TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT...

I grab the handcuffs and seductively begin to twirl them around my index finger. Man after all we have been through, there was a period when I thought this would never happen. Honestly, the closer we got to this day everything felt surreal and the more nervous I became. As I look around, I notice my bride is still in the bathroom - it's obvious I'm not the only one feeling butterflies because she has been in there for over 30 minutes now...I'm a little worried so I knock on the door and playfully ask, “Honey, what are you dooooooooo-ing?” She waits a minute laughs and replies, “I'll be out in a minute Boo-Boo.” I jokingly ask, “ummmmm, is that what your doing?” about a minutes passes when she finally gets it and yells, “SHUT UP!” While I wait I sit on the edge of the bed and begin to fidget some more with the cuffs, I get up, go to my tux and grab my phone. I turn it on for the first time since I walked in the church, and after it loads about 60 text and voice-mail notifications pop up. The first text I see is from (my fraternity brother) Moe, “Congratulations on the wedding, I hope your wife know she got a player for life, and that’s no...LOL, I'm joking, I'm joking, but seriously you did it. Man, who would ever thought you'd be the first to get married, I'm proud of you dog, but hit me up when you get some time, I know your on your honeymoon and all.” I sit there for a moment and had to read the text again, “Congratulations on the wedding, I hope your wife know she got a player for life, and that's no...LOL, I'm joking, I'm joking..” I stop reading when it finally clicks that he has quoting Tupac. It's funny, but I got to thinking about the text and can't help but feel there was some truth in his message. It was that lifestyle that nearly cost me my destiny, I look to the ceiling and begin to shake my head, when the bathroom door opens and out comes THE most beautiful woman my eyes have ever seen, wearing Victoria's greatest secret. She grabs the handcuffs off the bed and starts to walk over to where I am – I stand there looking and try to flex my abdominal muscles in an attempt to look sexy. I can feel my heart racing as she puts her hand on my chest and whispers in my ear, “Baby, can you please sing our song...pleeeeease?” I bite my bottom lips and smile – only because I knew that she knew that I knew the request was coming and without any hesitation I put my hand under her chin, look into her eyes and begin to sing, “I can't imagine life without you by my side, this is love baby that I’m feeling and I’m hoping that you're feeling the same way. Things tend to slip my mind, like how you like to wine and dine baby with romantic lights. You mean a lot to me in so many ways...Lately, have I told you I love you, lately, have I told you, you still mean the world to me, lately, have I told you I love you? I'll be your...” Before I can finish the chorus she leans forward and presses her soft lips against mine. We continue to kiss until I feel the handcuffs being snatched from my hand and a concerned voice says, “We need to get something to eat, you're trippin' AGAIN and I'm feeling pretty weak.” She slowly puts the cuffs on April and asks me, "Can you atleast put her in the back seat...dayreamer"? I give her a half smirk, pick up April and put her in the back, slam the door and hop into the front seat. We both shut our doors simultaneously and as I start the SUV I look over at her, and as I begin to pull off I matter-of-factly say, “I'm listening...”

GENESIS 4:1-8???...

Without thinking, I open the door, throw the bag between myself and April and quickly and cautiously step out of the SUV. I instinctively grab the gun from my jacket pocket, point it at her and tell her to get out of the car. I glance over at Veronica, who has her head down but slowly looks up and she gives me a confused, 'why are you doing this' look. I feel myself getting angry as April continues to ignore me, more sternly I tell her once again to get out of the car. I move back closer to the SUV when Veronica yells, “STOP IT, JUST STOP IT, Curtis...” I look back at her and calmly ask, “When...why, did you kill her, now we may never know the truth...LOOK, L-L-LOOK IN THE BAG!” She motions for me to come closer to where she is and I just shut-up and do as I'm told. She sucks her teeth and says, “Look at you, you still have no clue...sweetheart, I already know what they probably told you about me. I already know whats in the bag. I already know whats in the trunk. I already know everything you know. What you need to do is get behind this wheel and get to Chicago, I promise to tell you everything on the way. Look, I know this is a bit much, but I'm the only person you can trust, so stop acting so soft and mann up - we need to get going.” She hands me the cuffs I once wore and tells me, “Put these on April, she's not dead, she has a condition...I would never kill my sister...”

