Amira, Twan and Imani in MM

C H A P T E R
T H I R T Y - T H R E E

Entering his condo Ahmad sighed taking in this moment. Dropping his bags at the door he looked around the place that had became so foreign to him. Feeling a shove on his leg he looked back to see Marquette trying to push him out the way. Laughing, Ahmad moved to the left letting him enter.

The first place Marquette went to was the couch, shutting and locking the door behind him Ahmad took a seat next to him and just thought back on everything that has happened over the passed few months.

He was finally a free man, all those doubts and worries had finally come to an halt and he was truly blessed. When the judge found him not guilty for the murder getting off the charge with temporary insanity he felt a wave of relief come over his body and he was truly excited when the judge also found him not guilty for the false accusations Melissa made.

She would be going on trail soon for the lies and the breaking and entering charge. His lawyer told him she could be serving up to five years but Ahmad really didn't care. He was just happy he was free at last and back to his regular life.

It had been two weeks since his trial and he was slowly getting back to himself. The investigation about what happened in the prison was still going on but it was a good chance he would be looking at a settlement since a few inmates were coming forward with their own stories about Officer Langston.

He prayed Officer Langston got what he deserved which was prison time, he really didn't care if he got the money or not that would just be a plus he only wanted Justice for himself and the other inmates he mistreated.

And like promised, he was going to see Amira today. It was the last thing he needed to do to become truly happy, which is why Marquette is with him now.

He wanted to stop by his condo to shower and change then meet up with Cal and everybody else at the gravesight but Marquette wanted to tag along with him.

Turning on the tv he changed it to the sprout channel to occupy Marquette's attention while he got ready. Getting up from the couch, he walked towards back bypassing his room and went straight to Amira's room.

Pushing the door open he saw it was just the way he left it. Within the two months she lived with him she had remodeled the whole room painting the walls, hanging lights around the perimeter of it simply made it hers and he was going to keep it that way. Looking at the pictures she had on her dresser of her and her friends he smiled seeing that bright smile of hers that could simply light up a room.

Rubbing his thumb over one of her senior pictures, he smiled. "Shit still doesn't feel real." He mumbled sitting the picture back down.

Going into her closet he pulled her box of memories down from the top that she had since she was a kid looking for a specific picture. Scanning through the box for what felt like hours he finally came across it sighing in relief. Putting the box back where he found it, he walked out closing the door behind him.

Walking into his room, he started tripping out of his clothes. The blinking flash on his iphone caught his attention, grabbing it off his bed he saw it was Cali tryna facetime.

Accepting the call he waited for it to connect before he was met with her beautiful face. "I'm at the flourist shop, you wanted pink and white roses correct?" She asked flipping the camera to show what she was looking at.

"Yeah those are perfect forreal."

Flipping the camera back she smiled. "Okay, I also got the picture frame you wanted and I'm finna get a stand for the flowers then I'll be down."

He nodded, "Thank you, but you know I could've done this myself right?"

"I know but you already have a lot on your mind and I wanted to do this for you."

"Well I appreciate it forreal."

She smiled, then frowned. "Um are you naked?"

Laughing, he entered the bathroom. "Yes, I was about to hop in the shower before you called."

She smirked. "Send a nigga a pic or something."

Busting out laughing he shook his head, "So you just gon' use my own words against me now?"

"Yep, but um I'm finna go and when I check my phone in an hour I better have some pics in my messages."

"You something else but alright, I love you."

"I love you more babe."

Ending the call, he shook his head sitting the phone on the counter then turned on his shower. Grabbing a towel he wrapped it around his waist then left out his room to check on his son. Peeking around the corner he looked to see he had dozed off, chuckling a bit he went back into his room dropping the towel.

Stepping inside his shower, he stood under the shower head letting the hot water cascade down his body with his eyes closed letting the heat of the water relax him.

The sound of knocking on his bathroom door caught his attention, peeking out he saw Marquette standing at the bathroom door. "You okay?"

"I hungry."

Smiling, Ahmad nodded. "Give me a minute and we'll go get McDonald's."

