Page 17 of The Spirit Of My Savage
My voice cracked. “Kamari…”
King didn’t look at me, just kept his eyes locked on Rome. “Tell her how you dropped the location. Told them niggas whereI’d be. Tell her how you stood outside my mother’s house the next mornin’ actin’ like you ain’t know shit. You know, me dyin’ broke her heart so bad now she gone too.”
Rome’s face twisted. “Bro, I didn’t…”
King cut him off, voice hard. “Don’t lie on the dead, pussy ass nigga.”
Rome backed up, hitting the wall. “Man, this some fuckin’....” The lights cut off completely, and the room went pitch black. He started shouting. “SKY, TURN THE FUCKIN’ LIGHTS ON!”
The lamp flickered once, then burst, glass hitting the carpet. The TV flashed static, and King’s voice came through it low, deep, and echoing like thunder.
“You think death makes me blind? I saw you. I watched you crawl up in my spot… hold my wife while she cried in the same bed I used to beat that pussy out the frame. You dirty as fuck for that.”
Rome was sweating, breathing hard, shaking his head. “You can’t prove shit!”
King appeared right in front of him, chest to chest, face cold. “Don’t need to. You already confessed.”
Rome’s knees buckled. He slid down the wall, gasping. “I didn’t mean for it to happen like that, bro.”
King leaned closer. “You did. You just ain’t think a nigga would be here to make you choke on it.”
“King!” I yelled, grabbing my chest. “Stop! Please!”
King looked over at me. “Nah, baby. He gotta feel it.” Rome screamed as his body jerked when he grabbed his throat. Heclawed at the air, eyes bulging. “Say it,” King growled. “Say what you did!”
Rome gasped out the words between wheezes. “I… I gave them the drop… you had… every fuckin’ thing. Thought you… was… untouchable. I had to… do it…” King’s face didn’t change. He let go, and Rome collapsed to the floor, coughing with tears streaming down his face.
I covered my mouth, crying. “Oh my God…”
King stood there, looking down at him. “Now you know it for real.”
Rome looked up at me, eyes wild. “Shorty, he ain’t real… don’t… don’t believe this shit. I love you.”
“Shut up,” I whispered. “Just shut the fuck up.”
Something in me snapped quiet. All the pain, all the years of lies… it was like it burned away until there was nothing left. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw something on the nightstand. The metal gleam caught the light—old, familiar. King’s piece. The one that never left his side when he was alive.
My breath caught, and Rome’s face fell when he noticed it too. “Sky…”
King stepped between us, solid, calm, his voice dropping low. “You got choices. But whatever you do next, it’s yours to live with. Just know, you ain’t crazy and you damn sure ain’t weak.”
I quickly picked up the gun as Rome charged at me, and I let that bitch ring. He flew backwards onto the bed, blood leaking from his neck as he screamed. I stood there shaking, chest heaving, eyes burning as the gun fell from my hands. King came toward me. His hands were cool and steady as he touched my face like he used to.
“It’s done,” he said softly. “It’s over, baby.”
I collapsed against him, sobbing. He just held me tightly. “I’m so fuckin’ tired,” I cried, snots everywhere. “Tired of pretendin’ I’m okay. Tired of everybody acting like I’m supposed to be over you already.”
“You ain’t gotta be over me. I ain’t askin’ you to forget me.”
“Then what are you askin’?” My voice cracked as I looked up at him. “’Cause I don’t know how to breathe without feelin’ you, Kamari.”
“I’m askin’ you to try, baby.” His voice was low, gentle, but still firm like always. “You deserve to smile for real again. To wake up next to somebody who gon’ love you out loud and fuck with you heavy and not halfway. Not on some guilt shit. Real love.”
I shook my head, chest breaking open. “That wasyou, King.Youwas that love. I ain’t got it in me to feel like that for nobody else.”
He cupped my face. “I’ll always love you. But I don’t wanna hold you hostage no more.” His eyes glistened. “You think this shits easy for me? Watchin’ you cry over me all the time? That shit cut deep. I want better for you. I want peace for you.”
“But what if I don’t want nobody else?” I choked out. “What if Ican’t?”
