Read Online Family Over Everything by Paige Green - Free Book Online Page B

her body started to shudder as she collapsed to the floor. Deion walked over, picked her up, and carried her to her room. He felt her tense up when he gently placed her into her bed. When he noticed the blood stains in her bed, he asked, “What happened?”
    â€œHe hurt me, Deion. He hurt me down there,” she said, pointing at her vagina.
    â€œWhy didn’t you tell me, Corrine? Why didn’t you tell me or Melissa?” he asked as he clenched his jaw.
    â€œHe said he’ll kill me! Please don’t tell Momma! Please, he’sgoing to kill me!” she yelled in fear before grabbing Deion by his arm and shaking it.
    He took a deep breath, digesting everything she’d confessed to him. “I have to tell! He’s going to keep hurting you if I don’t!”
    â€œBut he said he’ll kill me. Please don’t tell!”
    Blinded by anger, he balled his hands into tight fists before punching numerous holes into the wall, instantly drawing blood.
    Corrine’s loud screams brought him back to reality.
    â€œStop! Please stop!” she cried, wrapping her arms around her head and burying her face into her lap.
    He dropped his head into his hands before walking back to Corrine.
    â€œYou can’t tell, Deion! He’ll kill me. Please promise,” she cried.
    Taking a deep breath and mustering all the strength he had in his body, he nodded. “Okay, I won’t tell. I promise.”
    Reaching out her hand, she said, “Pinky swear?”
    â€œPinky swear,” Deion said, wrapping his pinky finger around hers.

CHAPTER EIGHT
    M elissa arrived at Asbury Heights Nursing Home Facility in Bower Hill, Pennsylvania around three in the afternoon. She wore a floral, ankle-length dress with a pink cardigan sweater. Stepping out of her old station wagon, she took a deep breath as she walked inside and signed in.
    When she finally made her way to her mother’s front door, she paused to mentally and physically prepare herself for what was behind it. Her mother, Yolanda, who was battling liver cancer, gazed up at Melissa as she walked through the door. Melissa scanned the room, looking at pictures of her and her mother when she was younger. When her eyes roamed to her mother, her lips quivered and hands trembled as she scooted up a nearby chair next to her bed.
    â€œHey, Momma.”
    Yolanda tried her best to smile, but it was to no avail. She was in too much pain.
    â€œHow are you? Everything’s good at home. The twins are getting bigger and so is Corrine. Corrine is beautiful. Remember Corrine?”
    Yolanda nodded and Melissa continued, “Momma, I’m trying my best to keep you in here and take care of the kids. It’s getting hard, it really is. With crazy Day’onne out here robbing everybody and their momma, to the government trying to cut my welfare checks, it’s getting hard, Momma!”
    â€œPray, baby,” Yolanda said, her voice barely a whisper.
    â€œPray? But Momma, I do that all the time! I can’t take it! I’m getting too old for this, Momma! I can’t take it!” Melissa said before dropping her head into her hands and crying.
    All of her life, she’d helped people, putting their needs before hers, and it was finally getting to her. She never had a real man in her life and never knew what the true feeling of happiness felt like. Since she would be approaching fifty soon, she wanted to finally settle down and be happy, but that was only in her dreams.
    Yolanda struggled to speak. “Baby . . .God is going to bless . . .you.”
    Melissa slowly lifted her head up to look into her mother’s eyes.
    â€œHe loves you, baby. Keep your faith.”
    Taking heed of her mother’s words, she wiped her tears and forced herself to smile. Yolanda, who had been battling the deadly disease for two years, weakly held her daughter’s hand. If anyone recognized pain, it was definitely