“Hey there, Pastor. I didn’t think I would catch you here. I got released yesterday, and the only place I knew to come for a lil’prayer and guidance was here. I’m really tryna stay on the right path,” he said with an extended hand.
He came there looking for help, and one thing I never wanted to do was turn someone away, especially after a troubled life. However, it was either him or Journei, and my woman was gon’ win every time.
I shook his hand just as Journei opened the door. When I looked back, she wore that glow my son gave her and a playful expression that would soon be snatched away from her. She pointed at Kégo and laughed.
“For the record, Kégo, you put too much salsa on that chilaquiles. Had me fu… I mean, messing them people bathroom up. You better be glad they had air freshener.” Slowing down her stride, she noticed my vibe was off. “Why you looking like that, baby? What’s wrong?”
Journei had yet to notice her father. I wanted to get her out of here before the light she had surrounding her was dimmed. “Hold up, mama. Let me talk to you for a second.” She was walkin’ into a bad situation without knowing. I turned around to hide Jourdell’s figure from her, but he got a view of her instead.
“Spot? Baby girl, is that you?” He called a nickname she never mentioned. “Pastor, that’s my baby. Thank you, God, for bringing my daughter back to me.” He was sending thanks while my woman was letting it register who was in front of her.
I could see the pain he inflicted on her through her eyes. She didn’t hear or see anything after he spoke. All she did was stand there, staring at Jourdell. That was what I wanted to protect her from.
She was so scared of him that those few steps he decided to take toward Journei caused her to release her fluids on herself. Papa and Kégo caught on to what was happenin’, and without a second thought, Kégo had his gun on his target. Jourdell stopped in place with his hands in the air immediately.
“Mama, you gotta go.” When she didn’t move, my hand went to her stomach as I spoke low in her ear. “Mama, I know you’re scared, but he won’t touch you. Focus and go with Kégo.” My baby was shaking, and whatever she was thinking had her panicking. She finally made eye contact and gave a look saying she didn’t want me to leave her. “I’ll be right behind you,” I assured her.
Kégo escorted both Journei and Granny out the door with Diego trailing behind. The door was barely closed when I heard glass breaking. Turning around, I saw flames near the double-door entrance of the sanctuary.
Not even a minute later, the rest of the windows got the same treatment. There were Molotovs being thrown into the building. The church was goin’ up, and my family was the only thing on my mind.
“Jourdell… Jourdell!” I was yelling for his attention.
He was so distracted by the fire that he didn’t hear me talkin’ to him. I ran over to him so he could follow me out the back. The most I could do was tap his shoulder before another Molotov came through right in front of us. Grabbing on to his forearm, I began to pull him to the door my family just exited.
One window was left. It was the closest to the door, and there was only a matter of time before one came through it. As if my words called my fate, not one but multiple Molotovs came through back-to-back. Jourdell looked at me as I looked at him. We were boxed in with nowhere to run.
“Christian!” was all I heard before the flames got so big that they separated me from my family. Journei managed to open the door and yell for me before Kégo stopped her. I watched my baby fight him to try to get to me. Her father didn’t touch her, and I didn’t let anyone or anything hurt her. I kept my promise to Journei, and that was all that mattered.
Journei
Icould picture my life without my wife, but the attachment I had to Christian wouldn’t let me breathe without him. We created somethin’ that had me tied to him for an eternity, and I refused to watch it grow alone.
I was landing as many punches as I could to Kégo’s body. I didn’t care where they landed. I just wanted him to let me go. The man that I loved was in the middle of a fire, and I couldn’t do anything about it.
“Kégo, please let me go! I need to save him!” I screamed. I was panicking and needed Christian to be OK.
“Sis, you can’t go in there. I’ll get him. Just stay here with Papa please. He’ll kill me if I let somethin’ happen to you.” Kégo gave up pleading eyes.
I stopped fighting him so he could help my baby. I didn’t give two flying fucks about my father dying. Our past caused my feelings to be null and void regarding him.
Christian warned me that he was gettin’ released and would be coming to try his hand at a relationship with me. I couldn’t give him that part of me again. I was still experiencing pain from my childhood, so why would I let him tarnish what I tried to build as an adult?
Kégo ran into the sanctuary while I stood at the door. The smoke was starting to fill up the hallway as I watched for some type of movement. I stood there with tears flowing. Diego was to the side praying for both Kégo and Christian as Mrs. Gills was on the phone with the police, givin’ as much detail as she could.
A lifetime was what it seemed like before I saw Kégo assist Christian out the door. The way his light skin was now red alarmed me. I immediately ran into his arms, which he winced from. If a simple hug caused him pain, then somethin’ was wrong.
“Don’t leave him in there,” Christian barely spoke above a whisper about my father.
“Nah, bruh. You’re my responsibility, not him. He ’bout to be an innocent bystander,” Kégo responded.
Without another word, Christian removed my arms and headed back into the fire. I screamed for him, but he ignored every word that came out my mouth. Why would he want to save someone who hurt me? Jourdell Evans deserved to die. I agreed with the statement Kégo made.
The smoke had become thick and made it hard to breathe standing in the doorway. Mrs. Gills grabbed my hand to escort me out the building, but I wasn’t leaving without the father of my child.
Snatching my hand away, I ran back to the door, yelling for Christian once again. Smoke had entered my lungs, and the coughing had started. My eyes had become hard to keep open as well.
“Journei, please. I can’t stay in here much longer, and neither can you. Think about your child.” Mrs. Gills was tryin’ to get me to budge, but I just couldn’t leave Christian.
