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Brandy rushed to the convenience store at 11:30 pm. Cigarettes, beer, and a few scratch-off lotto tickets, was all she needed. Constant greetings by squatters who had nothing better to do than stand outside asking for change and/or a phone number, made these visits unbearable. She thought the guarded armor of a hoodie and sweats, along with an “I’m a bitch” expression would turn them off...WRONG! The greetings came anyway. A beautiful, curvy, pecan tanned Texas woman with a short black pixie hairstyle, permanently shone through the loungewear.
A loitering bachelor’s radar went off as Brandy exited the car. He waited to meet face to face for an opportunity to reel her in with his eyes. She walked closer, catching a glimpse of the seductive face; not wanting to open the door of unwanted conversation consumed with lies. Nevertheless, the loitering bachelor had other plans. When the stare down of anticipation didn’t work, he moved on to the next approach.
“Hey miss lady! Can I talk to you?!?” He called out.
Giving a grimace look, she breezed past him. Appalled that a man of his caliber would think he had a chance with her.
Brandy was a 28-year old manager at a customer service center. Working hard to earn every dollar. The thought of some men thinking she would be open to having a lazy partner, constantly frustrated her. Being on the brink of turning 30, she started placing life into perspective. Elevation was necessary. The actions she tolerated in her early 20’s was starting to be deal breakers. However, the desire of raising standards was just a thought. No proof of the elevation, outside of ignoring certain types of men.
Refusing to make eye contact with anyone else, Brandy sped through the aisles searching for beer. The phone vibrated in her pocket, but she ignored it, allowing the buzzing to sooth her thigh instead. The phone buzzed again as she walked towards the register. Brandy stood in line while her pants shook looking around as if it wasn’t hers. Reaching the counter, she looked towards the entrance to see if the loitering bachelor was coming in. He didn’t. Taking a sigh of relief, she felt that the walk to the car would be an easy task. Abruptly placing the beer on the counter, she hoped for a quick transaction.
“Hey, can I get this, a pack of Newport 100’s, and three Lucky 7s.” She requested, pointing her finger at the items behind the counter.
“ID please.” The clerk demanded through the bulletproof glass.
Brandy rolled her eyes reaching to get her driver’s license, sitting with the vibrating phone. The clerk knew her face since she had to make the late night store runs on the regular.
“Here you go.” She said sliding it through a small opening at the bottom of the glass.
The clerk glanced at the license then handed it back to her. “Thank you.”
The 34 seconds it took for him to get what she requested felt like an hour. He gave her two plastic bags then rung up the purchase.
Brandy paid for everything before bagging the cigarettes, lotto tickets, and beer. The mere existence of her attitude gave a natural sense for those standing around to make a path for her exit.
“Have a good night ma’am.” The store clerk said breaking his firm look with a smile.
“Yea.” She replied, pushing the door.
Outside, the loitering bachelor was waiting to continue his advances.
“Miss lady! Miss lady! I just wanna talk to you.” He called out, walking behind her.
Brandy shook her head in disgust darting towards the car.
“Why you ignoring me?” He continued.
Staying focused, she hoped that his question would be the last. However, the man was relentless in not giving up until she gave in.
“I won’t take up much of your time!” He yelled louder, gaining the attention of those around them.
She had enough. The guy wasn’t taking the hint.
“For what!?” She snapped turning around to face him.
This was the first time she was able to see his face and clothing. The loitering bachelor was dressed in a dark hoodie covered by a bubble vest with black jogging pants and dirty sneakers. The loud stench from him insinuated that he’d been smoking weed without showering for the day. Not attractive at all. She couldn’t understand why he didn’t get the clue.
“Hey! I wanna get to know ya.” He said attempting to walk closer to with a smirk on his stubble face. “And I need a ride to Kingsland Boulevard. Can you help me out?”
“No and Hell no! Houston Texas has a bus line that can take you. You’re a grown man and you’re asking a woman for a ride; talking about you wanna get to know me. What am I going to do with you? Where are we going to go? Am I going to have to finance you too? You can’t take me nowhere cause you ain’t gotta car.” Brandy ranted, shaking the bag back and forth. “Leave me alone please.”
A frown replaced the smirk, and his tone went from suave to angry in seconds. She insulted his ego as his loitering friend leaning on the trashcan became amused. After her speech, Brandy took a glance at the antagonizing friend, and then turned to walk away.
