⚠️ Sensitive topics (trigger warning)⚠️

I went home to retrieve my gym I had forgotten that morning before school. Luckily I made it back in time for practice. I wasn't late. That would been an extra workout added on. I didn't want to stay a minute over because my man was coming over.

"Hey Raina, you're doing warm ups with Keshia today." Coach yelled, I got kind of excited. Keshia was just as competitive as me. She's a junior so she'll be at the top shining next year. The girl's a beast. She had already beaten my time once. She was determined to do it again. I planned to come back and check her out the following year. "Great, thanks coach."

"Keshia, you ready?" I called out to her. She smiled at me while walking in my direction. "Oh you know I am."

"Friendly competition at the end?" I squinted. She was ready. "I've been waiting to get another round. It's your four to my one." Her brows lifted which made me giggle a little. We always gave each other tips on speed and breathing. But never wavered from the thrill of competing against each other.
"Cool let's get started." I stretched.

Practice went on for couple hours then I went to the locker room to shower and head home. —Well that's what I wanted to do, I couldn't find my phone. I searched my gym bag, the locker room and car. I couldn't find it.

I asked Sienna to call it. She stayed behind after practice helping me look for it. She called it, and... my brother picked up.

Panic washed over my body and felt like a ton of bricks, "Hello, this is Sienna. Raina and I were looking for her phone. I see she left it at home." She spoke cautiously.

"Yep! Tell her to get home now!" I heard him yell over the phone. Sienna winced at the pain coming from her eardrum. Her eyes popped, I nodded.

Ok I'll tell her,—bye." Sienna quickly ended it. "Girl he sound pissed off. Shit he knows something."

"Fuck, shit! What am I going to do?" I panicked, slapping my hands down my legs. "I don't know sis. You want me to go with you?" She suggested.

"No because that will only piss him off more knowing you knew." I took a second to think. "Let me see your phone real quick." She handed me her phone. I called Adrians phone.

"Hello." I mumbled, then heard my brother yelling in the background. Sigh. "Look Rai your brother knows. He went through your phone. He read our messages." He spoke loudly over Mikey shouting in the background.

"Oh my gosh. He's going to kill me." I wailed. This was not the plan. "Look, Mike chill man." Adrian spoke loudly away from the phone.

"Who the fuck you think you talking to?" I heard Mikey shout.

"Aight man I told you. You need to let me explain." Adrian replied to him.

"No need to explain, we're suppose to be boys and you over here fucking my sister." Mike screamed.in a tone I never heard before. "What!?!" I yelled out.

"Mike! I did not have sex with your sister." Adrian stated loud and clear. "Look Rai, I'm trying to stay here until you get here but I'm not sure how much longer. Mike's drinking. Call Leah please and tell her to get here." He told me.

"Ok." I said before pressing end. I called Leah. She said she was on her way not far from the house. Her aunt was meeting her to pick KJ up. So he wouldn't have to see Mikey upset.

I hugged Sienna good bye, handed her her phone then got in my car and drove home. The ride was silent. My nerves were shot. I didn't want to face reality.

Unfortunately for me, the drive home was not long. No heavy traffic, roadblocks, or anything. The closer I got the more I panicked. I could feel my pulse beating through my fingertips from the grip I had on the steering wheel.

I eased up the driveway, parked then slowly got out. Leah was already here I spotted her Denali parked. I took my time sneaking inside the house.

Once I entered, shutting the door behind me. I heard a lot of noise. I couldn't make out some of what was being said. I headed in that direction. Next thing I heard was a loud boom. Like something or someone fell against the wall. I hurried into the living room. Mikey had Adrian on the ground choking him. Leah tried to break them up. I ran over to help pull Mikey off.

"Rai back up. That's only going to make it worse." Adrian spoke breathlessly. He tried everything to get my brother's hands off his neck. He wasn't fighting him at this point just trying to get free.

Mikey ended up pushing me out of the way. I landed on the floor and bumped my elbow. "Ow ." I squealed, grabbing Adrians attention.

"You alright Rai?" Mike asked through his clenched teeth. Still looking down at Adrian. He still held a tight grip around Adrian's neck. Not enough to kill him, but close damn near.

"Yeah. But you just need to calm down." I cried out, holding my arm.
"Me calm down? You want me to come down? Your fast ass is telling me to calm down?" He spat repeteadly.

"Really Mikey?" I painfully screamed. "I didn't do anything."

"That's bullshit, Rai!" He added a knee into Adrian's rib. I got up went over there to help Leah pull him off.

"Mike, that's enough!" Leah yelled sternly. "Nah fuck that. I'm not gon' sit here and let this piece of shit take advantage of my baby sister."

"Mikey it's not like that. I swear it's not." I begged for understanding. He held his grip. Adrian finally was able to get his arm free. He punched Mikey in the ribs hard enough for him to move. The grip around his neck loosened. And Mikey released him, pushing himself off.

From the looks of everything, they had already shared a few punches before I got there. Adrians lip was leaking and my brother's eye was turning purple.

"So you want me to sit here while somebody else takes advantage of you?" He slurred, plopping down and making a seat for himself beside Adrian —still lying on the floor. They were both tired.

"You're over reacting —and watch it." I warned. "How did you get my passcode?" I asked trying to distract him from saying something he shouldn't.

Adrian mustered up enough energy to sit up leaning his back against the wall. He gave me a puzzled stare.

"I know you, like the back of my hand. You have a thing about odd numbers so I took a wild guess. Dads birthday. All even numbers." He paused turning his attention to Adrian. He caught on to me trying to distract him. "So you don't know about her getting raped at ten years old. You don't know-"

"Shut up! Why would you do that?" I shouted. He showed no remorse. That pissed me off. So I charged at him. "Why do you have to be so fucking stupid all the time." I yelled in his face punching him. He tried to block my fist but it connected. Leah pulled me away from him. But I snatched her hands away from me. "Don't touch me." I screamed at her.

Adrian stood up frozen. He was in shock. I stared at him and then Leah. They shared the same look my brother had on his face almost eight years ago.

I grabbed my phone off the table, ran upstairs to my room, quietly locking the door behind me. I couldn't bare being exposed like that a minute longer. Something I wasn't ready to share.

My breathing picked up as I grabbed my antidepressants and a cup of water from the bathroom sink. I removed all the pills from the bottle and placed the empty container beside the tub. I made peace with death.

I started downing all of the pills, followed by chugging the water in two big gulps. I then turned the water on in the tub, then stripped myself of my clothing. I folded them up neatly and placed them in the near hamper.

Tears streamed down my face like rain. I shook uncontrollably. Then the drowsiness settled in. My body felt numb all over. I could already feel troubles fading away. Satisfaction was the smile I wore for my peaceful finale. I stepped in the water making myself comfortable as the tub filled.

Things will be so much easier around here without me. I'm sure of it. —I just want it all to be over. The little good I had was now tainted with my unclean. Secrets out and I no longer wanted to live with it. The Nelsons, my foster family, they win. They've had a hold over my life for so long. I'm done.

_________________________

{If you're going through ANYTHING, please don't be silent, talk to someone.

{I pray for us all}

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline open 24/7 
1-800-273-8255, confidential and totally safe.}

{R.I.P Moses McBride III, I love you forever cuz 🕊🕊🕊}

{No Gifs, questions or cute phrases for this Chapter, due to the sensitivity.}