucking life. Can a bitch just live? I thought.
* * *
The first thing I checked was the camcorder that was in my room. It was still in place. I locked my door, sat on the bed, and started watching it. Everything was on there, from Hassan professing his love, to him fucking me, and also him beating