Cheesing he took off running out the bathroom excitedly. Ahmad closed the door the door to his shower shaking his head. He loved that little boy, within' a year and some months Marquette had found his way into Ahmad's heart and all he wanted to do was protect and love him like his own.

After washing his body down in his bottle of dove for men, he stepped out the shower wrapping the towel around his waist then walked out the bathroom to see Marquette sitting on his bedroom floor playing with his action figure. "Having fun?" Ahmad asked grabbing a pair of his boxers then stepping inside his closet to get dressed.

"Yes, you play with me?"

"After we get back, we can play as much as you want." Dropping the towel after drying off, he grabbed a pair of black true religion jeans, an all black polo shirt with the pink horse then slipped on his all black high-top Nike Air Forces.

Stepping out his closet he checked himself out in the mirror, then walked back into the living room to get the new bag of clothes he brought for Marquette.

Sitting the bag on his bed, he pulled out the outfit that was similiar to his then called for Marquette to come here. "Sit ya toy down son, so we can get you fly."

Doing as told, Ahmad stripped him out of his clothes and helped him put on the new ones. Taking a seat on the bed, he lifted him up sitting him on his lap to put his all black Nike Air-Forces on.

When they both were fully dressed, Ahmad grabbed his keys, wallet and the picture from Amira's room then lifted Marquette holding him up as he left out of his condo.

Just as he was leaving out of his condo so was Marcus. Slapping hands with each other they started heading down the stairs together. "Father and son matching, that's too cute." Marcus joked.

"You know how we do man, little man loves to match my fly."

Reaching their cars, Ahmad put Marquette in his carseat then shut the door. Turning around he saw Marcus leaned up against his car so he assumed he wanted to talk. "You good?"

He shrugged. "At this point, I really don't know .. Anaya been acting mad funny lately, I mean her and Alisha got back close but we starting to get distant."

"You talk to her to tell her how you feel."

"Yeah, I came to her about it asking her what was up but all she said was she just been busy with the boutique and helping Alisha branch off but I honestly don't believe her.. I'm getting bad vibes."

Ahmad frowned. Usually when Marcus get those bad vibes usually something happens and Ahmad honestly hoped nothing did. "Just watch her actions, make sure she aint up to no sneak shit."

Marcus sighed and nodded. "Alright, sorry I came to you about this .. I know you got a lot on yo mind at the moment."

Slapping hands Ahman brung him in for a hug. "You already know whenever you need to talk I'm here."

"Yeah I know but I'll meet y'all at the gravesight."

"Alright, you might beat me there gotta get my boy some food.. but ma' and pops gon' be there."

"Ight bet, see you there."

Getting inside their cars they both pulled off going opposite directions. While driving Ahmad looked in the rearview mirror to see Marquette looking out the window. Smiling he began to picture Amira when she was his age.

Even though he hated to think about her being gone for good, he knew it was time to accept it and move on from it.

Pulling up to the gravesight he saw everybody was already there. Getting out his car he grabbed Marquette out his carseat and the bag of food he brought along with the picture he needed.

Walking towards where everyone was, he greeted everybody giving them brief hugs and kisses. Everybody had already been to Amira's gravesight except Ahmad and they all wanted to be there for him at this moment.

"You good son?" Aaron asked patting his back and Ahmad nodded slowly.

"Yeah, I'm ready to see it."

Cali and Ashley moved from in front of her gravesight letting him see it. Handing Marquette off to his dad along with the food, he walked over to it bending down on one knee.

Tracing his finger over the toombstone, he felt his eyes began to burn. "Sometimes .. I be thinking this is a joke or a dream that one day you're gonna come back but sadly I know that'll never happen but I wish it could." He mumbled. "I know you're up there mad as hell at me for not attending your funeral and I apologize it was just at the time I was in a bad place but I swear I miss you baby girl more than anything. This was suppose to be your year to shine but I guess God felt you needed to shine some light up in heaven."

