Jaded: The First Cut is the Deepest

by Shawn C. Thompson

  “My business is my business and what you heard has nothing to do with you.” She warned, snubbing her nose at me.

  “It became my business the moment you decided to sleep with my husband.”

  I moved in closer and as I did her anxiety rose.

  “And that “baby is yours” façade is played. Classic for a hoochie such as yourself.”

  “Again none of your business. Go ahead and tell Pierce, he won’t believe you.” Shauntae said, giving a soft condescending laugh. “If I can’t get ahold to him the courts will.”

  I grabbed a paper towel from the rack situated beside the sink.

  “Goodluck with that boo.” I teased, shaking my head and making my exit.

  The situation at hand was way more important than spending my time arguing with a young THOT who was trying to make a quick buck.

  I could hear her talking shit as I made a brisk walk back into the hospital room where Myla laid.

  Her and Junior were playing connect four on one of the nearby nightstands while Pierce sat in the chair opposite them typing away on his phone.

  “Everything okay sis? You look a little flustered.” Myla asked, using her eyes to inspect my defensive body language.

  “We’ll talk about that later. I’m here to make sure you are okay” I reasoned, looking over my shoulder as the nurse left the room. “Are they treating you well in here?”

  “For the most part. I’ve only been here for a few hours and hope to be out of here by tomorrow.” She groaned as she rubbed her head. “The doctor said he wanted to keep me a little longer to make sure the concussion hasn’t led to any internal bleeding. They just gave me some sleeping medicine so I’ll be knocked in few.”

  “Cool, I’ll swing by and bring you breakfast in the morning before I take you home.”

  Tegan took that as a cue that we were preparing to leave so he stood up and got my son together as well.

  I went over to give my girl a deep hug before saying our goodbyes and leaving her to sleep.

  The ride back to my place was a quiet one. I contemplated giving Pierce a call and attempt to nip the drama in the bud by telling him about his trifling mistress but decided it’d be best to inform him in person. Telling people the harsh truth was something I had mastered early as a counselor. It was up to him whether or not he believed me.

  Sleepy eyed and ready to hop in bed, I tried to send Tegan off with a wave but he refused to let me do so.

  “Oh no you don’t” T spoke in deep bravado. “I’m staying over tonight just to make sure everything is good.”

  Instead of giving him the usual “I’m fine” speech, I gave him his way and unlocked the door with he and Junior behind me.

  “Blankets are in the closet. You can use the guest bedroom when you are ready to hit the hay.”

  I yawned and stretched my arms outward.

  It had certainly been a long day.

  “Thanks concierge Carter.” T mocked, giving me a thumbs up while I rolled my eyes. “I’m gonna finish playing Mario with my buddy here and then I’ll get some sleep.”

  I glanced over at Junior who was beaming from ear to ear.

  “Okay, just make sure he’s not up too late.” I approved.

  “Will do.”

  I smiled and crept up the stairs and into my bathroom.

  While preparing for a shower, I sent a text to Denise to fill her in on my whereabouts. Delano and I still held conversation for the sake of keeping up appearances, at least until the deal was sealed. With all that was occurring in my life, I made sure not to forget the agreement we made.

  The steam from the water had an instant soothing effect. I grabbed a washcloth and used some of the water from the shower to wash away the makeup from earlier that day.

  I stripped my clothes off and took a good look at my bodily assets in the mirror.

  Pierce had to be a fool to risk losing me in exchange for the money hungry girl who was willing to lie and scheme to get her way.

  Once fully naked I proceeded to dip my toes in the water but before I could, there was a loud knocking at the other end of the door.

  “Junior, Mommy is taking a shower right now. Can’t this wait until I’m finished.”

  “It’s not Junior Ivory its T, I need you to come check this out really quick.”

  I blew a deep sigh out of annoyance.

  “It can’t wait until after my shower? I was damn near ready to hop in.”

  “No I’m afraid it can’t. I think you’ll really want to check this out.”

