Page 31 of Breeze and Melodie

He let the front of my shirt go, and my back hit the floor again. Before walking away, he conjured up a wad of spit and spit on me. It landed on my forehead with force, and there wasn’t shit I could do about it. Sean was gone almost as quickly as he’d arrived.

The entire scene unfolded in under two minutes. I heard my sister’s voice screaming from afar, but I couldn’t move to get my phone. I could already feel my face swelling, and it wouldn’tsurprise me if my nose were broken. I tried to stay awake until Breeze arrived, but before I knew it, everything went black.

“Where am I?” I whispered through the pain in my face.

“Oh my God, Mel! Thank God you’re awake,” Raine cried as she rushed to my side.

“Where am I? What happened?”

“You’re in the hospital. We were hoping you could tell us what happened. Breeze found you passed out and beat up on the floor in your apartment.”

“What?”

“Let me get the nurse.”

She rushed out the door and returned seconds later with a woman behind her.

“Hello. I’m Nurse Lee. How do you feel?” Her mood seemed a bit too happy, considering how I felt.

“Like I’ve been run over by a truck.”

“I’m sure you do. However, you’re alive, and your injuries will heal. Do you remember what happened?”

I closed my eyes and thought back to the last thing I remembered. Breeze made love to me before going to play basketball. I cleaned my apartment before taking a shower. Harmonee called to tell me she finished cosmetology school and passed her licensing exam. Breeze knocked—no, it wasn’t Breeze. It was . . . Sean!

“It was Sean. I thought it was Breeze at my door, but it was Sean. He?—”

“No need to go into details, honey. Save your strength for when the police interview you. They should be here shortly. Yournose is broken, causing two black eyes. Your ribs are bruised as well. I’m sure you’re in a lot of pain. I can give you?—”

“No, I’m good. Thank you.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. Thank you.”

She left, promising to return to check on me soon. Raine took her place next to my bed.

“Breeze knew it was Sean. I think he’s out looking for him.”

“He might kill him this time, Raine.”

“There is no might. Sean is as good as dead. Ain’t shit we can do to stop him.”

“We just got together, Raine. I don’t want him to be taken away.”

“I know, sis, but when Breeze has his mind set on something, good or bad, legal or illegal, it’s as good as done.”

The door swung open, and my parents and sister rushed in. Raine moved to the foot of the bed, allowing my parents to take her place.

“What the hell happened?” my father barked.

“Oh, my baby!” Ma cried.

Harmonee looked at me with tears in her eyes but said nothing. Seeing my family so upset caused me to tear up.

“I’m okay,” I lied.

“You’re not okay. Harm told us what she could, but we need to hear it from you if you can talk,” my father said.

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