“I think I need to go home.”
I only wanted to go so I could grab as much liquor as I could and drink until I was no longer on earth.
“Adore, just come inside. You can go home tomorrow. I’m not letting you go home after the funeral,” Hollow said.
The wind coming from the beach blew my hair in my face as I stared at Hollow, staring back at me. He knew if I left, today would be the last day he saw me alive. Instead of arguing, I walked behind him as he unlocked the door for me to walk in. Like I had been doing the last few days, I went straight up the stairs to what had become my room again. I stripped out of my clothes and went straight to the shower. It was where I couldcry and Love not try to console. I didn’t want to be consoled. I wanted my man.
“Adore,” a familiar voice said.
My head was down on my knees.
“Adore,” the voice said again.
I looked up to see Whodie. I was dreaming. I had to be. When the shower door opened, and Whodie stood there in the flesh, I almost passed out. I couldn’t move. I felt like if I moved, then his ass would disappear.
“Damn, that’s how you look at yo’ nigga? You don’t miss me?”
It was him speaking that made my body react. I jumped up and ran into his arms. All I could do was cry uncontrollably.
“Are you dead?” I touched his face. “Nigga they said you were dead,” I hit his chest.
“I had to be, Adore.”
“What?”
“It was the only way to make sure everything tied to life stayed buried.”
“But...but you let me bury you? Who the fuck was that I buried?”
“I let you live, Adore. You told me you were tired of that life. As a man, I did what I needed to do so that life was dead. It’s in the ground now. Today, we start a new life.”
“Who the fuck put you up to this?” I asked as I wrapped myself in a towel.
“Who else?” Whodie looked at the door as Hollow appeared.
“Look, let me go ‘head and apologize now. The nigga said he wanted a new life. I gave him one. Shit, you too,” Hollow said.
“But how the fuck did y’all pull some shit like this off?” I asked both of them.
Whodie leaned on the counter and looked at Hollow.
“Look, I would hate to kill yo’ ass if Love finds out,” Hollow said. “I used to fuck the ER doctor. She owed me a favor. She called the nigga time of death, let me identify and bring the hearse to pick his ass up.”
My mouth dropped. “Now I’ve got something to hold over your head if you piss me off. Now you owe her?”
“Ion owe shit. Me and her ass even. Now, y’all flight leaves in the morning. Try y’all best not to mess my sheets up,” he said before closing the door.
“Flight?”
“A new life, baby. I’m no longer Whodie. You wanted marriage and kids. I’m about to give it to you. Just not in Florida. I don’t want any more questions. Let’s enjoy each other tonight and tomorrow, you’ll see what your man been up to.”
“Does it hurt?” I asked Whodie as I rubbed across his bandaged stomach.
“Hell fuck yeah. Bitch ass nigga almost had me wit’ a shit bag for the rest of my life. And no, I haven’t taken any pain pills, Adore.”
“I wasn’t about to ask that,” I said, looking up at him. “I can’t believe you’re here. Why would y’all do that to me?”
“Can I just hold you tonight. I told you, all your answers will come tomorrow. I missed you, and I just want to love you for the rest of my life.”