IN THE BEGINNING...

I close my eyes in anticipation of the gun going off and in my mind I am no longer in the SUV. I'm sitting on a bench by the river waiting on a certain young woman to arrive – but as usual she is late. I'm about as nervous as I've ever been in my life as I finally see her pull up and make her way over to where I'm sitting. As she gets closer I see she is wearing a gray jogging suit, pink shirt, matching gray and pink Air Max, and with her hair in a ponytail her beauty still takes my breath away. Once she sees me she picks up her pace and eventually jumps into my arms – like she hasn't seen me in years. We continue to hug and begin to kiss until she pulls away and says, “So, what was so urgent that you have me missing 'THE REAL WORLD: LAS VEGAS'?...you know that's my show, you...” I put my index finger on her lips and tell her, “be quiet babe...” My heart is now racing and oxygen seems to have stopped flowing through my lungs. I take a deep breath to regain my composure, but I guess it doesn't work because she asks, “Baby, are you OK, you don't look too good?!” I ignore her question and try to focus on the reason why I am here. I sit her down and tell her, “Babe, since the moment I met you, I knew you were the one. I mean I thank God everyday for bringing you into my life, it's because of you I strive to be a better Mann (she looks at the ground almost as if she is embarrassed). There is not one thing about you that I would change, and in the past I know I did - at times - and I’m sorry for that. Looking back, I know we haven't had the best relationship, BUT I can say it's far from the worst...baby I love you and I don't ever want you to doubt that (she quickly looks up as if she is about to cry – I pause) I don't want you to be my girlfriend anymore...” Before I can finish, she cocks her head to the side as if to say 'oh you got me messed up' and lands a two-piece combo that nails me right below my right eye. She is crying uncontrollably now, but suddenly stops and manages to get up and in a voice similar to a child after they have gotten a whoopin' mumbles, “You (sniff) you (sniff) you brought me ow,ow,ow, out here to tell me that?” I look at her and can't help but to smile and laugh – I pull the ring from my pocket get down on one knee and say “No, but if you would have let me finish, I was gonna say that I didn't want you to be my girlfriend, I want you to be my WIFE...would you do me the honor of being MRS. CURTIS L. MANN III?” She takes the ring from my hand - and what she calls playful - punches me in the chest and says, “Yes, BABY, of course...” I laugh every time I recall that story, in my head it was supposed to go a lot smoother than what actually happened. It's funny no matter what I'm going through, thoughts of my wife still brings me joy. “CURTIS...CURTIS...CURTIS, WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU...DID YOU HEAR ME, ARE YOU GONNA OPEN THE BAG OR DO I HAVE TO SHOOT YOU TOO?!” My thoughts are suddenly interrupted by a yelling woman in the back of a SUV. I look back and still see Veronica holding the gun – She is talking, but to who I have no clue, I hear nothing, I just see her mouth moving. I look down at the bag that is sitting in my lap and begin to unzip it, once I get it open and see what's inside a numbness overcomes my body - my joy is gone...