“See bitch, that’s why you prolly ain’t got no man. Always angry ‘n shit.” He shouted pointing his finger in a gun gesture. “Ugly ass bitch can’t even help a brotha out!”
“Clown!” Brandy shouted slamming the car door.
Tossing the bag on the passenger seat not caring if the beer bottles broke, she cranked up her new sedan and pulled off. The loitering bachelor stood in place continuing to yell obscenities. The aggravation within her grew while processing what he said.
“How dare he call me out of name? I tried to keep it moving, but he brought that on himself.” She generalized.
Usually a woman would have been scared to yell at random stranger like that. Anything could have happened. In these times, rejected men turn violent quickly.
Although his words were harsh enough, it was fortunate that was all he did. Brandy wasn’t concerned as she didn’t want to go to the convenience store in the first place. The items weren’t even for her. The workday was draining and the thought of going home drained even more. The evening was to consist of a hot shower and peaceful time in bed. Not fighting off random men late at night.
On the way home, the aggression was in full force as she replayed the exchange in her head. Talking in the car as if the loitering bachelor was sitting on the passenger side.
“Why in the hell would I want to take care of you? Ugh I can’t STAND men like that.” She fussed. “I’M going to be the man in this situation?! Always giving and giving and giving. What do you have to offer? A penis!?!? No thanks. Dammit! Why are you going so fucking slow!?!?”
She banged the horn before jumping back into the solo argument.
“A dick can’t provide for me. What about what I need?! Damn clown. Fuck you! Lazy ass! Who in tha hell raised you!?!? You know what; I should call your mother and curse her ass out for unleashing your stupid ass into the world with that mindset. And the MAIN problem is that women have bowed down to men like that making it hard for...”
Brandy stopped fussing when she realized what she was about to say. An unsettling feeling came over, turning the rage into anxiety.
Yes, it is true that women put up with men like that, making it hard for those with standards to ward them off. What snapped her into reality was the fact that she WAS that woman.
Waiting at home was her own loitering bachelor. Instead, he loitered at home with nothing to offer. Just a man without a plan, living from handout to handout, and Brandy was his main hand.
Barely parking the car, she quickly snatched the bag from the passenger’s seat. Trying to forget about what happened at the store, she hurried up the steps hoping to have a good night. Part of her wanted to leave the bag at the door, knock twice, and runaway. Brandy had not been happy in a long time, and the reason for the unhappiness was squatting in an apartment she paid for every month with no help.
She walked into the unlocked door, and there he was. A 5’10 light skinned man with a thin mustache and fresh haircut. His facial expression wasn’t of the typical man ready to welcome his woman home. The type of man standing before her was cut from the same cloth she had told off at the convenience store.
Meet Jay. Brandy’s no-good boyfriend who would allow his woman to go out late at night to buy his useless items, without giving her money to cover them. There was no concern for her safety, just as long as she returned with what he wanted. Jay was a hood dude. In and out of jail for petty crimes, wanting money the fast way instead of working for it.
His jail tour started at the age of 18, helping friends rob a convenience store. He got away, however one guy from the group wasn’t so lucky and snitched for a reduced sentence. Jay spent two years in jail and received probation for a few years after. In the beginning, the ambition to turn his life around was present, but the conviction made it hard for him to find a job. Using that reasoning as a crutch and a sob story, he fell back into petty crimes for money along with living off others.
Prior to Brandy, he met an older woman unlucky in love. She was so desperate to have a family and Jay wooed her at the right time. He immediately moved in, they had two kids, and he became a third child for her to take care of. After a few years of jail visits, probation payments, and cheating scandals, she grew tired and kicked him out. However, that didn’t stop him from having an open invitation to come over late at night when she was lonely.
Jay and Brandy met at a convenience store. The one day she paid attention to a loitering bachelor, resulted in a relationship that led to unhappiness and anger. It was her turn to deal with the broken promises and him cashing in on the late night visits to his kid’s mother. Giving the excuse of only being there for the children.
She fell in love with Jay and his promises; hoping that her example of being a working professional would motivate him. It only gave the green light to be a leeching man. They had fun times, but only if Brandy paid for the date nights. He always didn’t have it or was going to get it, or simply ignored the check sitting on the table. Growing comfortable with having a man, she didn’t make the effort to move on and start over.