Wiping his eyes, everybody stood back and watched with tears in their eyes as well. "But your life didn't end that night .. you gon' continue to live through me, everything I do is for you, and I know if you could see me and how much I have changed I know your fast ass tale would be truly happy. You ain't deserve to go out the way you did but like they say everything happens for a reason, so I have to try and figure the meaning of this. You were such a beautiful person inside and out so I gotta say God lucky he got you as an Angel up there cause you were the Angel of our lives.. yeah it hurts to live knowing you aren't here but I'm doing my best for the most part.. continue to watch over us babygirl .. love you forever and always baby sis."

Reaching for the flowers and picture frame. He sat the flowers all around her grave then placed the picture of him, his mama, daddy, Amir and Amira all as kids next to it. Ashley smiled at the gesture as she leaned more into Aaron.

Standing up he dusted off his jeans then turned towards Cali embracing her into a hug as he cried silently. He tried being strong but he knew it was going to be hard.

Sobbing into her shoulder everyone looked down crying themselves. Requesting to be put down, Marquette walked over to Ahmad tugging on his pants leg. Pulling away from Cali he looked down and smiled weakly lifting his baby up.

Craddling him in his arms, he wrapped both arms around Marquette as he continued to let his emotions flow. "I love you so much," He mumbled as he rocked back and forth.

All going in for a group hug everyone surrounded Ahmad and Marquette. Ahmad knew he was going to be okay, he had a lot to live for that could get his mind off this.

Closing his eyes he was slowly letting go of everything that has happened. He thought back to every bad situation and one by one let it go mentally feeling the weight of it lift off his shoulders.

Kissing Marquette's forhead, he looked at everybody who he had on his support team truly grateful for it all. From this moment on he knew it was gon' be nothing but happiness, he was expecting a baby which he hoped was a girl and had a soon to be wife that loved him like no other and gained a son who he loved unconditionally.

When they all pulled apart, Aaron grabbed the lanterns passing one to everybody. But before they would let em go, everybody had to say something they wanted Amira to know.

When everybody had one, Aaron cleared his throat to go first. "My sweet baby girl, my Amira." He smiled. "From the moment you were born to the moment I held you in my arms I knew you would be something special. You were my only girl and you added a lot of sass and sweetness to the household. It's hard living knowing I had to bury you before you laid me or your mother down but I know you're watching over us .. I love you so much baby, you'll forever be daddy's little black princess just continue to shine and slay like Beyonce up there in Heaven as you would say." He chuckled causing them to do the same.

Kissing his wife, Ashley smiled. "Amira, my lovely precious Amira .. you were a true character in the household always made us forget the hardships with your positive attitude and smile. You touched a lot of hearts and meant so much to me. You were mama's twin, always was my little shoulder to cry on even when you didn't know what was going on you were always there. I love you very much baby girl, you will be missed and never forgotten."

Amir cleared his throat as he looked up at the sky. "I was a horrible brother towards you, I wish I could go back and make shit right because I hate you had to leave this earth not knowing if I actually cared or loved you. I promise as your big brother I love you more than anything. I'm sorry I was never there like I should have been, I'm sorry for always letting you down with false promises. Everyday I hate the way things were between us but know that you were the light of my life and still is. I love you Amira, please forgive me up there and continue to make thise Angel's up there in Heaven smile and laugh like you did with us."

Hugging his brother, Ahamd gave him a few encouraging words about letting go of that regret and hurt then pulled away to give his speech. "You were my mini me, I know I was mean to you sometimes but at the end of the day you knew I always had ya back. When one saw you, I was never too far behind and vice versa. I'd give my last breath if that meant you could come back, you barely got to experience life but thats alright you breath and live through all of us even through my unborn child. I'ma keep this short and simple since I just spoke but I love you Amira always will and you will forever be in my heart."

Pulling Cali into him, he held Marquette who head was laid on his shoulder holding onto his lantern as well. Rubbing his hand down his face Marcus sighed. "I lost alot of things in my life but losing you was something I never thought would happen. When I heard the news I honestly thought it was a joke because someone like you just didn't deserve to die so young. You weren't my blood sister but I loved and cared for you as if you were. Just like I did when I lost my parents, I'm gon' continue to live and do everything for you guys. Love you Amira, tell my folks I said what's good and continue to watch over us all."

