Answered Prayer

.....When I turn around, a smile slowly spreads across my cold face as I make direct eye contact with Jay.

Jay is Jerry's best friend and slowly becoming a lifesaver in this thing I call life. Jay gets out of the car and wraps his arms around my cold, shivering body, with a look of concern and disgust etched on his face.

"Yo, Toni, get in the car so I can take you home." He demands. "How long have you been out here walking in this cold ass weather with no fucking winter gear?".

"Me and Jerry got into another fight, and he made me take off my coat and told me to get the fuck out of his car and walk my ungrateful ass home."

The suppressed tears fell from my eyes, and I couldn't stop them from cascading down my face like a waterfall. I was hurt and embarrassed at the same time. Although Jay has been a witness to some of the verbal abuse that Jerry 

has put me through; he's never actually seen how cold and vicious he can actually be towards me.

 “

"Come on, Ma. Let's get you in the car and get you warm. Stop crying, baby girl, before those tears freeze up on yo face."

We both burst out laughing, and I got into the car and started to warm up. My limbs are burning, and my toes and fingers feel like pins and needles shooting through them. Jay hands me a blanket, and I cuddle up with it. I silently thank God for sending Jay my way in my time of need.

 When I think about it, he's always there in my time of need, rescuing me from Jerry's harsh treatment.

 As we drive in silence, he turns the radio on, and the sounds of Jacquees and Dej Loaf flow through the speakers as they sing about wanting to be with each other but already being in a relationship with somebody else. I shift in my seat while listening to the song. Somehow, the words pull at my heart, and I discreetly glance at Jay, who's bobbing his head to the beat.

 I secretly admire how handsome he is, and I think I wish I had met him before I met Jerry. I chose the wrong friend, and now I'm stuck with a fucking psychopath who degrades me and uses me as a punching bag. I don't know how I got to this point, but if the lord is willing, I will get out of this sinking ship before Jerry took it a step too far and I ended up on the nightly news or a hashtag on Instagram.

We finally arrive at the home I share with Jerry, and I'm paralyzed with fear, unable to step out of the car. The mere thought of Jerry's impending punishment sends tremors through my body. Jay's hand on my quivering knee offers a brief respite, his touch a soothing balm on my raw nerves.

"Thank you so much, Jay, for dropping me off. I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't shown up."

"It's all good, ma, I don't know why you let Jerry treat you like that. That's my boy and all, but I can't rock with how he treats you."  Diverting my eyes from his gaze, I lowered my head, ashamed of his comment.

 I ignore his statement as I gather enough courage to head into the house. I plaster a fake smile on my face and open the car door.

 "Thanks again, Jay." I shut the car door and walked to my building complex. My legs felt like putty as I got closer to the entrance. My fear was so strong that my hands were shaking as I took out my keys to gain entrance. I walked up the three flights of stairs until I was standing in front of my apartment, contemplating whether I should even go in.....

To be continued