“Aye what took you so long!?!?” Jay asked before she could get in the door. “I’ve been trying to call you. I meant to tell you to pick up some rolling papers too. Did you get my text?”
Brandy ignored him and walked into the kitchen. The phone stayed buzzing in her pocket for that very reason. She fell for that trick before, which taught her to ignore all calls during a store run.
“I asked you a question Brandy. Did you get everything?” He asked following her.
Unpacking the plastic bag, knowing he wasn’t going to let up, she responded.
“What does this look like?” She replied pointing to the unpacked items. “And no, I didn’t get the text. If you want rolling papers walk to the store and get ‘em yourself. Me and my car are staying here until the morning.”
“Shit! I tried to call you. Why you ain’t answer your damn phone? Shit Brandy! Now I gotta find some rolling papers around here. Jay replied, pacing. “Do you know if I have some left?”
“I don’t know, and I don’t care. I don’t even smoke weed so I’m not concerned with all of that.” Brandy said loading the dishwasher. “You’ve been home all day and you couldn’t even run the dishes!?!?”
“Yea I meant to do that, but I fell asleep. My bad woman.” He said in a softer tone while retrieving a beer. “Good. At least you got something I wanted. I needed this! You want a beer?”
“No.” She mumbled, tossing the soap packet into the dishwasher.
“What’s your problem? You come up in here without my stuff because you ignore my calls and you got an attitude.” Jay whined.
Brandy started the dishwasher then rose to meet his eye contact, with a blank stare.
“The rent is due. You putting some money in on it?” She asked tapping her middle finger on the counter.
“You know my money ain’t come in from my aunt yet and I’m trying to hit my boy up about this clothes shit he selling. Was going let me in on it.” He replied rubbing his head. “He knows this guy that has these clothes and if we up sell ‘em we can make some good money. Shit it’s a lot of stuff too. Them little dresses these females wearing at the club and some jerseys. I think he got some Jordan’s too. Yea we gone make some money off that shit, and I can shoot you a couple of hundred for the rent and lights and shit. But I’m still waiting on him to hit me back, you know.”
She let out a huge sigh and rolled her eyes at the monologue of excuses and the pipe dream that wouldn’t happen.
“Have you tried calling him? Of course not.”
“You got it don’t you?” Jay asked, pointing at her.
“Yea. As always.” Brandy nodded. “I already paid it.”
“See...we good then.” He replied, opening the beer. “Tryna get me all worried for nothing. Thought I’d have to go out and hustle for it woman.”
He took the cigarette box and tapped it on the palm of his hand. The irritating noise made Brandy realize what he just said. Jay knew he wasn’t going to hustle for anything. He never did. Anytime money came to him, it went to gambling or weed. Thinking of that made her mad all over again. In addition to the thought of this dude being home all day and not helping with household chores; then feeling relieved because SHE took care of the bills.
It didn’t bother him once. As long as he had a free place to stay, Jay was content. Not caring about how hard Brandy worked to maintain their small apartment. She was able to afford a bigger place but refused to have him laying up somewhere nice while contributing nothing. If she was going to do everything financially, they would be as cramped as possible.
Sad that Brandy would think to downgrade her life because of the man she chose. Her hope was for him to see their living situation and try to help get something better. That thought never registered to Jay, he was happy just the way things were. He wasn’t used to having much anyway.
“No, I’M good. WE are not good.” Brandy said, watching him pull out a cigarette to smoke.
“Awe hell here we go. You my woman. We got the money for the rent so why you trippin?” He giggled, lighting the cigarette. “It’s like you find reasons to walk around here mad and shit.”
“Quit adding this WE shit when it comes to MY money! WE don’t wake up early to get ready for work. WE don’t fight through traffic to get to work. WE don’t deal with crazy customers and co-workers every day. WE don’t do any of that shit. I DO! I MAKE THE MONEY JAY!”
Blowing out a puff of smoke, he set the lighter on the counter. “Oh, so it’s like that now?”
“Jay it’s BEEN like that. You don’t do shit around here. You go out all times of the night and you contribute NOTHING!”
Brandy walked away towards the bedroom. The sight of him at that point was sickening.
Jay walked behind as she stopped at the bedroom doorway to take off her clothes. He watched her undress, blowing smoke in an upward direction, sneering at the back of her head.
“We don’t have to be together. We can just be roommates in here and leave it at that.” He responded. “You go your way and do your thang and I’ll do mine. You don’t have to be with me Bran.”
