The Darkest Hours

Me Again' I never thought I would have someone else’s blood on my hands. Looking at this lifeless body clung to my grips as we press against the cold night’s asphalt. We were the center of attention of every resident of Frederick’s Apartment complex in building 5587. They were all just as confused as myself, wanting to know what happened to the man I cared so much for and thought I knew so well. I would soon find out that I was wrong on so many levels and didn’t not know him as well as I thought. Growing up, things were simple-much less complicated. Relationships meant meeting someone nice, going out on dates, talking on the phone, and if things didn’t go well, going your separate ways. No Co-parenting, no cohabitation, this made relationships easy. Shacking up and unplanned children can really turn a sweet relationship sour. It all started February 24th, 2017 in North Charleston South Carolina. I was in my college accounting class, suffocated by figures and formulas on this exam, it’s my final year and I have never been so focused. I lifted my head from my test and took a deep breath. I could feel someone staring. I looked around the room, where I saw my classmate gazing at me; it was the new guy that transferred to our class last month. This isn’t the first time I’ve caught him looking either, we’ve locked eyes quite a few times over the past month, yet he’s said nothing. It was so awkward because, he’s cute and I’m actually interested but, I definitely won’t be making the first move. I mean, what if he’s not really looking at me? What if he’s just daydreaming in my direction? “Time’s up!” The clock struck three. “Turn in your test and you are dismissed. I’ll have these graded by tomorrow”, professor announced. I was so busy daydreaming I didn’t get to finish my test. I rushed to finish, turning in my 100 question test with random answers selected for my last ten questions. I slowly walked out of class, nervous, hoping I made good guesses when I heard, “That was a piece of cake, wasn’t it? Hi, I’m Branden by the way.” Oh-my-gosh, oh-my-gosh, oh-my-gosh, oh-my-gosh, he’s talking to me! Come on, pull it together Kiara-yes he’s talking to you, don’t make him regret it. In an attempt to play hard to get I blurted out “Probably better than you!” in my confidently shy voice. “Oh really, well what makes you say that?” I looked at him with a slight smirk and said “you don’t look too bright”. Wait, the guy I’ve been wishing would approach me finally speaks and this is what I say? Are you serious Kiarra, really? Before I could apologize, he laughs, saying “I say the same thing every time I look in the mirror”. “Speaking of mirrors, I really have to use the restroom!” ‘Awkward’, I was thinking, as I slipped into the bathroom before causing myself any further embarrassment. In the bathroom I stood alone in front of the sink my head and heart both pounding, I was amazed at some of the things that flowed from my mouth. Just then I started not to feel well my mouth began to water and I became dizzy, I ran to the bathroom stall where last night’s dinner reared its ugly head inside the toilet bowl. I felt better afterwards, making me blame the test and Branden incident the cause for my abrupt sickness. I cleaned myself up and headed home, on my way home I received a call from my cousin Megan. Megan is like a big sister although she is barely a year older than me, we grew up together and share the type of bond in which we share everything with each other. “Hey. Meg” I answered phone sounding half dead “Hey! Are you ok Kiara, you sound bad.” Meg replied “Yes I’m fine; just feeling a little under the weather; I have a lot going on with finals coming up. So what is going on with you?” There was a brief moment of dead air space before Meg finally responded “Jeff has been called to active duty for a couple of years, every time he leaves it always feels like he’s not coming back.” “Aw it’s ok Meg everything will be fine, after all you still have me. We can have sleepovers and girls night out.” I replied giving much sincere comfort and assurance. “Thanks Kiara! You made me feel much better about the situation. Ok girl I have to go, talk to you later, bye!” Sometimes I worry about Meg, she got married so young I fear she wasn’t truly ready.