  Puzzled as to what he might be talking about, I threw a towel over my girls and opened the door to face Pierce who was eyeing my bareness.

  “Um excuse me, my eyes are up here.” I joked, laughing at his boyish behavior.

  “Sorry, just hard not to look.” Tegan returned his gaze to me. “Follow me downstairs.”

  I did as I was told and when we reached an empty living room with no signs of emergency, I wore a tired and blank expression.

  “I don’t see what the issue is.”

  Tegan motioned for me to give him a second while he walked over to fiddle with the new WII U Pierce had just recently bought my son.

  At first when he turned it on, there was nothing but static and dead air audible through the television speakers. It wasn’t until he hit the gaming system a few times that I understood why it was important that I see what he was talking about.

  I covered my mouth and stepped backward at the sight I was beholding.

  What played from the Junior’s gaming platform was a reflection of our living room.

  I moved from side to side to test Tegan’s findings, only to confirm what he and I realized without saying.

  Pierce was using our son’s WII U as a camera to keep tabs on what was going on around the house.

  “I was playing the game with Junior and it kept flickering on and off. When I tried to figure out what the issue was, I got irritated and hit the damn thing. This might be where he plans to get his dirt on you for the court case.” T stared into an image of himself. “Your husband is something else.”

  “Ex-husband” I corrected, moving closer to get a glimpse of the rigged machine. “It’s a good thing you came over, to think that he had the nerve to try and get me caught up like this makes me feel like I never knew this man.”

  “Maybe you really didn’t. Now I see why you have Myla staying here with you. As much as I don’t like her, I think the idea of you being alone in this house is asinine at least until this is all over.”

  I took a moment to think about what might have occurred from the time Pierce sent Junior back with the WII and was grateful of the hidden camera’s early discovery.

  This situation was becoming more chaotic than I had originally thought.

  CHAPTER 14

  Myla- ATL Piedmont Hospital (Six years earlier)

  My eyes opened with a flutter, slowly forming into shapes and bright colors.

  “Is she awake?” Beau asked, waving his hands in front of my face as I came to.

  Roland pushed him back just slightly.

  “I don’t know but I wouldn’t touch her until the doctors have a chance to evaluate her.” He took a moment to glance at the clock opposite my hospital bed. “Our flight back home leaves in a few hours.”

  Beau yawned and plopped down in the chair beside me.

  “I don’t think we’re gonna make it bro, you might as well push our flight back to tomorrow. We can’t leave her like this.”

  “Yeah, I know.” Roland agreed.

  I thought about keeping my eyes shut and waiting to hear what else they might say but figured it was petty. In all honesty, these two didn’t really know me from Adam so the idea of them staying overnight to be with me was blessing.

  I groaned to let them know I was awake.

  “Myla?” Roland called, watching hopefully while I tried to move my arms.

  The moment I did, I felt a sharp pain in them.

  It wasn’t until my sig
ht came back that I realized I was hooked up to an IV.

  “Hey guys, I didn’t expect you to still be here. Is it morning?” I said groggily.

  “It’s afternoon actually.” Roland corrected, smiling over me like a ray of sunshine. “The medicine they had you on knocked you out cold. Are you hungry? I can send Beau to get you something to eat.”

  “Oh, so you’re just gonna volunteer me to run your errands?” Beau joked. The afternoon sun hit his shimmering green eyes in a way that would brighten anyone’s day. “It’s no problem. Did you want something to eat?”

  “Yeah, just look in my purse. I should have a few dollars in there.”

  Beau and Roland looked at each other and shook their heads.

  “You didn’t come in here with a purse. It’s cool though, lunch is on me.” Roland offered, trying to make the best out of a shitty situation.

  My eyes began to swell once I realized that along with my body being violated, my money was stolen as well.

  “I was gonna use that money to pay my rent. Now how am I gonna take care of myself? Fuck!” I wailed.