“ROOMMATES?!?! Roommates SHARE expenses.” She turned around and yelled. “You don’t pay for shit! Unless you sell a few drugs and then it’s blown on gambling or God knows where else because I don’t see any of it. You contribute zero dollars to this place! ZERO! What part of that aren’t you getting?!?!”
“You stay trippin woman.” Jay laughed.
“I’m not happy Jay.” Brandy said in a lowered tone. “I haven’t been happy in this relationship for a long time. You don’t help out. You’re probably out cheating again, and I can do this by myself. You’re more trouble than you’re worth.”
“OK.” He nodded. “I get you’re unhappy. But don’t take that out on me. I’m your man. My job is to be a companion. I show you love.”
“Only in the bedroom.”
“It’s still love! And I give it. What other man is going to show you that? You made the decision to be unhappy. I didn’t give you those feelings. I’m here. I’m in your arms every night. I come home to you!” Jay said, pointing his cigarette at her.
“Only because you have no other place to go. If you did, you wouldn’t think to circle back around this way. You don’t want a girlfriend, you want a caretaker and I can’t do too much more of this.”
He continued to smoke his cigarette waiting for her to be done with the conversation.
Unfortunately, they had the same talk every month for the past two years. They’d been dating for three. After the first year, he decided to move in. Unknowingly to Brandy, he only suggested it because his friend put him out. She knew what she was getting. A semi-drug dealer, but not the money to back up the stereotypical title. She tried to make things work but was constantly pushed to the edge.
“Can you at least pay me back for the stuff I got for you tonight?” She yelled.
“Calm your ass down.” Jay warned. “You know I’m short on money!”
“Sick of your stupid ass!” Brandy shouted slamming the bedroom door in his face.
Sitting on the bed, she waited for the front door to close, giving a sign that there would be peace for the rest of the night through his absence.
A few seconds later, he banged on the bedroom door. “Brandy! Stop locking me out! Tired of you doing that shit!”
“I paid for this apartment. It’s MY bedroom!” She shouted back.
Jay felt like the king of the castle, and no lack of employment or financial contribution would allow him to believe otherwise. Every woman in his life took care of him, so that mentality came naturally. His looks carried him a long way with the ladies. Enough to where he could charm his way into any living situation without a job or determination to be better.
The banging grew louder and louder along with Jay’s voice demanding her to open it. Worried the neighbors would complain, she unlocked the door. As soon as it flung open, the yelling continued.
“What tha hell is wrong with you?!? I told you about that shit!”
“Whatever. I need to get to bed I have to be in early tomorrow.” She said, turning away from him. “Sleep in the living room tonight. I don’t want to be around you.”
“I don’t care where the fuck you gotta go! Don’t do that shit again!” Jay yelled walking towards her. “And I’m sleeping MY bed tonight. Ain’t gone be no sleeping on the couch over here!”
“I can’t take you serious right now. Please go scratch off your lotto tickets and hope for a miracle.”
She walked into the closet, laughing to herself about her boyfriend’s tantrum. That didn’t sit well with his ego and he decided to show who was king.
“Don’t walk off from me while I’m talking to you.” He followed.
“Shut up Jay. Always talking about nothing. I don’t care about you being mad right now.” She taunted. “Go roll up or something. Just get the hell out of MY room.”
He stood firmly in the closet doorway, watching her sift through clothes. Brandy didn’t look up to meet his glaring eyes. She put on nightclothes and picked an outfit for work then proceeded to walk out of the closet. His hand stopped her from moving.
She was not in the mood to deal with him. Thinking that by ignoring the tirade, he would give up and go away. After that didn’t work, her anger returned.
“Tha fuck is your problem?” He asked with his hand pressed firmly on her chest.
“You! Dumbass!” She snapped, pushing the hand away. “Move! I need to go to bed!”
“You gone stop disrespecting me.” He pointed at her forehead. “I’m the man of this house.”
“Ha! The man!?! Please. Ain’t nothing about you says, ‘man of the house’. You’re tired, broke, and full of shit!” Brandy antagonized. “As a matter of fact, you’re my BITCH! You can’t get shit without me. Not even a pack of cigarettes!”
She had never called him a bitch before. Those words were a culmination of everything. Jay cheated on her several times with the baby mama. Along with disrespecting her. After that tirade in the car with herself, Brandy realized that the anger towards the convenience store loitering bachelor was for her man.
