24
Niya
“Lord, please don’t let me be too late,” I huffed. Just my luck, I had left my cell phone at home charging. When I was with Jazzy, it hadn’t mattered that I didn’t have my phone with me. Sweat dripped down my aching body. I hadn’t pushed my body like this in years. But I had no other choice. My heels were slowing me down, but I couldn’t take them off and risk stepping on broken glass bottles. I couldn’t wait to get on the other side of the tracks.
I kept on praying to God while running those blocks from Mr. Henderson’s to Sean’s place. “God, please help me. Help me,” I panted. While running and praying, it occurred to me that Sean must have been running just as fast or faster when he was trying to save Jhavon. Only Sean had been bloodied and battered. His love for Jhavon had pushed him through. And now my love for him would do the same.
Never before was I so glad to live in a small town. I made it to Sean’s apartment complex in twenty-five minutes. His car was parked in the lot.
My heart thumped when I saw a moving truck exiting the complex. I was too late. I was too late. I felt the tears threaten but I waved to Wanda at the front desk and rushed toward the elevator. I pressed the button to Sean’s floor. My heart hammered against my chest. I slipped out of my sandals and held them in my hands. I tapped my feet watching the elevator climb to his floor. As soon as the door opened, I rushed toward Sean’s apartment. As if on some silent cue, his door opened and out walked Sean with two huge suitcases in tow.
“Sean,” I called his name.
He froze, peering at me like he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. Then he backed up into the open door. I sprinted toward him before he could close the door.
“Sean.” I called again.
He dropped his bags. “Why are you here? I can’t be within 50 feet of you and you made it very clear you wanted nothing to do with me. Have you come to get me arrested on my last day in this town?”
“No… I need to speak with you,” I breathed out, struggling to catch my breath. “Can I come in?”
Sean took out his cell phone and pressed a button. “Ask me, again. And say your name.”
I wanted to be upset at his recording me, but I understood. “This is Janiya. Can I come in?”
With a terse nod, Sean ended the recording and stepped aside and let me enter his place. I looked around the stark apartment and goosebumps popped up on my arm. If it had been two minutes later, I would’ve missed him. Missed my chance at happiness. That is if Sean would still have me.
He stormed into the kitchen and returned with a bottle of water. He held it out to me. “I was taking this on the road, but you look like you need it more than me.”
I suddenly realized how I must look, hot and sweaty… and tired. “Thank you,” I said, taking the bottle from him. “I walked here from Mr. Henderson’s.”
He lifted a brow. “So he told you I’m leaving. Did you come to gloat then? Is that it?”
I took a couple gulps and wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. “I came to say I’m sorry,” I said in a contrite tone. The tears did fall then. They ran down my cheeks. And I let them.
His eyes widened but he squared his shoulders. “Apology accepted.” Then he moved toward his suitcases.
My heart screamed. He was leaving me. For good.
“Sean,” I cried, clutching my aching chest. “Don’t go. Please.”
He put a hand on his hip and pinned me with a gaze. “Why should I stay? So you can keep throwing all the love I have for you in my face? There is nothing for me here. You made that plain.”
My body convulsed. “Don’t leave me, Sean. I’m sorry if I took your love for granted but I was so angry, I thought that… Never mind all that, there is something…well, someone here… Me.” I pointed toward my heart. “I love you.” Once I had said the words, I knew I had to say them again. “I love you. I love you.”
He stood there unmoving before picking up his suitcases. I released a breath of air and my knees buckled.
I had lost him. Now I understood the devastation he must have felt at my rejection. It felt like someone was ripping at the arteries and veins surrounding my heart from my chest. I covered my face and sobbed.
I would’ve fallen to the floor, if two strong hands didn’t catch me. Sean pulled me into a tight embrace. I inhaled his scent, feeling like I had come home.
“I love you too, honey,” he said. The timbre of his voice melted my insides. “I never stopped loving you.”
My heart flooded as my love multiplied and intensified. We stood there for what seemed like forever. Melding into one another. I felt him shaking and realized he was as overwhelmed as I was. We held onto each other and cried.
Sean pulled away first, loosely holding onto my hand. “Niya, I’m so sorry. I’m sorry I couldn’t save Jhavon.”
“I know everything, Sean. Mr. Henderson filled me in,” I said, placing a finger over his soft lips. “Babe, it wasn’t your fault.”
