Walking Evidence.

2016

Atlanta, GA

July 19, Thursday

8:00 P.M.

After a full school day of, homework, studying and work, Alycia had to face the misery of being in the presents of her mother at home who only made her daughter's way of living a nightmare. As if she didn't conduct her first child's life already, Alycia was on the verge of death as she saw it as the only way out of her distress. She sat on her bed staring up at the ceiling above her. Tempted to reach from under her mattress to proceed from the page where she had left off but faught the idea when thinking of mother possibly walking in on her reading. Following the arrival of her hospital release, Debra had already set preparations for her daughters arrival, buying a padlock for the window which lead to the emergency staircase exit and securing every possible opening in the house. She would check in on her every hour of the day she was home sometimes call her school to make sure Alycia was in class and made unexpected trips to the store she worked. Every minute of the day, she knew every detail of her where abouts. Exhausted by her own thoughts, Alycia's drowsy eyes hauled her into sleep.

July 20, Friday

4:45 P.M.

45 minutes into work, the shop only served 5 customers to be exact and with the temperature almost being unbearably humid, Alycia grew dense with sleep. In that moment Mr Brown emerged from the storage area with a note in hand. His forehead heavy with sweat, like he hadn't just walked out of the coolest room in the store. "AC broke down, child you lookin' like you finna pass out", he chuckeled before reaching into his black pseudo pants for his small Nokia radiophone. " Don't worry about it, I'm okay" she assured with a small smile as she positioned herself straight up in her chair behind the register. "Well I'm not, now I called Romeo and he ain't pickin' up, his ass done prolly fell sleep', say why'ouncha go get em for me, he know how to fix this damn thang ,you'll find him just around the corner from here" he urged while wiping the small forms off sweat on his forehead. Mr Brown was an old man who's shop unfortunately happened to be a hotspot for a few dealers and addicts and Alycia felt it would be only harsh to say no. Nodding her head she stood from her chair and made her way to the door, "And lil girl be careful alright, go straight to him and come right back." She obliged, nodding her head and being on her way. Gazing straight ahead at her pathway, disregarding everything else. She received a few glares which made her a bit uneasy and as a reaction she drifted her attention to the yellow pumps she wore and occasionally looked to up to view her direction. Holding onto her left elbow with her right hand, Alycia turned into the next street viewing Romeo's shop a few blocks away but the thick commotion in the street with two cars parked on either sides of the road and what looked to be 2 groups of men standing at a safe distance apart and one on each side quarreling with the other. Alycia sped up her pace but not fast enough as she heard a gunshot fired. In that moment everything transpired in a swift motion as she raced to Romeo's door only to find it locked and at that point the shooting hadn't subsided. Not knowing what to do, she squatted below her knees and covered her head with both hands, eyes heavily flushing tears. She shrieked to the top of her lungs. Hearing the screeching sound of tires and the gunshots recceeding. She lifted her head slightly only to be yanked onto her feet by the arm and a gun pointed to her neck by a dark skinned male with

Short dreadlocks, he looked to be in his early 20's. Just as he was to pull the trigger one of his accomplises stopped him with a question from a short distance. "What is you doin' man?!"

His eyes pierced into her soul and she returned the eye contact with pleading eyes and a soaked sobbing face. " Nigga what it look like, I'm Getttin' ride of a witness" He replied, never breaking his stare with Alycia. And within a matter of seconds which couldn't have gone by any faster another figure appeared beside the offender who was consciously ready to add onto the number of lives he'd taken in his short lifetime. His accomplice analyzied the fearful young soul with a blank and emotionless expression on his face. "Please" Alycia urged for her life with her eyes fixated on the third party, her hands folded into each other against her bottom lip as it quivered in sync with her entire body. Alycia identified the man's face in her mind with the generous tip he'd given her back at the shop the week prior. He peered her from top to bottom before turning his back to walk away, "Ain't no threat" was all he said, making his way back to the SUV with the rest of the group. Lobbing her back to the ground, he tucked his gun into the waist of his jeans, eyes still fixated on her before following behind his authority. The car sped off, but Alycia couldn't seem to lift herself off the concrete grond fast enough before sprinting back to the store.