One Hundred Sleepless Nights

Sam’s POV



The sun’s bright rays bled through the cracks of my blinds sending me a good morning. I sat up resting my head against the chestnut headboard. My mind was fuzzy with the dream from the previous night. Mike and I in bed together. Him telling me that he loved me and wanted to spend the rest of my life with me. And the most notable, us making love. I sigh escaped my lips and small frown on my lips, if only it was true, if only Mike was right beside me. But it was just a dream, a dream that may come true soon. Now that Fralena is here to testify. I can’t wait until she testifies at the precinct

“Oh shit!” I jumped out of bed quickly “Today is the day!”

I swing my feet over the side of the bed and push myself up. I made my way out of the room and padded down to the end of the hall where the guest room was. I knocked on the door lightly pushing it open when I got no reply. I giggled at the sight in front of me. Fralena was sitting with her but straight up in the sky. It looked quite awkward being that her stomach was huge. I covered my hand over my mouth to keep myself from laughing loudly. As gracefully as possible I tiptoed over to her bed, the closer I got to her the closer to the ground I would get. By the time I was at her bedside I was crawling on my hands and knees.

“FRALENA IT’S A FIRE!” I shouted

She jumped up out of bed landing on the floor “Oh lord it’s a fire!”

I burst into a fit of laughter. The younger girl looked at me in a state of confusion, which turned into a frown when she realized that she just been scared.

“Not funny Sam!” She moaned picking herself up off the ground and slumping back into the bed.

I bit my lip trying to keep from laughing “It…..it was pretty damn funny!”

“Pshh!” She scoffed rolling over on her side facing away from me “Leave me be.”

“Oh! Wakey! Wakey!” I shrieked shaking her shoulders “Today’s a big day!”

She groaned and shrugged my hand off her shoulders “Yeah! Today is my sleep day!”

“No!” I giggled but soon turned serious “Today is the day you go to the station and put in your statement.”

Fralena shot straight up in bed. “Oh!” She looked over at me with a face full of fear and whispered “Okay!”

“Aww come on baby doll don’t be scared.” I cooed. I extended my arms and pulled her into a bear hug. “You don’t have to be afraid of the police.”

“It’s not the police I’m afraid of.” She broke the hug and looked into my eyes “I’m afraid of her.”

I shook my head in understanding. Fralena didn’t need to explain who she was. I knew she was talking about her sister. She’s afraid of the psychotic sister who had caged her in her room. She’s afraid of the psychotic sister who threatened her life and her baby’s life. She’s afraid of the psychotic sister who is a murderer. I understood why she was afraid of her.

“I know you’re afraid, which is the exact reason why you should go make this statement. Frenchi needs to be locked up and you’re the only person who can make sure that it happens.” I squeezed Fralena into a side hug “You won’t have to worry about her once you get her put away. But first you just have to go and talk to Monica at the station.”

“Why do I have to talk to her again?” She questioned “I’ve already told her everything once. I’ve already told her all the shit that Frenchi put me through. Why must I do it again?”

I sighed “Because we have to get it legally documented. The only way to do that is at the station.” I placed a kiss on the top of the teens head “I know you don’t want to relive it. And I can’t say this will be the last time they make you do it, they’ll probably try to make you speak again in court. But, I can promise you one thing. That by going to the station today you’ll be one step closer to putting all of this behind you and starting a new, Frenchi-free, life with you and your soon to be born baby.”

“Okay!” She whispered shaking her head and leaning slightly into my embrace “Okay!”

I smiled down at her “Okay! Now go ahead and take a shower. I’m going to get Michelle ready and then we’ll be on our way. Okay!” She shook her head yes and I clapped my hands together “Great!”

I stood up and started walking towards the door

“Sam!” She spoke stopping me in my tracks

I turned around “yes!”

“Thank you!”

I furrowed my eyebrows “For!”

“Everything! You’ve been here for me even though I didn’t deserve it. I helped turn your life into pure shit yet you let me in with open arms.” She smiled lightly at me “You’ve showed more love to me than my own sister. So…..Thank you!”

“You’re more than welcome!” I smiled

I walked out the door and made my way to Michelle’s room. I turned the door knob slightly pushing it gently open. The bundle of joy was curled up in a ball gripping the hello kitty doll Mike had gotten her for dear life. Even though she was sleep, she looked rather disturbed. She was tossing and turning even whimpering here and there.

“Daddy…come back.” She cried in her sleep causing my heart to drop.

“My poor baby.” I sighed opening the door fully and walking into her room. I bent down at the side of her bed and shook her lightly “Michelle….sweetheart wake up.”