Lighting the lanterns one by one they let em go as they watched em float high into the sky. When Ahmad looked down to see Marquette didn't let go of his, he chuckled. "You gotta let it go into the sky son."

Nodding his head, he kissed the top of the lantern before letting it go out of his small hands. Wrapping his arm around Cali he kissed her forehead then his sons smiling as they stared up at the sky. "You will be truly missed babygirl." He mumbled.

        Getting out his car, he adjusted his pants and snapback he had on his head as he approached the car. When he saw Imani and Ahmad, he gave them both hugs as they all stood outside. "How ya'll been holding up?" Ahmad asked breaking the silence.

They both shrugged. "It still feels unreal at times but I'm doing okay for the most part." Imani spoke up.

After she broke up with Leon since he admitted to having feelings for Amira, Imani distanced herself from everyone and grieved on her own. She stayed close with Twan but everyone else was like a stranger to her.

She was hurt from everything and she expected her boyfriend to be there but once they cut ties he was done and so was she.

"I'm still not over it, because I feel its partially my fault it happened in the first place. It should've been me that died not her or our baby." He mumbled coldly.

Since the incident Twan was very broken inside. He felt so guilty and bad that he was part of the reason his girl was no longer here. He continued living but he wasn't happy and honestly didn't think he ever would be again.

He was sure he would move on and probably date again but Amira was going to forever have his heart no matter what. "Don't blame yourself man, that's no way to live .. what happened was something you had no control over, I don't blame you for what happened, I have no hate or anything towards you so you shouldn't have that feeling towards yourself."

"Yeah but at the end of the day if I would've never joined that gang and started beefing with those guys all this could've been prevented."

Imani sighed, "No, it was my fault, I pressured her into going to the party and I suggested she sneak out .. she only went because she knew Twan was going. I threw that bug in her ear to get her to go but I didn't know that was going to happen."

"Exactly y'all didn't know shit was going to escalate the way it did. I hate to say this but Amira and the shooters are at fault. She lied to me, she lied about where she was .. if she would've stayed home and listened to me when I said don't go no where she would still be here. I love my babygirl more than anything on this planet but all of this heartbreak and shit could have been avoided if she would have obeyed me. I was in y'all shoes blaming myself but then I had to realize there was really nothing I could have done to prevent it and that goes for y'all too."

They nodded, even though he had a valid point they still felt bad. Opening his arms he motioned for them to come in for a hug. "Look at this as a lesson, be careful what you guys do .. be smart about your actions .. y'all are still young only eighteen years old, fuck that gang shit, fuck that partying shit .. got all y'all lives to do whatever don't waste it. Go to college, get a career rise above do what my babygirl never got a chance to do and that would make me happy. Don't let this stop y'all, we all know Amira wouldn't want us to stop living our lives so do that for her."

Looking towards Twan, he smiled. "I know you lost more than Imani but live for Amira and your unborn child. Grind for them alright? And if y'all need anything I got y'all, you two were very important people to my sister so I'ma always make sure y'all good."

They nodded. "Thanks Ahmad."

"You're welcome, but here.." Reaching inside his truck window he grabbed two bags. "I'm sure, you guys want things to remember baby girl by .. its pictures of you guys and other valuables that I was sure you guys wanted."

Taking the bags from him they smiled thanking him. "But I gotta go, don't hesitate to use my number .. whatever it is I'm there alright? Twan, if you in trouble or in some shit pick up that phone and call me okay? Same with you Mani."

Slapping hands with Twan and giving Imani a hug he watched them walk to their cars. Getting inside his he waited until they pulled off before he left.

Ahmad was truly proud of himself and how far he as come along. As he drove down the busy streets of Houston he thought about the very last thing he needed to do which was propose to his babygirl then everything would be great and his life could go on.

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No more sad chapters guys, all joyful ones for now on but of course the drama doesn't end 😂
Thanks for the love & support
- Denise 💋