Ouuuch!” I yell as I stubbed my big toe on the edge of the bedroom door, leaving my bedroom.
“What a perfect way to start your day, Mercedes!” I sarcastically say to myself, aloud.
I’m already late for work because somehow I miss all 10 alarms I set up. Like HOW! I think as I limp to the bathroom. I lean over in the tub and turn the knob for the hot water. “Ugggghhh” I groan. “Why does this apartment always have an issue with the water?! I pay all this money in rent! I should not have to deal with this!”
I would call them and give them a piece of my mind but they don’t open until 9 AM and I need to go to work. So, I gather myself and suck it up. I guess it’s a cold shower today.
After taking a quick shower, I continue my hygiene routine and start getting dressed for work. “Buzz … buzz” I hear my phone vibrating, on the bedside table. I grab it and there is a notification, from my homegirl. “Did you get the tickets for the concert tonight? I checked again and there are plenty left in our area! Ya betta hurry before they run out, CEDE!”
Let me go ahead and do that now.
It has been a while since I seen my friends, due to me going through it for the last couple of months. They already bought their tickets, months ago, but I decided at the last minute to go and never got around to getting them. I was in need of an outing, though. Luckily, I was able to get on the stadium website and buy a ticket. They stated it will be sent to me in an email a couple of hours, prior to the start of the concert.
Overjoyed, I text back “Got ’em! :)”
Good thing they got tickets on the side of the stadium. I usually try to get as close as possible but I’m just happy to be going out and seeing my friends.
I grabbed my car keys off the kitchen counter and rush out the door for work.
Vibing to the music playing in the background, of the car, I enthusiastically say ” Okaaayyy, I actually make it to work on time!” We have a five minute grace period and it looks like I can make it within that timeframe.
I pull up to the parking lot and what do we have? A parking lot full. Rolling my eyes, I state “Oh, I forgot we have a company meeting today!” I reflect on the reminder announcement my manager Mrs. Debbie made yesterday. I always try to get to work early on days like this for this exact reason.
Now, I have to park in the parking garage which means, I have to walk a little further to get in the building.
I’m definitely going be late now.
I can’t help but shake my head as a rush into the building, thinking about how I do not want to hear Mrs. Debbie’s mouth.
“How nice of you to join us Miss Cede!?” Mrs. Debbie sarcastically announces to everyone. “I don’t know how someone with a car as a name is always late!” Everyone laughs. I shake my head and take my seat, as they continue the meeting.
Although work started off rough, I still made the most of my day. You have to when you are working with the elderly. I realize that most of them are just lonely and need someone to talk to. So, I always make sure I am available as a empathetic ear for them.
I let everyone know how excited I am about going to the concert tonight. My coworkers are, especially, thrilled for me because they always say I need to get out more. I always decline the invites to the social gatherings, after work. Most days I am overwhelmed and just want to be left alone.
I do 80 mph on the express, after work. I only have two hours until the concert starts and I want to get there a little early.Hopefully the hot water is on when I get back! My mind wonders.
I waste no time as I enter my apartment. Directly to the bathroom I go to check the water. “They get on my f–king nerves!” I yell.
“It’s literally been over eight hours, since I left this morning and the water is still not HOT! I pay entirely TOO–” the receptionist interrupts me. “They are working on it now and it should be done by the end of the business day.”
“Y’all get off at seven! I have somewhere to be by then!” I state annoyed.
“I’m sorry for the inconvenience but this is out of our control. If there is nothing else I can do for you, I hope you have a nice day!”
“Well, I–” she hangs up, before I could finish.
“Biii—h..” I express while tossing my phone on the bed.
As I wait for the water to come back on, I start mixing and matching pieces of clothing to see what I’m going to wear tonight.
This is so silly. He is not going to see me in these nosebleed seats! I laugh, shaking my head to myself and shake my head, thinking about how fans go all out for these events.
After deciding on my attire, I check the water, again, and it is, finally, ready. I prop my phone up on the bathroom sink and turn on HIS playlist and listen to his voice as I shower.
Traffic doesn’t seem too bad as I speed down the expressway. My friend and I have already messaged each other and they are already there. I may be about 30 minutes late. I haven’t been to see him in a while ,so, I don’t know if he starts on time or what. I really don’t want to miss the opening acts but I’m still overjoyed that I will be seeing HIM.
I really like how organized this city is. There isn’t too large of a crowd on the street and parking is a breeze. On the outside looking in, you wouldn’t think that there was a stadium full of people. Ooorrr maybe everyone’s just got here early... I roll my eyes at my own thoughts. I walk over to the security to get checked in. They have their tickets scanners out and ready, as I walk through the middle detectors. I attempt to pull up the ticket on the phone, in the email that they sent me but, suddenly, my service is not responding.
“Don’t worry. That has been an issue all day. Most people had better luck over there.” The guard states while pointing back to the parking lot. Annoyed, I go back to the lot and was able to pull up the tickets. By now, I can hear the amphitheater sounds, in the background.
Once inside, I go directly to the concession stand and purchase a bittersweet frozen beverage. It is much needed after the day I’m having. Plus, it is hot in here.
