LXXVIII. Walking to Walgreen’s. June 1, 2021
cw, tw: domestic violence
>driving Lyft
>8:30 on a Monday
>get called to a house with two sheriff’s cars outside
>two deputies are talking to a Black guy in the front yard
>seems okay; everybody is being friendly
>actually cracking jokes
>twentyish white lady comes out of the house
>she is on the phone and crying
>cops say nothing to her, just let her pass
>she gets in the car
>on the way to TMH I hear one-half of two phone calls
>”Fuck yes I called the cops! He beats my ass all day long and I swear I just can’t take it anymore. I just want to kill myself!
>”He almost choked me out this morning! My neck hurts so bad—he even tore my new pants and I just bought these!
>”No I don’t want him to go to jail but I can’t take it no more! My BRAIN can’t take it no more and I’m coming apart!
>”The cops won’t go in there. Zane said he’d talk to them and wouldn’t let them in.
>”No, it’s like they’re checking up on him because he just got out, but they won’t go in. Hang on I gotta call his mother.”
>she does not call his mother
>it becomes apparent that she has called the man himself
>”Baby PLEASE don’t go out the house. The cops are still out there. I love you, I don’t want you to go to jail.
>”I called them because you wouldn’t quit beating my ass! You almost choked me out this morning. You ripped my pants.
>”You know, you keep saying you got another bitch that loves you, I wish you would just go and be with her. I can’t take it no more you beating my ass every goddamn day.
>”FUCK YOU! WHY DO YOU ALWAYS FUCKING SAY THAT! I am not selling my pussy! I love you and don’t want nobody else baby please, why do you always say that?
>”Why do you always say that, that was a long time ago, and even then I only did it like twice. I just want you to stop beating my ass.”
>she is sobbing
>”No you don’t love me.
>”No you fucking don’t—you love the streets that’s all you love.
>”Fuck your baby mamas! FUCK EM! I hope they all die. I hope they all fall in a hole and fucking die!
>”No baby please. Please don’t come out the house. Go hide under the bed or something, just please. Zane won’t let them in.
>”No, I got a Uber I’m not there. Did they leave? Are they gone?
>”No I’m in a Uber. I FUCKING TOLD YOU!
>”You always accuse me of that. Not him! I ain’t fucking with him he’s my kid’s daddy.
>”No he don’t want me and I don’t want him.
>”Yeah, accuse me of whatever just please don’t say him. Please don’t. I can’t take it anymore. Makes me want to kill myself.
>”Almost at the hospital. My neck hurts real bad. I took an Uber.
>”BECAUSE YOU KEEP FUCKING BEATING ME! Are you still in the house? Are the cops there? I don’t want you to go to jail.
>”No baby I love you. I don’t want nobody else, I told you. Stop bringing that up; it ain’t true. Can you come get me?
>”Just come get me please. PLEASE?
>”No you won’t have to go in the hospital; I’ll walk to the Walgreen’s or something.
>”Just come get me when the cops leave. I love you.”
>she hangs up
>collects herself
>says “I’m sorry I’m crying and screaming and cussing in your car.”
>what the fuck does one say in such a situation
>I blubber, “Lady don’t worry about that, oh my Lord. It’s good you got away from a guy that’s beating you. If a guy beats you one time, I guarantee you he will keep doing it.”
>she says, “I know. That’s why I called the cops on him.”
>I say, harsher than I realize “Then you should let the cops get him!”
>she says “They will. He left the house before the cops came but he has an ankle monitor. They’ll find him.”
>I drop her off at TMH
>I watch her go in
>I get caught at that redlight on Seventh
>when I get turned around
>I see her crossing the street
>walking to Walgreen’s