  The heart monitor began to jump violently as Roland and Beau attempted to calm me down.

  “It’s okay Myla, how much do you need?” I looked into Roland’s eyes and saw sincerity. “And don’t bother tryna pay me back because I have plenty.”

  I could tell from the look on Beau’s face that flaunting his money was something Roland did often.

  “a grand.” I lied.

  My rent was almost half of that but I planned to hold on to the extra money until I could figure out what my next move would be.

  Roland pulled out a checkbook from his coat pocket and wrote one out to me while Beau went to retrieve my food.

  “I’m gonna give you twelve. Even though you tried to finesse a playa on the rent money.”

  My eyes grew wide at his accurate assumption.

  “How did you…”

  “I know a pimp when I see one.” He winked, replacing Beau in the seat next to me. “No sweat though, I’m not gonna fault you for securing yourself. Hopefully this will be enough to keep you from returning to a club.”

  “You don’t ever have to worry about me working in that club again.” I spewed, plotting revenge in my head.

  “That club or a club?”

  “That club.” I responded, licking my dry lips. “I have to stay out on the scene. You don’t understand, this is all I know and its fast money. Maybe if I would have gone to school like my girl Ivory then things would be different but I chose my life.”

  “So getting raped and beaten outside of a ghetto club is your life?”

  The look on Roland’s face was stern and condemnatory. Probably the same look Ivory would have given me had I let her know my situation.

  “I might think about doing something different.” I said, caving to a more rational solution.

  “Don’t think, DO.” Roland insisted.

  My doctor walked in the room with a clipboard in hand, ready to reveal his findings.

  “Glad you are awake Ms. Bellinger.” Dr. Agosi initiated. “I’ll cut right to the chase and tell you that you are beyond lucky to be alive.”

  My gaze stayed fixed on his lips as he continued.

  “Now despite what you may look like on the outside, the internal bleeding that was caused in your vaginal area could have ended your life. If your friends weren’t able to get to you at the time they did, you would not be here with us.”

  I gave a thin smile in Roland’s direction.

  “Based on the results of the altercation, it’s safe to say that you were raped. Do you know of anyone who could have done this to you?”

  My mind wandered to find the answer but before I could respond, Roland cut into the conversation.

  “Could we please hold off on the 20/20 interview until she comes down from her meds. I’m sure she is going through a lot and I would hate to upset her.”

  “I understand that Mr. James but in order to be speedy in figuring out who did this, I need to know the details.”

  Roland looked at me and I looked at the doctor.

  Dr. Agosi breathed a heavy sigh which I took to mean he was giving up.

  “Okay, but I will need to ask you additional questions before you leave our hospital.”

  I agreed as the doctor left in a huff.

  “Thank you.” I murmured, barely able to utter the words.

  I could feel the medication wearing off but still felt a bit weak.

  “No problem. I know being in a hospital can feel scary. Let’s get you some fresh air.” Roland said, cracking the window and opening the blinds.

  I could feel the warmth from the sun touching my skin and see the absence of clouds, which made me seem hopeful for a future that I was unsure of.

  I knew the club scene was getting old but it was all I had and the only job I was qualified for. Maybe I should give Ivory a call and see about moving back to Seattle.

  As my thoughts raced faster than I could catch them, my eyes wandered to a figure that stood a few floors below me.

  He was sitting in the parking lot of the hospital smoking a cigarette and gazing upward. It wasn’t until I noticed that he was looking in my direction did I become worried.

  I squinted to my eyes to see that he was standing by a black charger.

  My body trembled with fear as the name I didn’t say to the doctor was the same one looking at me from a few floors below.

  From afar, I could see his smile turning into laughter.

  Mocking me from a few feet away was my stalker and club promoting estranged husband Quentin “Cue” Bellinger.

  CHAPTER 15

  “Keep him away from me, keep him away from me.” Myla repeated in a med-induced slumber.

  I set her breakfast down on the nightstand and tried to wake her.