“Bring him back!” Her arms extended outward and started to frail in the air “Bring back daddy.”

I grabbed them to prevent her from hitting me “Chelly! Wake Up! Wake Up!”

She shot up in bed, her hair clinging to her head with sweat. Her eyes were wide and a waterfall of tears fell down her fragile face. She jumped into my arms and cried her arms out.

“They took daddy mommy.” She cried digging her head into my shoulder “They took daddy.”

I rubbed her back up and down “I know sweetheart. I know.” I felt fresh tears fall down my own face. “It’s okay baby girl. Calm down!” I looked at the door way to see a broken Fralena. She looked like someone had ripped her heart out her body. Suddenly she turned around quickly and took off.

“Fralena!” I yelled after her. I sighed looking down at my crying daughter “Michelle, honey, can you get dressed with out mommy?”

“Uhh huh!” She mumbled.

I watched Michelle closely as she slowly picked herself up out of my lap and to the dresser. Once she was on her way I made my way out of her room to look for Fralena. I knew exactly where she was. In her time with us I’ve grown to know her very well. Anytime she’s upset she goes outback to sit on the back porch.

And that’s exactly where I found her. Sitting Indian style in the Hello Kitty hammock Vic hung up for Michelle on her birthday. I frowned lightly as a thought came into my head. Mike had wanted to hang the hammock for Michelle, but he didn’t know when he’ll get out of jail so he asked Vic to do it.

I was snapped out of my thoughts by a breathy snob. My gaze landed on Fralena whose back was heaving up and down, a clear sign that she was crying. I take a deep, sad breath. I just walked from one child crying to another. I take a seat next to her and stare out at the morning sun

“Fralena.”

“Sam.” She looks up shocked. Obviously she didn’t realize I was here. “When did you get here?”

“Just now.” I reply. I run my hand through my hair, which at the moment is just a mass of curls. “Darling…. Why are you crying?”

“I....seeing Michelle crying today. Crying for her father that….” She paused taking a long, dragged out sob “I’m the reason Mike’s in jail right now. I’m the reason he’s awaiting trial. I just can’t believe…..I can’t believe that I’ve done something so horrible.” My eyes watched as Fralena moved her hand to her belly. She rubbed three circles before dropping it abruptly “I...I’ve done so much bad. I’m just bad.”

“Fralena, you are the reason that Michelle was crying. You are the reason that Mike’s in jail, that he’s on trial, yes what you did was horrible.….” I paused taking in the fact that my words sounded harsher than what I meant. “You didn’t do what you did because you wanted too.” I leaned backwards just as a breeze blew through sending my curls flying in the air. “You were afraid. You had every right to be. When someone threatens your life, you’ll do whatever you have to too protect yourself. I would have done the same thing in your place.” I wiped Fralena’s tears. “But you have a chance to show your true colors. You have a chance to show that you aren’t evil, that you aren’t a monster. You did wrong …..” I placed my feet on the ground and pushed my self upward. “Now you have a chance to make things right again.” I smile down at her extending my hand “So…..what’d ya say?”

She smiled at me. “I say you’re so country.”

“I can’t help it.” I chuckle rolling my eyes “I’m from North Carolina.”

She accepts my hand and pulls herself up “I want to make things right.”

Michelle walks out the house. “I’m ready mommy.”

“That’s just dandy.” I sang scoping her up and walking through the house to the front door. “Because, it’s time for us to get on the road now.”

“Where are we going?” She questions as I buckle her into her seat belt.

Fralena smiles back at Michelle sliding into he front seat “Were going to the pol..”

“We’re going to do grown up stuff..” I say quickly interrupting Fralena. I shot her a ‘Not Now’ look as I started the engine. I smiled into the review mirror “You, on the other hand my sweet child, are visiting your Uncles for a little while.”

Michelle looked at me with hopeful eyes “Uncle Vic!”

“Yes! Uncle Vic!” I grinned, though curious as to why she only cared about Uncle Vic “Are you happy?”

“Yes! Very!” She shrieked causing Fralena to cover her ears. Michelle giggled “Sorry Auntie Fralena.” Like I said, we’ve grown to love Fralena. “But I love Uncle Vic. I love how he plays with me just like…. and how he sings me the same songs as… And how his eyes twinkle when he smiles just like….and how his nose scrunches and his eyes crinkle when he laughs just like….and that Abuela Vivian and Abuelo Victor are his parents just like .”

My eyebrows furrowed as I turned the corner to Vic’s street. Something was off with Michelle’s description. I mean, it’s true that Vic does do it. But, well, she keeps saying ‘just like’ and it’s throwing me off. I don’t know. I come to a stop in Vic’s drive-way.”

