Excuse mistakes. I did not proofread.

Rain

I can't believe the school let out so early. I was hoping for a few more hours away from home but the fight got worse. 

I dragged my feet as I shuffled my way down the street, Chris was not too far behind trying to catch up to me. He had stopped to speak to someone earlier and since it wasn't my business, I kept walking resulting the distance.

" Hey, What I say about you walking by yourself?" Chris asked. His tone was different than before. His mood was laced with irritation as he stopped me from walking further.

" To not to." I spoke softly. His behavior caught me by surprise. In the short week and a half I've known him, he always spoke with even tones and never raised his voice at me. "I'm sorry." 

Chris slouched as his face soften. " No, I'm sorry. It's just  I looked up and saw you were gone...today has got me on edge." 

He blew out a breath and offered to take my bag from me. I reluctantly let him as I tried to keep my emotions at bay. It's sad to say that this little moment hurt my feelings. 

We walked together in silence. I played with my hands while I followed him. Every so often when someone would walk by us, he would move me out of their way. I learned quickly I wasn't allowed to walk near incoming traffic as he kept moving me away from it. When ever we had to cross a street he guided me protectively across. It wasn't long before we reached his Grandfather's corner store. 

" You want to hangout? I can make you some food?" He asked. " My apartment is upstairs." 

I involuntarily sniffled as I thought about it. I didn't want to go home, but I also didn't want to bother Chris. I already knew if Uncle Tom found out I wouldn't hear the end of it. Instead of protesting, I subconsciously followed Chris as I quietly cried. 

When we made it upstairs, there was two apartment doors. Chris went to the door on the right and unlocked it.

" Are you crying?" Chris asked, concerned. He placed our things down on the hardwood floor and came to me to get a better look at my wet face. I didn't say anything as I nervously looked around the small studio apartment. A small kitchen was off to left and his room was off to the right with a curtain separating it from the living room that was in the middle. Surprisingly, his small apartment was kept up nicely with only a couple dishes on the small coffee table and a few shirts laying carelessly on the couch. Everything else was spotless.

" What's wrong?" He asked as he wiped my tears with the back of his hand. I'm surprised that I didn't flinch at his touch instead I nervously allowed him to comfort me. 

"I'm sorry.. I .. I..I'll take you home." He went to grab my stuff, but I stopped him. 

" I don't like it when you get upset with me." I said honestly. " I won't walk ahead of you anymore I promise."

Chris eyebrows furrowed in confusion which caused me to look down at my feet. 

" I wasn't upset, Rain. I just wanted to make sure you were safe. I didn't mean to make you cry. Come sit.." He gestured for me to sit on the couch with him.

" You have become a friend that I care about. Ever since I laid eyes on you, I had this overwhelming sense of wanting to get to know you. From what you allowed me to see only made me want to protect you even more. I truly am sorry for snapping on you." 

As I listened to Chris explain himself, I realize why Uncle Tom doesn't want me around him. He must could have sensed that Chris would care enough to be there for me. If I called on him, he would be there in a heartbeat. However the gun that was wedge in his waistband couldn't protect me from Uncle Tom. 

Katy

I dragged my feet across the brick pavement to my house with groceries and my work bags in tow. Saying today was a long day was an understatement. It was stressful day. I worrisome day if you will. Some of my students got caught up in the fight that happened earlier that morning. My worry for them stretch far maybe further than most. The school ended up closing early due to the high traffic of gang violence in the area. The police couldn't differentiate between students and gang members, so putting the school on lockdown seemed like the only option. 

After a couple of hours of being on Lockdown, the principal decided to send everyone home. I of course stayed behind, to make sure my students left the premises safely then locked myself in my classroom to go over lesson plans. I couldn't leave knowing that the riot affected my students. 

Sure, I could probably work at another school in a better neighborhood, but that leaves these kids with no one.  I refused to let them down. 

I made my inside my home in a huff since I refused to make two trips. Slamming the door shut with my foot, I leaned against it as I sighed. I slowly made my way further into my home, my senses heightened as I smelled food and low voices. As I did so, the voices became more distinctive causing me to slow my walk even further. 

My husband Aaron and my mother, conversed at the kitchen table then suddenly stopped when I finally made my presence known. I eyed them cautiously wondering why the hell my dear mother was here and why food was cooked when I purposefully went to the grocery store for dinner. 

"Hi"I greeted, not liking that I had to socialize after a long day at work.

I sat my things down on the kitchen counter, waiting for either one of them to explain. In the awkward silence, I couldn't help but noticed their demeanor. Aaron had his hands clasped together into a fist as he rested his chin  on them. My mother had her arms folded against her chest as she stared straight ahead at me. Mail and other documents scattered the table. It didn't take me long to figure out that it was indeed my mail and medical records. 

" hmm." I hummed then rolled my eyes as I grabbed a wine glass and bottle of wine. I was going to need it if I was going to listen to anything they had to say.

" Katherine..." Aaron started but I cut him off.

" Aaron, If you can run your mouth to my mother about my business, the least you could do is call me by my preferred name." 

" Katherine..." My mother started next. 

" You know sharing my medical history and opening my mail without my permission is a federal crime." I said as my blood boiled. I knew they were going to try to convince me to grow through treatment to start this pregnancy process all over again. 

My mother called my name again. " What?"

" I understand your frustrations.."

" I am beyond frustrated. I'm pissed the fuck off. Aaron you have yet to talk to me about this but you go and run to my mother." I fussed as my eyes burned with tears. 

" How can we talk to you when you won't let us get a word in? Let's just sit and talk this over dinner." He argued back.

I scoffed and rolled my eyes at him using the word "we". They're shouldn't have been a "them" in the first place. I took a sip of wine and that sip of wine turned into chugging the whole glass down. As I poured my second glass, my mother made her way to me. 

" Katherine,baby why didn't you tell me about this? I could have been there for you."

I never told my mother about the miscarriages nor did I even tell her that I was even trying to have a baby. Well, the first time I got pregnant I didn't get the chance to tell her before I lost the baby then the other times I didn't tell her in fear of the inevitable. 

" What do you want me to say, mom? I can't have kids and I am not going through treatment."  

Tears threatened to fall as I began busing myself with putting the away the groceries. Somehow Aaron made his way over to me as well causing me to feel cornered. 

I shook my head not wanting to be touched or cornered into this... this shit show. This didn't make me feel loved and understood. This made me feel pitied and useless. 

" Listen I had a long day , so Please just leave me alone." I pushed passed them with the bottle of wine in hand  and made my way upstairs to lock myself away in my library