Jay grew angrier as she tested his character. He didn’t appreciate the name calling nor highlighting his money status. She chose him and in choosing him, there was an unspoken “as is” policy.
Grabbing her forearm, he shoved her into the closet. She stumbled backwards, catching onto the wall to keep from falling.
“Fool are you crazy!!? Let me out of this closet. Unlike you, I have a job to go to tomorrow.”
“Keep it up.” He warned again. “I’m not playing with you woman.”
“Then leave! Please! I don’t need you here. You don’t do shit!” She yelled.
Fury filled his face, trying to instill fear into his woman. The fact that she wasn’t submitting only intensified the moment. Brandy knew something was brewing but refused to back down.
Although they constantly argued over money, it had never escalated to a physical level. They entered into new territory in the relationship and it wasn’t good at all.
“And what are you going to do?” She tested, tossing the clothes to the floor.
Jay didn’t respond, while walking towards her only to push his lady into the wall again. Falling back into the wall with her arms spread wide, Brandy started to feel fear. However, she wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of showing it.
“So, you’re just going to push me all night?” She asked, staying close to the wall.
He kept his eyes on her with a stern look, but it wasn’t working. There was no respect for him as a man.
“What is this supposed to be about?” Brandy asked slowly moving forward.
Remaining silent, he shoved her again. This time with more force causing her back to make a dent in the wall.
Growing tired of the charade, Brandy made an executive decision. If Jay wasn’t going to stop, she would make him. She picked up his expensive sneaker and held it firmly in her hand. One more push, and he was going to get it.
“Tha fuck is your problem?!?!” Jay shouted, moving his eyes to the sneaker.
“You know what. Get tha fuck out.” She shouted while chunking the shoe at him.
The shoe hit him in the chest and plopped on the floor. As he recovered from the surprise, she snatched his clothes off hangers and threw them in a pile. Noticing that he wasn’t moving, she spoke up again.
“You heard me. Get tha fuck out! This is MY house, and you don’t do shit around here but give me a fucking headache!”
Brandy became a raging animal tugging and tossing clothes. For once, she realized how she created her own unhappiness. The relationship was toxic with no signs of getting better. It was past time to let it go.
“Wait hoe you ain’t putting me out!” He said waving his arms.
“Hoe!? YOU’RE THE...Oh, you really gotta go now!” She resumed, tossing a shoe at his head.
While dodging the second shoe hurl, Jay turned into a monster. That was the only way he saw fit to regain his manhood. He grabbed Brandy by the neck, jacking her up on the wall, creating another dent with her head. She dropped everything trying to fight him off.
“Jay, stop!” Brandy screamed in a raspy voice, clawing at his shoulder and face.
Jay didn’t say a word. Watching her struggle to be freed from the strong grasp was gratifying. Throughout the tussle, his hand moved to her jawline. He tightened his grip as she looked into his dead eyes.
Brandy, on the other hand, only fought harder to get away. She feared for her life. After scratching and kicking him more times he could handle, he let her go. Only to stand over her and relish as she fell to her knees coughing.
“Jay...I can’t BELIEVE...you just did that!” She said, trying to regain composure.
Brandy was hurt physically and emotionally but he wasn’t going to kick her ass in her own closet. She resumed piling his clothes while on the ground, waiting for him to leave so she could stand.
“Stop touching my stuff unless you’re going to hang it back up.” Jay kneeled to her level. “See, you brought this on yourself woman. We could have had a good night. Making love in bed, but you wanna come home with an attitude and take it out on me.”
“Leave me alone Jay.”
“Woman...come to bed.” He demanded grabbing her face to look at him.
Brandy snatched away, keeping her place on the floor pushing his shoes into the pile.
“Fine. I’ll leave you to this mess then.”
Jay stood up and walked out of the closet. He sat on the edge of the bed clicking the TV remote. The man pushed and choked his girlfriend in her own closet yet had the nerve to suggest they go to bed together. Brandy felt anger rising higher and higher.
She stood up and walked out of the closet towards him. All of the anger rushed to her right hand, using it to slap him across his face.
“Man, what tha hell!?!?” Jay screamed, writhing in pain. “You almost broke my nose!”
He arose; grabbing her neck then slung her on the bed. Erratic hand slaps came across her face with a monstrous force.
“Jay stop it! Stop it Jay!”
