He got on the bike first, then helped me get behind him. He revved up, backed out, and took off. We rode to the other side of Covana, the side where the city died and the countryside lived.
After the long ride, we pulled up to my parents’ house. I entered the code, and the gate opened. He rode up the driveway to see my parents standing there waiting. We got off the bike, and I watched as my dad and Xavier shook hands, and then he and my mother embraced.
My dad came over to me. “Are you ready?” he asked.
I wasn’t, but I knew it was time. “Yes.”
My dad led the way. “Follow me,” he said as he headed toward the side of the house.
When we reached the side, I noticed the golf cart. Xavier looked at me. “I didn’t say anything.”
“But we hear everything,” my mother added.
We all got in the golf cart as my dad took off toward the stables. We stopped. I felt like my heart did too.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Xavier whispered.
“Yes,” I mumbled.
He helped me off the cart. We walked into the stable where all the horses were housed. When I saw Syior’s brother standing there, the first thing I wanted to do was ask questions. However, this time was meant for Monk. I walked into his stable as they all stood on the outside. I sat down on the loose hay beside him and stroked his face.
“I love you, Monk. I love you so much,” I started. “I know you’re tired. I know you’ve been hurting just as Kyle was, and now I—” I began to cry, “—I can let you be free. Not just for you but me too.”
Dr. Ivory entered, squatted down, and looked at me. “It will look like he’s falling asleep. He does love you, even if you don’t think he does. Sometimes we love people so much that the hardest thing to do is the best thing to do,” he muttered.
I knew he was referring to Kyle. “And you wanted him dead,” I mumbled back.
“And I regret that every day of my life. I loved Kyle just as much as he loved me, but I was too afraid. I’m sorry, Phoebe. I’m sorry.”
I tried catching the tears that spilled from me, but I couldn’t. Dr. Ivory slowly injected Monk while my head rested on him until his last breath. It hurt to let him go, but this was a moment that I needed to let Kyle rest. The truth was I would never know if it was in fact me who pulled the trigger on Kyle or if he had done it himself, but either way, my brother was finally free.
I cried on Monk until I felt my body being lifted from him. I wiped my eyes to see my mother standing in front of me. She said nothing as she pulled me into her arms and held me tightly. “I’m so proud of you, Phoebe, I am.” She cried. “Your father told me everything, and no matter what, you and Kyle are my babies. I would choose both of you, no matter what. I’m just torn because I didn’t see it sooner. Let’s heal, sweetheart.” She finished.
My mother and I stood there and cried together for a few more moments before she released me. I glanced up to see Xavier standing there waiting.
I hugged him as he kissed my forehead. “I’m proud of you,” he whispered.
I gave him a weak smile, but deep inside, I was happy because moving forward is what I needed.
APPLE
I was finally being released from the hospital, and I couldn’t have been more excited. I still had a neck brace and a small head patch on my forehead, but I was feeling good. Even though I tried remembering what happened, it still hadn’t come to me, and I figured maybe it was for a reason. The semester was coming to an end, and I needed to get back to class to finish up what I could.
While I waited for Harlem to get here, I decided to at least do my makeup and hair. There was a tap on the door, and to avoid turning my head, I just told whoever was there to come in. When I saw Ms. Cecily appear, I smiled. “I wasn’t expecting you.”
She smiled. “I’m sure. When I heard what happened to the president of the Gray and Gold, I had to come and see you. I know you're probably ready to jump right in and get back to that old Apple, I know, but I want you to take some time to get better mentally.”
I glanced in the hand mirror as I did my brows. “I’m fine.”
She placed her hand on my leg. “I said mentally. Apple, for most of the semester, I’ve watched you struggle. The pressure of being a standout at TSU is a lot, and for two years, you’ve done it gracefully, but this year is the year you were supposed to find yourself, andbecause you’re not mentally ready, you’re struggling. I care for all my students on the open campus, but certain ones I take a liking to, and you're one of them. Jesaiah destroyed you, and I’m so sorry for that, but you need to figure things out and find yourself. I will no longer be on campus, but I will be around if you need me.”
I panicked because she was supposed to be the dean, not Clark. She was an example of what some of us girls on campus needed. Despite her nephew being fucked up, Cecily August cared; she showed that her dedication to the Black experience was genuine. TSU was hood as hell with a lot of drama on and off campus, but the little moments of encouragement, opportunities, and guidance she provided were everything.
“I’m going to miss you,” I told her.
She winked. “We’re part of a legacy that has gone on for generations. We are family. Proud sister of the Gray and Gold, I will always be around. Since learning about your incident, I have assigned the hosting of Black Excellence Day to Alyse Maverick. If I had to guess, she’s interested in the sisterhood,” she finished as she walked out of the room.
Honestly, I wasn’t upset. Alyse had it in her. The way she handled herself during the pageant, carried herself around campus, and worked the field with Blue Reign, I could see her being a sister of mine. I finally got out of bed to change clothes when I felt air come through my gown from the back. I quickly lifted to close it when I saw Jesaiah enter my room.