I was able to spot my friends in the mid-upper portion of the wing of the stadium, by the stairs. They began waving and smiling, as I approach them. Everyone in this area is up and vibing to the DJ. “Okaaayyy, y’all are a lit over here!” I yell out over the music, dancing. “Bout time you–“
“Pow! Pow! Boom!” My friend’s fussing is interrupted and flames erupts from different angles, on the stage. I duck. They look over to me and shake there head and laugh. HE enters the stage and just stands there, still and everyone screams and claps.
As he continues to sing and dance his heart out throughout the night, at some point, he turns to our section and stretch his arm out with his fingers widths apart as if he is holding a basketball and sings, “…but it feeeels like it’s just us twooo..uh huh…” In this moment, it really does feel like it is just us. My jaw bone aches as my flushed face grins from ear to ear. An electrical current flows from my feet to the crown of my head and I feel like I am floating. I can feel my heart pounding in my chest. I spin around and dance as if no one is watching. I feel as if I could dance forever Ever EVER!
As the concert comes to an end, crowds form all around me. People are aggressively yet patiently making their way towards the exit doors. I remain seated and exchange goodbyes with my friends. When I notice that there is only the cleanup crew in the stadium, I get them my belongings to leave. On my way to the parking garage, I see a line of people on the side of the stadium, near the all black tour buses. I asked the security guard what was going on and he said states “There is a meet and greet. You had to have purchased a ticket in advance.” “Aw ok, thanks.” I say as I began to walk away. “Hey, I have an extra ticket. My friend was sick and couldn’t make it,” one of the young ladies in the back of the line states while holding out a ticket. “Wow. You sure?.. Thanks.” I say, confused, as I grab the ticket and get behind her in line. We exchange contacts and get to know each other as we patiently wait to be seen.
My heart begins to race again as I’m lead through the door double black doors, by security. In the middle of the room, I see HIM standing a little over six feet tall with his arms stretched out and all of his pearly whites showing. He chuckles and says “they saved the best for last!”
“You know it!” I state smiling and walking towards him and leaning in for a hug.
Suddenly, there is this force that feels like a gush of wind that expells from my body and slams into him. He, the couch and everything behind him is pushed to the back of the room and through the cemented wall. and into the next room.
There was a moment of silence. Everyone was frozen in place with their mouths open, including me.
“What have you done!?” His mom yells and runs to him through the huge hole left in the wall. Everyone becomes frantic and starts running towards him. I follow along.
” I don’t know… I didn’t mean to!” I respond to his mom.
His motionless body sits up against the broken wall piece like an action figure, covered in grayish dust and debris. Blood escapes from his mouth. His mom, with tears in her eyes, looks over at me with her eyelids squinting over her gray, yet fiery eyes and teeth clechened and yells “Get her out of here!!” She looks over to security and they rush over to me.
Tears form in my eyes as I effortlessly resist security, “I didn’t mean to! I dont know what happened” I repeat.
“Lil guuurl…” She states while she tilts her head down and eyes closed, shaking her head.
I stop resisting security as I can tell that is my last warning.
I let security carry me outside. I can’t help but pace the sidewalk thinking about the events that just occurred.
I can help him. “Yeah, I can help him!” I say aloud, straightening my posture and walking back in. The security meet me at the door but I’m too strong for them. I pushed through them and run back to the room. I quickly make my way through the crowd and pick him up as if he was a child and carry him across my shoulders. Somehow, I found the strength to run with him all the way to my apartment. What would’ve taken a 30 minute drive, only took 15 minutes on foot. “Huh!?” I question myself but I have no time to think about that. I need to get him inside before someone else sees.
I lie his body face upwards on my pink couch and cover him with my zebra throw blanket and prop up his head on a sparkly, silver accent pillow.
I take a step back and look around the room at the mess I just caused by getting him in. I get my phone and headphones and turn on my playlist as I begin to tidy up the area. As I continue to clean, I can’t help but think about where all of this strength has come from and look over at the huge full size wall mirror. I take a good look at myself and I began to flex my muscles. “I’m feeling ALL supaaa humaaan you did that to meeee!” I sing while Chris Browns voice travels from my headphones and through my ears. “Nothing can stop me here with YooOooUuu! Supa Humaaannn!” I continue to sing, while flexing in the mirror.
“Aaarrggghhhh!” I hear a groan coming from the couch. I look over and I see him attempting to sit upright. I rushed over to him and aid in adjusting his body to sit upwards on the couch. “I’m sooo sorry!” I gently say. “I don’t know what happened.” He groans more, in pain. I prop his head with a pillow as we both work together to get him in a comfortable position. “I’m so sorry..” I repeat. “I’ll be right back. Let me get you something for the pain.” I say walking towards the bathroom.
I bring back painkillers, cotton balls, hydrogen peroxide, Band-Aids and grab a water from the fridge. I begin to clean his wounds and bandage him up. I make sure he is aware of what I’m about to do as I say” I’m about to give you two ibuprofens for the pain and water, okay?” He nods in agreement.
I continue to make sure he is comfortable and repeatedly let him know how sorry I am and how I do not know where all of this strength came from. He interrupts me by placing his finger on my lips. He grunts and struggles to speak. “It’s …it’s…o…oh..kay…I…I had to..to get use to it to..” He smirks at me, still in pain and says, “Lil Supa Lady..” and pinches my cheek. I’m left speechless, staring at him in awe.
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