“.….and his ears are just like….and they way he talks is just like….” She takes a long sigh, a hint of sadness evident in her voice “Daddy…..He reminds me of daddy.”

The just likes make so much since now. Vic plays with Michelle just like Mike. He sings to her just like Mike. Vic eyes twinkle when he smile just like Mike. Vic’s nose scrunches and eyes crinkle when he laughs just like Mike. Vic and Mike both have the same parents, Vivian and Victor Sr. Mike and Vic both have the same ears. Vic and Mike talk similar.

The front door swings open and Vic steps out with a huge smile “WHERE IS MY PRINCESS!”

“Right here!” Chelle cheered. She runs out the car and into Vic’s arms “I missed you Uncle Vic!”

Vic plucked the youngling off the ground spinning her around “I missed you more pumpkin.”

Looking at the two interact, I see what Michelle feels. Vic is the closest she can get to Mike right now. Her little mind sees every similarity that Vic and Mike has. I can only guess how long she’s been pinpointing out these similarities. I don’t know if comparing the two is a good thing or a bad thing.

“VICKY STOP YOU MAKE ME GONNA BE BUSY!” Michelle screamed with the biggest, most genuine smile she’s worn in a while “STOP IT!”

“Fine…..I’ll stop!” Vic said with a smirk on his face before chucking Michelle over to Jaime who was standing at his side with his hands out and ready

“OH! NO! NOT HIME TIME!” She squeaked as soon as she was in his hands

Vic laughed as he made his way over to the car. I rolled the window down so that we can talk.

“Sam! Fralena!” He greeted leaning his head into the car.

I pushed him out with the palm of my hand. “Eww! No! You stink!

“Stink! This is the enticing, unforgetful, enchanting smell of …..Morning sex.” Vic stated

Fralena and I both cringed “Eww!”

“Too much info if you ask me.” I said with a slight chuckle

“Whatever! Just because it was too much doesn’t make the sex any less good.” He stated flipping his hair. I swear Vic can be such a girl at times. He snickered “Anyways….where are you lovely ladies heading today?”

“Precinct.” I mumbled

“Oh!” Vic whispered. His eyes met mine before fading down to the ground. I knew what that look was, a look of hope. His eyes raised back up again “Well I won’t hold you guys up anymore.” He backed away from the car window “Good luck!”

“Thanks!” Fralena smiled

I backed out the driveway. I looked over at Jaime to see him throwing Michelle up at least five feet in the air and catching her. When Vic was beside him they started throwing her back and forth as if she was a ball. I rolled my window down

“I swear da God if yall drop my youngin I’m gonna have ta drop kick some Mexicans cross this here now street.”

Vic looked at me with wide eyes. “Excuse me! What did you say Dolly Parton?”

I gasped “I’m not that country!”

“No, you are like if Ghetto, Ratchet, and Country had a mutated baby together!” Jaime yelled causing Vic to double over in laughter

I rolled my eyes at them “And don’t do the do in front of my child!”

“What the fuck!” Vic crackled. Jaime fell to the ground holding his stomach.

Michelle furrowed her eyebrows throwing both arms in the air in confusion “I don’t get it.”

“We don’t either!” Jaime laughed grabbing Michelle causing her to collapse on top of him.

“Bastards!” I yell pressing my foot on the gas pedal,

“WE MADE NO PROMISES!” Jaime yelled running after the car. He sounded like the cookie monster or something. “IF LA MUCHACHA IS ASLEEP, I SHALL FUCK HIM! I SHALL FUCK HIM REAL GOOD!”

Fralena laughed as I rounded the corner off of Vic’s street “They’re fucking idiots!”

“And you’re just now figuring that out!” I laughed shaking my head at the hooligans that I just left my daughter with. “They are man children. Jaime said so himself”

I didn’t take long for me to drive to the precinct. It was only a good ten minutes from Vic and Jaime’s house. I pulled into the parking lot and brought the car to a halt. I turned to my side and looked at Fralena who looked beyond nervous. She shouldn’t be, but I guess you should take into account that she ‘s only sixteen years old. Yet, look at me, I’m only eighteen. But, I feel like I’m at least thirty. The amount of responsibility that I’ve taken on in the time span of two years is ridiculous, but enough about me.

“Are you ready Fralena?” I ask after giving her a couple minutes to calm her nerves

She shook her head yes “I’m ready to make things right.”

Out of the car, and through the parking lot. Into the Police precinct we went.

Notes

Enjoy my lovely readers ^_^