No cards pulled, jolynna jean-pierre [e manga reader TXT] 📗

on now...take off these wet clothes off, and let's put some dry ones on you" *shivers* "ok" *goes in the guest room**changes my clothes**wraps my hair in a towel**exits the room**heads to the tv room**sits on the couch**turns on the tv**watches house* *falls asleep*

(some hours later...)

*slowly wakes up* *mumbles* "lalia??" *looks around**sits up* *hears lalia on the phone**slowly walks towards lalia's room**listens* "no, listen, i don't want chocolate worrying about the arrangements for the funeral. Let me be the one worrying about that stuff, ok?..i mean like foreal, why would i let my little cousin worry about her baby brother's funeral when she is still trying to recover over the fact that he died..i mean like have a heart for the child" *slowly cracks the door open**door screaks**lalia quickly turns around* "chocolate...hunny, you up already?...i thought you'd be exhausted from all that walking you did in the rain yesturday?" "well, again, you thought wrong, and why are you trying to do my brother's funeral without me?" *lalia sighs* "i don't want you overworrying yourself right now...all you need to do is go lay back down on the sofa, drink you a nice glass of calming tea, and relax..watch some tv, do some yoga, do something to keep your mind at peace" "um...ok" *exits lalia's room* *returns to the tv room**makes me some hot tea**turns on the tv**sits on the sofa**begins watching another episode of house**slowly drinks my tea**focuses on the house episode**lalia exits her room**lalia enters the kitchen* "so..when is the funeral going to be?" *lalia looks at me* "what was that?" "i said when is the funeral?" "oh the funeral is today at 2pm" "mhm..ok" *lalia's phone begins to vibrate* *lalia answers* "hello?" "lalia..is it true?" "who is this? and how have you come to know my number?" "this..this is your aunt, charllote" "you have some nerve calling me...do you know what chocolate is going through because her brother is dead" "so it is true" "yes...it is true" *lalia looks at me* "what's wrong lalia?" "um...no...nothing" *walks towards lalia* "who's that on the phone?" "nobody.." "let me have the phone" "i said it's nobody" *grabs the phone* "who is this calling my cousin at this time of day?" *silence* "um..hellloooo?" "chocolate, please, quit acting like a child, you need to be mature about certain situations like these" *recognizes voice* "mom?" "chocolate" *hands lalia back the phone* "i...i can't talk to her...not now" *lalia takes the phone back* *walks back to the sofa**turns off the tv* *walks to the guest room*

(15 minutes later...)

*enters the funeral home**finds my seat**sits down**lalia sits next to me**service begins**pastor begins speaking*

"How are you ladies, and Gentlemen doing this sad evening" 

(2 hours later...)

*walks around while the dinner is going on**an elderly lady walks up to me* "Chocolate?" "yes...may i help you?" *the elderly lady shakes her head* "no, you can't help me, my dear, i come only to give my dearestappologies about little joey. he was such a sweet boy." *glances at her* "is that all?" *the elderly lady looks sad and shocked* "you don't remember me, do you?" "To be honest with you...i don't know anyone's face or at least i don't want to remember anyone's face right now...my cousin just called up a whole bunch of family members that she knows that are related to me, and here we are...pilled up in one big hoop of pain..*chuckles*..it's funny. Seems like the only time family truly gets together is when a funeral is involved...and yes, i know that you are my grandmother off of my mother's side" *walks outside the funeral home**breathes in and out**looks at the sky**whispers* "i know you up there somewhere..where ever you are, stay close to god and don'twonder around" *whips my tear from my face**walks back inside**sees lalia**yells* "lalia!!" *lalia quickly turns around* "let's go" "just a minute, i got to finish my conversation first" "let's go...NOW!!" *lalia gets up and grabs her purse* "excuse me everyone..." *lalia andi exit the funeral home**enters the car*

lalia drives off* *goes home* *rushes to the guest room* *lays down* *sighs* “well, I guess this is it, huh?” *a tear falls* “good night joe” *sleeps*

 

Chapter 5 – State of Georgia vs. Cynthia Ballome (part 1)

 

*wakes up* *yawns* "well...isn't it a shitty day. .." *slides out of bed* *looks into the mirror* *yawns* *thinks to myself* "Joe.... how can I go another day without you? You were my baby...1ike literally my baby...I took care of you... bathe you…fed you...loved you as if you were my own child although you were my brother... *tears falls* . . . I never experienced love so deep and so pure before in my life...." *breaks down crying* As soon as I looked in the mirror, I started to realize something. *whispers to myself* "live life to make joe proud" *slowly walks to the bathroom* As my feet start to touch the cold tiles of the bathroom floor, I start to shiver from the icy cold touch. *shivers* *turns on the water in the tub* *fog starts to rise* *sighs* *begin to trance into thoughts again* "this water feels good...too good...so good, I could just…" *sighs* I bathe myself and slowly dries myself. I slowly go to my room with sadness with the thoughts of joey being gone since my graduation. *stretches* *puts on my jogging outfit* *Lilia enters the room* "knock...knock" *slightly looks at her* *she smiles* "why...you're up bright and early" "I couldn't sleep so I decided to go out for a jog" "well, don't be out too long..." *Lilia smiles* "I won't…" “before you leave though... " "yes?" "I've made you some breakfast...it's in the kitchen" "thanks" *heads to the kitchen*

(15 minutes later)

As I exit the house, I am greeted by a soothing breeze that softly lifted my sadness towards the heaven blue skies. *smiles* *places my headphones in my ears* *plays brave by Sara

Bareilles* *starts jogging* *mumbles* "say what you want to...and let the...fall out...honestly, I want to see you be brave..." As I turn the corner, I notice my burdens were slowly drifting as a temporary relief.

