1. “Sad Beginnings, Happy Endings”

    I met her friday afternoon on a warm summer day. 

    She was a cute puerto rican chick from around the way.

    We would run into each other quite often but never really said much verbally.

    Usually our eyes would do all the talking when we pass by.

    That friday changed both of our lives for the better.

    It started that friday when we bumped into each other on Bridge street & Fulton.

    I was with my homies coming out of jimmy jazz and she was coming from dr.jays.

    We had looked at each other but as usual didn’t say nothing as my friends scream acrossed the street “ayo shawty come here and let me talk to you”.

    As i turned away i hear a girl scream “someone help me i been robbed”.

    At first i didn’t think to look until i had my homies laugh and and say “good for her she should’ve came and chilled with us” at that instant i turned to see the girl i constantly make eye contact with pouring her eyes out.

    Once i saw her in thats condition i couldn’t help but to go over and try to help.

    As i approached her she got up quick and grabbed my shirt and pleded “you have to help me they stole my wallet i have my mother’s picture in there and the rent money”.

    I grabbed her close to me and asked how much money did she have in the wallet she simply replied “i had $1500 in it” since i hadn’t seen how  the robber looked or which direction he ran all i can do was simply talk to her and try to calm her down.

    As i talked to her and said “it’s okay everything gonna be alright” she replied “you don’t understand my mother died 5 months ago it’s only me and my little brother that was the rent for this month” hearing that i couldn’t help but to ask “what happened to your father?” she looked up and replied “he died when my little brother was born i was only 7 years old”. 

    To look at this girl who i’m used to seeing smile everyday go through so much pain and hurt i couldn’t help but to offer to pay the rent for her.

    I had told her with a smile on my face “come on we’re gonna go get ya rent paid” with a confused look on her face she asked “how i have no money on me and i definitely don’t have enough in the bank after going shopping for me and my brother” i laughed and said “don’t worry i got you we gonna go to my bank and take out the money and go pay ya rent”.

    She refused and said “no i can’t i don’t know how i’m going to pay you back” to see her refuse my help showed me something i haven’t seen in years from a woman.

    Her independence reminded me of my mother thats pasted when i was 10 years old she had got hit by a car walking across the street on atlantic ave.

    With a blank stare on my face she asked me “are you okay?” i replied “yeah just thinking about old memories but let’s get this money for you and i’m not taking no for an answer your gonna take it”. 

    She giggled as a tear fell down her face and smiled and said “thank you” i looked and said “no problem”.

    As we walked into the bank thoughts flooded my mind and i couldn’t help to think wow who would’ve know that she gone through some of the same pains i went through. 

    While trapped in my thoughts i heard a voice that kept saying “sir, sir, are you ready? sir” i instantly snapped out of it and replied ” yes i will like to withdrawl $1800 please” as the teller left to get the money i turn around to ask what is your name but before i can even get a word in she gave me the tightest hug and said “thank you” i smiled and wrapped my arms around her and simply said “no problem”.

    As the teller came back with the money and said “here you are sir, thank you for coming and have a nice day” while we turned to walk out i couldn’t help but to look at her body not like i haven’t before but i never noticed it like this. 

    She had a nice slim waist with thick curves as if she been photoshopped or something.

    We walked out the bank and i told my homies “ill at holla at yall later” when suddenly my homie fred stops me and ask “are you sure you wanna do this you don’t even know her so what that she live around your area and shit she can be lying homie” i looked a him with a understanding and said “yeah you right but its only one way to find out but trust homie imma be iight imma get up with you later at the party”. 

    Me and her start walking to the train station and i say “my name is Travis by the way” as she finish taking a sip of her soda she say “oh sorry my name is Francisca” as i complimented her on her name she got a phone call from her little brother he had told her that the landlord was there for the rent and that they can’t get an extension she told him to tell the landlord to wait she’s on her way with the money. 

