“I’m done trusting guys that I haven’t known long,” I said with tears streaming down my face. Hearing that he knew my father, I knew that my dad was getting tired of me ignoring him and wanted to send a message.
“What does my father want?” I asked.
“Open your eyes and see.” He said. I don’t know why I listened, but I did and saw the dead body again. It was a black female, she looked to be about my age or younger. Even though her color was pale and flushed, I could tell that she had beautiful brown skin once upon a time. There were bruises on her face and shoulder. A white sheet was covering the rest of his body. Her hair was black and in braids.
“What kind of message is this?” I asked.
“A personal one.”
“What happened to her?” It was hard to go back to closing my eyes now. I was scared but curious.
“Fell in love with the wrong guy. She experienced abuse from him, that eventually led to her death. Her parents had to come in this morning and identify her.”
“They didn’t know?”
“She went to go live with him when her parents didn’t approve of him. He seemed like the perfect guy until she started living with him. There were little signs that she ignored, like his controls and using love to manipulate her. She was only fourteen, and he was nineteen. They’ve only been together for about two months before her parents found out and forbid their relationship. He was a dropout, didn’t have a real job, but sold drugs to stay afloat. Once she moved in with him at his friend’s house, he used her to sell drugs. Things seemed to be okay until the beatings started. He abused her for a year. While the coroner examined her, he learned that she was pregnant- about three months.”
“Is that why he killed her?”
“We believe that he didn’t even know. We don’t think she even knew.”
“So he just beat her to death?”
“To be honest, we’re not sure what led to her death. We just know that we got a call about a body being found. We picked him up after we found his DNA all over her and found his semen inside of her. He wouldn’t talk, but his friends did. Told us that one day he came back to the crib, angry, took her into their room, and started beating her. After he beat her, he had sex with her, then left. The friend came to check on her and discovered her body. It was too late. The autopsy showed repeated head force trauma, and she had a tumor on her brain that developed before she met him. The constant abuse eventually made the tumor erupt.”
I immediately walked out of the room and found a chair in the hall to sit in. My knee was bouncing like crazy.
“Are you okay?” Haywood asked.
“No,” I said with tears in my eyes.
“I’m sorry I had to show you that, but your dad wanted me to. Her name is Danisha Hall, she was only fifteen years old. Your dad told me that you are only sixteen. I know that you probably think what you have going on back home is nothing serious, but who’s going to be the friend that discovers your body?”
“It’s not that bad. I fight back. I always fight back.” I cried.
“Is that enough, though? What if one day, fighting back doesn’t work. What he decides to pull a gun out or anything that could be used as a weapon. What if you reach your breaking point? What if you pick up something? Who’s going to raise your little girl?” He stated. I never thought about that. I felt like I was doing everything to help my future with my daughter. I was staying in this situation for her. I didn’t plan on staying with Jemar after I had my daughter, but I needed security until then.
∞∞∞
“I can’t go in there. He’s mad and disappointed in me.” I said to Officer Haywood when he pulled up to my dad’s house.
“He wants to see you.” He said as he parked the car and got out. I had no choice but to follow him. I dragged myself out of the car and followed him up the stairs.
Knock-knock
“How are you doing, officer. How can I help you?” My dad said while making eye contact with Officer Haywood like I wasn’t there.
“I believe I have your daughter in my care, and I’m just bringing her home.”
“Daughter? mi raise queens dat cova wid courage an chrent nuh bruises mi tink yuh ave di wrong yaad.” (Daughter? I raise queens that are covered with courage and strength. Not bruises. I think you have the wrong house.) He said. I burst out crying. He was right, he didn’t raise me to become like this.
“Sah shi cova inna mi courage an chrent, unfortunately, shi needs fi be dust off an repolished but shi a waah empress.” (Sir, she is covered in my courage and strength; unfortunately, she needs to be dusted off and repolished, but she is a queen.) Haywood said.
“Hmm, let me see.” My dad said as he finally took a look at me. My head was down, but he took his fingers and lifted my head up. “Shi get mi nose mi guess shi fi mi.” (She got my nose. I guess she’s mine.) He said, and Officer Haywood laughed.
“Tank yuh fi returning har.” (Thank you for returning her.) He said as they shook hands.
“No problem. Anything you need, I’m happy to help. And I have that background report for you.”
“Good. I’ll meet you with you later to get it. Thank you.”
“Anytime. Take care and remember what I said, Bre.” He said as he kissed my forehead. I smiled and watched as he walked back to his car. My dad ushered me inside. I was scared