I'LL TAKE "LIES" FOR $200

We both turn and see Veronica glaring at April anticipating her answer, but before she has a chance to open her mouth, Veronica adds, “Please don't make me come over this seat and snatch you up!!!” I'm totally caught off guard and find myself once again trying to figure out what's going on when April clears her throat and says barely above a whisper, “Please, Veronica, it doesn't have to be like this, let's just...” Veronica cuts her off with a half-laugh, half-chuckle, pulls a gun, points it at her and says, “Let go of the bag.” She looks at me and without speaking motions for me to take the bag from her. I take the bag, which is a lot heavier than it looks and put it in my lap. Veronica looks back at April raises her eyebrows and gives her the 'I'm waiting' look. Now, I'm not gonna lie when I say I'm anxious to hear what April has to say, but much more nervous about what Veronica is gonna do next. April - who looks as if she got caught stealing from the collection plate - hesitantly breaks the silence and says, “I...I mean, we came here to figure out what was going on V...you weren't answering our calls or texts...you were M.I.A...” Veronica shakes her head slowly and methodically, cocks the gun, sighs and says, “Wrong answer.”...

SO WE MEET ONCE AGAIN...

I’m totally caught off guard, how, I mean when did she get in the car. As I step back from the trunk and the keys fall to the ground, I watch and see her slowly pull herself out of the front seat. She leans against the car badly banged up – I mean real bad – dried blood, hair and soot cover her face. Her shirt is hardened with blood, while fresh blood still stains her upper lip from what appears to be a broken nose. I step forward to get a better look and as I do she tells me, “We don't have time to waste, I don't know what you and Robert discussed, but I am the only person that you can trust right now...” I can clearly see she is in pain as she pauses mid-sentence in an attempt to sit back down in the passenger seat. She slowly settles herself in the seat before she continues, “...but forget about the trunk for now and lets get out of here, we will soon have company.” I ask, "Where did you go, and when did you get in the car?" She looks at me and says, "Um, I've been in here the entire time..." I look at her side-ways as I form my mouth to say, "Huh?" - I just shake my head and figure she is out of it or something. I bend down pick-up the keys and as I stand up I think about opening the trunk anyway, but if what she says is true, getting out of here is probably the best and number one option. I hurry around to to the driver side and get in, she shuts her door turns to me and in a soft and timid voice says, “Thank you.” I turn and look at her and that's when my weary brain starts to process, that this is not Veronica, as I move the hair from her face she looks at me and in a very confused voice asks, “What?” I begin to squint and I try to recall, not if, but where I know this woman from. I guess she can tell I’m trying to figure out who she is because she says, “Um, I was at your house a couple of weeks back...(I give her a blank stare) I'm April, your wife's soror...I was helping her move.” I snap my fingers and quickly point at her and say, “yeeeeah...” she cuts me off and finishes my sentence, “I'm the one who found the condom wrappers.” We continue to look at each other and there is a long, awkward silence, a second later I put the key in the ignition and start the car. I back the car away from the tree put it in drive and as I press the accelerator it does pretty much nothing – yeah this car is going no where fast. I'm thinking' though, if I can at least get it to the SUV I might be able to jump it and drive it instead. However, getting over to the SUV takes a lot longer than I would have imagined but somehow I manage. I jump out and try to pry open the hood, it is a struggle to say the least but I do get one side of the hood up when the trunk *slams* and April comes up behind me with jumper cables and crow bar in hand. She stops looks at me and says, “I thought you might need these...I found them in the trunk.” I look at her and hesitantly say, “thanks.” I take them from her and just look at her for a second before I eventually put the crowbar to use. I finally manage to get the other side of the hood up as she patiently looks over my shoulder. I pop the hood of the SUV, attach the cable to both batteries, take a deep breath - look up to the sky to say a quick prayer - turn the key in the ignition and by the grace of God it starts. I get out to help her into the SUV and find her once again in the trunk of the car, and as I walk toward her she quickly does something and slams the trunk shut. When she comes from behind the car I see she has a duffel bag on her shoulder and a little pep in her step. She hurries past me and says, “I had to get my over night bag,” and literally hops in the front seat. I don’t know if I'm trippin', but she seems to be feeling a whole lot better now and before I can ask, she says, “shoot I think I locked the car keys in the trunk.” I think to myself 'Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight' as I bring my hands up to my mouth and place my 2 index fingers on my lips and think for a second, 'am I being played?' I decide to leave it alone for now and just get in the SUV. As I put the car in reverse and back out she asks, “So, what happened to the woman who was with you, is she...” I can't take this anymore, I slam on the breaks, put it back in park, cut her off and ask, “OK, WAIT...WHAT'S IN THE TRUNK, NO BETTER YET, WHO ARE YOU REALLY AND WHY ARE YOU HERE?!” But before she could answer, a voice from the back of the SUV emphatically says, “Yeah April, tell him why you're here!”...