(30 minutes later)

*jogs into the driveway* *notices a brand new BMW* *enters the house* "hey. ...who's BMW. *sees gorge* ...OMG?! Gorge?!" *hugs him* *he smiles* "hey coco... "how you knew I was here?" "your cousin told me. " *slightly smiles* "well...I'm glad you came... *gorge smiles* "ah...yes.. .1've got something for you... "really?!" "close your eyes and cradle your arms" "cradle my arms?" "just do it...ok... " *closes my eyes and cradles my arms* *gorge places a golden retriever puppy in my arms* *gorge gets on his knee with a ¼karat diamond ring in his hand* *it licks me* *quickly opens my eyes while laughing* *sees gorge* "gorge?" "Chocolate Pearle Jackson..." "Gorge?!" "will you do me the honor. . . " "you can't be serious right now... " *tears flows* "in being my wife instead of my god sister?" *cries* "you've been aware of how I felt about you all this time, and after this tragic incident, I cannot afford to lose you either... -I love you so much and I don't care how much people say this is wrong, I want to spend forever with you and grow with you and be there with you..." *yells* "yes gorge yes?!" *rushes over to gorge and kisses him* *he places the ring on my finger* *Lilia walks in on us kissing* "oh...hello gorge" *cries happily* "Lilia?! I'm getting married?!" "omg?!...I'm so happy for you" *smiles* "thanks. " *thinks* "Gosh, is this really happening...l mean if so, don't stop" A few days passed and everything started to look up right... well, so it seemed. *door bursts open* "They found her?!" *Lilia jumps up while making lunch* "they...they found who?" "Cynthia?!" 'they did!" "yes... *holds a newspaper*-it says here that she's been arrested in the DeKalb county jail house for multiple fraud charges" It seemed like happy news until reality struck me hard. ''you do know what this means right, chocolate?" "yes...I do...” Moments later, a police car pulled into the driveway. "well, here we go... " *knock knock* *Lilia opens the door* "yes?" "is this residence of Ms. Chocolate Jackson?" "yes, I'm Lilia Jackson, her cousin, is there a concern that we must address?" "yes madam.... we need for both you and Ms. Chocolate to come down to the jail house to answer a couple of questions regarding her brother's killer... oh ok...let me get her and grab my purse" *she softly closes the door* "coco ...go grab your purse, we have to go... " "ok" *quickly goes upstairs* *Lilia turns off all the heat in the kitchen and grabs her purse* *grabs my purse* *comes downstairs* "you ready?" "let's go" We left the house calmly and followed the officers into their vehicle. On arriving to the jail house, an overwhelming feeling came over me. "I don't know if I can do this. " *Lilia looks at me* "you are as strong as you are brave, don't let nothing stop from getting justice for your brother... " *takes a deep breath* "ok" *exits the car**enters the building* The police leads us to an interrogation room. *a detective Step inside* "before we go inside, I just want to say, off the record, I am truly sorry about your loss... "thank you... but I need to know something... where is your father while all this is going around?" *looks at Lilia* "um…” "because I am aware from my records, you haven't spoken or seen your father since your brother was born…is this true?" *Lilia intervenes* "what does this have to do with you finding my cousins killer?" "well, because Miss Jackson, it seems that both of the victim's parents are alive, and yet, only one seems to have attempted to make contact with either of you…" *looks down* "we just need to know any leading facts from the victim's only living sibling eligible to speak on his behalf..." An awkward silence filled the room. "is it because he is in jail for attempted murder?" When I heard those words, I felt the whole world sink within my chest.

"how...how... " *the detective looks at me* "how what? How I know?" "yes" "well, baby girl, that's my job" "is he here?" *the detective glares* "now why on earth would you want to see him?" "because he is my father..." "that is no explanation...never mind that...I’ll see if I can get you to see him... but only after my questions at hand..." "ok" After an entire two hours of questioning about what happened prior to the death of my brother, the detective finally wrapped it up. "now are you sure you want to see him?" "yes" "alright..." As they lead me to the visiting pen, my stomach began to tie a knot. "Joey Jackson?!" "yeah..." "you got a visitor..." ''who?" "your daughter...” *joey slowly entered the pen* We starred at each other like two identical strangers. *chokes up* "d... dad?" *joey starts to tear up heavily* "and all this time, I thought god had punished me for being an irresponsible father...I’m so sorry for not being there for you and your brother...I swear if it wasn't for my current situation...” “dad.... stop...I forgave your absence a long