    As soon as she hung up i said “lets get to moving shall we” she noded and we rushed to jay st station to catch the N or R train to 53rd since it was only 9 stops total and the trains were running pretty fast. 

    So we rushed to the station and arrived just in time to catch the R. 

    We took our seats on the train breathing heavy and laughing from running down the steps. 

    Once we regained our breathe she asked me “so travis how are things with you and your family” as i gasp for air i replied ” well my mother died when i was 10 and i lived with my father til i was 18 and now i live by myself” she looked at me shocked and hugged me and said “oh my gosh i’m sorry to hear that why did you leave your father’s house” i answered ” it’s okay i had to leave my father house to keep myself independent he’s the type he wants to do everything for me and my mom was always opposite of that i guess thats why they got a divorce when i was 6”.

    While 3 stops had already passed she continued to ask me questions thats had me think why does she wanna know so much stuff about me.

    watching the stops fly by we continued to talk and express each others feelings and thoughts about things when i came out and told her i thought she was beautiful and every time i seen her i had a lost for words. 

    She looked at me blushing and said thank you as we arrived at our stop and being that she lived one block away from the train station and i lived two blocks away we rushed to her house to arrive to her landlord waiting on the stoop. 

    I thought her landlord would be some puerto rican guy being we lived in sunset park but instead it was some og italian guy you know the ones who wear the the silk button downs with the chest hair showing and the cuffs unbuttoned with the slick back hair and blue jeans and all gold jewelry yeah that was her landlord no doubt. He asked where’s the money with no time wasted and i asked how much was it and he looks at me stupid and says “Francisca who is this guy asking me questions” in that thick heavy italian accent she replies “this is Travis he’s paying my rent today $1500 am i right?” he looks at me again and says “yeah” with an unsure stare. 

    I gave him the money and he went on his way.

    The rest of the day me and Francisca chilled on her stoop talking and making jokes and the rest is history. 

    Years later Francisca got kicked out of her apartment and relocated with her brother and me i moved to california last i heard Francisca lives someone where in california with her husband, son, daughter, and littler brother. 

    Let’s just say our friendship wasn’t meant to be it’s was meant for what it is now us as a happy married couple with a family. 

     


  2. “The Betrayal”

    He was only 14 when he got his first wound.

    His mother cries and ask what happens.

    He said he grinded a rail and fell off.

    The mother says be careful more and they move on.

    5 years later the kid is now 19 and gained his second wound.

    His mom asked what happened this time.

    He said he slipped and fell on a broken glass bottle.

    She asked the doctor if he was gonna be okay the doctor said yeah all he need is stitches.

    4 year later dude is 23 now this is when he gained his last wound.

    His mom got the phone call to come to the hospital but the wound she saw this time she didnt see coming.

    A gun shot to the head.

    At 9:48pm her son was announced dead she breaks down and cries and screams “why”.

    She didn’t understand why her only son had to die.

    It all started years ago with his first wound.

    A cut mark on his forearm that was his wound into a gang.

    Then it came to the second one which was a stab wound to the stomach.

    He got that from walking in a rival gang area where they caught him in the alley way.

    The last came from his own homeboy shot because he didn’t wanna be down no more.

    Dude couldn’t stand to lie and see his mother cry so he tried to get out before something worse had happened.

    Since him and his homie was real close he thought he could get out without being killed to find he was wrong.

    Later the next day the cops said they found the murderer dead with a note and this what it said.

    “Dear Auntie,  I just wanna say i never ment to do it. i should’ve never put him down with the set. I should’ve been a better role model for my little cousin instead i put him down with us and then put a bullet in his head. I hope you forgive me for all that i’ve done even the murder of ya son. Love your nephew”

    The cops then gave further details he stab himself in the stomach, slit open his forearm, and shot himself in the head.

    The mother cried and couldn’t believe what she heard to find out not only is her son dead but her nephew committed suicide with the same wounds his cousin had.