ON A ROAD IN KOKOMO...

“Hello, Mr. Mann, glad you decided to pick up...for a second I thought you may have taken us lightly...” I cut her off and ask, “OK, who is this?” Now I don't know if it was how I said it or what I said but in a sharp, no nonsense tone she snaps back, “LOOK, you are in no position to (abrupt pause)...” After a moment I hesitantly ask, “Hello...hello?” She comes back on and calmly says, “I'm going to hang up, (the phone beeps in my ear) but you will be receiving directions shortly, be there and don't be late.” She hangs up, and I just sit thinking, I look at the time on the iPHONE (4:55 pm, July 5th), the phone chimes and I see an unread text message from Map Quest, giving me detailed directions to 1337 W. 32nd St. Chicago, IL 60603. Chicago, I'm not in Ohio? I finally start thinking and decide to put this phone to use and bring up the Google Maps app. It takes a while to load but when it finally does, a little blue dot on the screen shows my location to be, Kokomo, Indiana. I look at it again and think out loud, “Kokomo, Indiana?!?” I have no idea where that is but I am not surprised that I’m in a placed called Kokomo. A few minutes later the phone chimes again and a text that reads, 'It's 5:00 pm you have 3 hrs.' I try to text back, but the phone won't allow it, I try to call out but it won't let me do that either. I come to the conclusion that this phone was only meant for me to be reached. So instead of getting frustrated I just put the phone in my pocket and as I do I feel the keys I got from ole boy. I take them from my pocket, look at them in my hand take a deep breath then head to the car. As I'm walking to the car I begin to think of my family and how I missed spending time with them for the 4th. I want to speak with my girls, I wish I knew where they were and how they were doing, I really miss my babies. I feel myself tearing up but I stop to shake it off – I can't afford to get emotional right now. I finally make my way to the – still smoking – car. I look back down the road and ole boy is still slumped over against the tree – I guess I got so caught up in my thoughts I didn't realize I passed him. I look at the keys for a second, then look back at ole boy, close my eyes and recall his last words, 'Reach in my jacket pocket and grab my keys, go to the car and look in the trunk...' I take a couple of steps back and press the trunk release button not knowing what to expect - I hear a click but nothing happens. At this point my heart is racing, but I press it again and again and it just does the same thing. I find the key on the keyring, put it in the lock, and before I can unlock it someone opens the passenger door and weakly says, “wait...”

MAY I TAKE A MESSAGE...

Honestly, I'm not even surprised she is not where I left her – at this point, nothing does. The words of warning, “Don't trust her, she isn't who she appears to be...” keeps replaying in my head. I stand there thinking maybe ole boy was on to something, I mean maybe he was telling the truth – should I believe him? I mean about an hour ago I thought Veronica was dead, now (she) her body is no where to be found – but more importantly this is NOT the first time this has happened. I can't even seem to keep my thoughts and emotions in check when I hear a phone ring and I'm not exactly sure whose phone it is or where its coming from. I open the back door to the SUV and there on the back seat is a phone, but its not the one ringing. I get in, lean over the the front seat and grab the ringing iPHONE out of the box. As I answer I instantly recall a warning I received a few days earlier *Our only suggestion for you is to make sure you answer this (i)PHONE, EVERY TIME we call*. I honestly forgot all about the warning and the iPHONE, I just pray this is the first time since then that they have attempted to call – BUT WHAT IF IT'S NOT? So as calmly as I can, I answer, “Hello.”...