  “Myla, girl wake up. You’re dreaming.”

  Her eyes slid back and forth from deep REM hibernation.

  It wasn’t until I opened her IHOP to-go plate that she finally woke up.

  “Pancakes?”

  “Yes sleepyhead, pancakes.” I snickered, finding humor in the drool that hung from the side of her lip. “You must have been sleeping hard as hell. All that drooling and shit talking.”

  “Girl, I was down for the count.” Myla rubbed the top of her head. “I’m gonna make sure to smuggle a few of these meds for you before we leave this place, you need all the sleep you can get.”

  “Not if they’re gonna have me thinking someone is chasing me.”

  “Chasing me?” she questioned, reaching to her side to taste one of the syrupy blueberry pancakes. “Pay me no attention, I was on cloud nine.”

  “Oh, I’m not. Now eat so we can hurry up and get out of here.”

  I took a look at my phone and saw that I had a missed call from Delano. When I brought my attention back to Myla, her eyes were on the same thing.

  “You still messing with that married man?” She shook her head like a judgmental church woman and I didn’t like it one bit.

  “Its business Myla.”

  “Okay sis, just as long as you aren’t catching feelings.” Her attempt at trying to fit a whole pancake in her mouth made it hard for me to take her seriously.

  “Please. What would I look like going from condemning the other woman to being the other woman?”

  “You’d look like half of America these days.” Myla grabbed a napkin to wipe syrup off her mouth. “I remember my home wrecking days, creeping out of niggas houses before the sun came up.”

  I assumed it was from her dirty past in Atlanta so I let the comment fly over my head.

  “Speaking of home wrecking, remember when you asked me if everything was okay yesterday?”

  “I sure do.”

  “Well I ran into that Shauntae girl in the women’s restroom.”

  “You didn’t?!” Myla’s eyes grew as wide as saucers. “She had plenty to say didn’t she?”

  “Over the phone she did.
I was using the bathroom and overheard her conversation. I don’t think the baby she is pregnant with is Pierce’s”

  The tea I spilled to Myla made her choke on her orange juice.

  “That’s something else. What makes you believe that?”

  “She basically said it to whoever she was speaking to over the phone.” I scrunched my face up in disgust. “Talking about “calm down he thinks it’s his” I started to tell Pierce but I’m not completely certain that’s the best move.”

  “Yeah probably not. At least not now, I’d let him sweat a little.”

  I went to pour myself a cup of coffee from the stand that sat inside Myla’s hospital room.

  “Maybe. Whatever the case, I don’t need any extra drama from that girl so I hope that’s the last time we’ll cross paths.”

  During the course of our gossip, the doctor had walked in to check Myla’s vitals.

  “I doubt it. Girls like that have a tendency to pop up over and over again.” She flinched when her bandages were removed and jumped as the doctor took out her IV. “Shit, I thought I’d never be free from that thing.”

  I helped pack Myla’s belongings as the doctor prepped us on the rest of her healing process. Although she was healing properly, the doctor suggested an extra week of bed rest and no heavy lifting. I promised to take good care of my best-friend as we checked out of the hospital and I assisted her into the passenger’s seat of my car.

  “OMG I’m having flashbacks, help me! I need my icepack.”

  “What? What should I do?”

  I remained frozen in fear until I saw a smile creep across her face.

  “Joking! Just trying to make sure you are prepared. I’m a needy patient so you’ll need to stay on your toes.”

  “Don’t ever scare me like that again.” I replied, laughing to relieve myself of the mini panic attack. “Playing around with you, I really am gonna need those pills you offered me.”

  “Now that wasn’t a joke.”

  Myla dug in her purse and dropped a few Benzodiazepines in my car’s cup holder.

  “You need to find a way to relax and since you don’t smoke, this is as good as its gonna get.”

  “Myla no, there is a reason why those are doctor prescribed.” I warned, turning my nose up at the idea.