At that point, fear overtook anger. Brandy thought her life was ending as the choking and slapping continued. Numb to her body aching because of the adrenaline rush mixed with mentally leaving the situation. Jay finally got what he wanted. Real fear out of his woman.
“I told you about this shit. I told you!” He slapped and choked harder to make sure the message was clear.
Brandy’s man wasn’t in the mood for murder, however he wasn’t aware of his strength. She was barely breathing and surrendering to the notion of being weaker than Jay’s rage.
After feeling superior by the physical ruling, he released her and slowly climbed off the bed. With a throbbing nose, he walked into the bathroom to check out the damage.
Brandy laid in bed feeling defeated. Despite the aggravation, she loved him. A man she truly loved harmed her in a way she’d never imagine. With a little strength returning, she sat up and staggered back into the closet to retrieve Jay’s clothes.
“Get out Jay! NOW!” She said with a cracked voice.
“What!” He walked out the bathroom holding his nose. “You hit me and now I have to leave?!?”
Surprised that she still wanted to put him out, after every attempt he made to scare her. His lady was not going to stop unless he killed her or left the apartment for the night. Jay assumed they were going to give each other the silent treatment and wake up the next morning as if nothing happened.
However, Brandy didn’t want to wake up to a man who physically abused her. She dealt with taking care of him, but he wasn’t going to be a leech AND a woman beater on her dime.
“Yes! I told you before you had to leave, now go!” She sniffled. “You have ten seconds or I’m calling the police!”
Jay went into the kitchen to get a trash bag. Although he loved his situation, it wasn’t worth going back to jail. While throwing clothes in the trash bag, he made one final attempt to scare Brandy into letting him stay.
“If I leave I ain’t coming back woman. Ain’t no other nigga like me. I’m a real one who loves you and you just giving up like this. See this is a blessing. You ain’t strong enough for a nigga like me. You a weak bitch.”
She tried to ignore the speech while transferring his things to the living room but couldn’t. The words stung as hard as the aftermath of her face meeting his harsh palms.
Jay pulled out his cell to call his friend, T-Red.
“Aye T. This bitch over here trippn and I’m leaving her.... yea man I need you to come scoop me up real quick...Shit I know. I knew she couldn’t take a nigga like me. I was losing interest in the bitch anyway.... Ha! Hell yea. Trick can’t get a man and I do her a favor by moving in, so she can have somebody to come home to. I can’t take this shit no more....”
Brandy was hurt and couldn’t take any more of his words. She locked herself inside the bathroom to avoid any remaining drama. Looking in the mirror, she found a swollen face painted with bruises, blood, and shame. Feeling stupid for dealing with Jay for three long years, tears streamed at the thoughts of giving up chances to meet someone new. In that instance, she promised herself no other man would do that again.
30 minutes later, Jay left in silence.
Walking back into the bedroom where all the drama took place, Brandy felt sick to her stomach. She almost threw up as she reached the closet looking at empty hangers the dents in the wall from their tussle. Shaking her head, she blacked out.
A panic attack sent her to the floor crying and heaving. She spent the night in the closet, waking up early the next morning to call in and take a few days off work.
Two days flew by with Brandy moving around in a trance. Unfortunately, Jay found himself back at her front door. She hadn’t left her apartment since the incident. His remaining belongs found in the bathroom were packed into a small box and placed outside in front of the apartment door.
He picked up the box and tried to use the key to let himself in. To his surprise, she had the super change the locks. Knocking slowly, he thought of what to say to get back on her good side.
“What do you want?” Brandy answered, looking at the pathetic excuse of a man in front of her.
“I’m sorry.” Jay replied with a smile.
“I know.”
“Don’t be like that. Stop being mad at me. You know we have a love that can survive anything.”
“What!?” She shrieked, holding her face as it hurt to open her mouth wide.
“I love you Brandy and you know you love me. I don’t have any place to go. You’re going to let your man live on the street?” He whined.
“You’re not my man and I suggest you go back to wherever you were for the past two days.”
“Brandy.”
“Goodbye Jay. Please stay away or I’m calling the police for real.” She demanded then slammed the door in his face.
A piece of her wanted him back. She was comfortable with Jay but there were throbbing pains on her face, neck, and head reminding that couldn’t be a possibility. Her ex-lover showed what he was capable of, and she was scared to go back. Brandy was done with him for good.