The One That Got Away
Grandma Mae kissed her teeth so hard it echoed through the small house.
“Jah? Dat likkle fool?” she spat. “Him lose him mind completely?”
Terry Ann winced as she sat up straighter. Every movement sent pain through her ribs.
“Mi tell yuh, Grandma. Him nuh stop trouble nobody. Ever since Britney lef him, him a move strange.”
Grandma folded her arms and looked around the living room. Drawers were pulled open. Cushions were tossed across the floor. A lamp had been knocked over.
“Dem tief anything?” she asked.
Terry Ann looked around and frowned.
“Mi phone gone. Mi purse gone too.”
“Lawd God.”
Grandma Mae walked toward the front window and peeked through the curtain.
“Nuh touch nothing. Police affi come see dis.”
Terry Ann rolled her eyes.
“Police nah do nuttin’.”
“Maybe. But mi still ago call dem.”
Just then Terry Ann’s eyes landed on something near the coffee table.
“Grandma…”
“Wah now?”
“Look deh.”
Grandma followed her finger.
A folded piece of paper sat on the floor.
Neither of them remembered seeing it before.
Grandma slowly walked over and picked it up.
“Wah dat?”
Terry Ann swallowed hard.
“Open it.”
Grandma unfolded the paper.
The color immediately drained from her face.
“Wah?” Terry Ann asked nervously.
Grandma stared at the words for several seconds before looking back at her granddaughter.
“Terry Ann…”
“Wah it seh?”
Grandma’s hand trembled.
“It seh, ‘Dis a warning. Next time mi nah leave yuh alive.’”
The room fell silent.
Then Grandma whispered one thing that made Terry Ann’s stomach drop.
“Dis handwriting…”
Terry Ann looked at her.
Grandma Mae slowly nodded.
“Mi know exactly who write dis.”
“Mi know Jah do dis, Mummy,” Terry Ann concluded, pressing a hand against her aching side.
Grandma Mae was already dialing the police, pacing back and forth across the living room.
“Hello? Police station? Mi need fi report a robbery and assault.”
Terry Ann sighed and leaned her head back against the couch.
She had little faith in what would happen next.
Jah had connections.
Everybody knew it.
Whether it was a cousin, friend, or somebody him grow wid, there always seemed to be somebody willing to look the other way whenever his name came up.
More than once she had watched him walk away from situations that would’ve landed somebody else in serious trouble.
“Mi a tell yuh now, Grandma,” Terry Ann muttered. “Dem nah do nuttin’. Him know people. If anything happen to him, him ago beat di case.”
Grandma covered the phone briefly.
“Maybe so. But mi nah sit down and do nothing.”
A few moments later she finished the call and hung up.
“Dem say dem sending somebody.”
Terry Ann laughed bitterly.
“Sending somebody fi write pon paper and den forget bout it tomorrow.”
Grandma shot her a look.
“Stop talk so.”
Before Terry Ann could answer, a sharp knock echoed through the house.
Both women froze.
Their eyes met instantly.
The police couldn’t have arrived that fast.
Another knock.
Harder this time.
BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.
Grandma’s face tightened.
“Nobody should be here.”
Terry Ann’s heart began pounding.
“Grandma… lock di door?”
“Course mi lock di door.”
Then a voice came from outside.
“Mae! A me!”
The women exchanged glances.
They recognized the voice.
It belonged to Britney.
Grandma hurried to the door and opened it.
Britney practically stumbled inside.
Her face was pale.
Her breathing was uneven.
And she looked terrified.
“Britney, wah happen?” Grandma asked.
Britney glanced over her shoulder toward the dark street before shutting the door herself.
Then she looked directly at Terry Ann.
“You right.”
“Bout wah?”
Britney swallowed.
“Jah.”
The room went silent.
“I hear him talking last night.”
Terry Ann slowly stood despite the pain.
“Talking bout wah?”
Britney hesitated.
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Because him couldn’t get to me…” she whispered.
“…him say him ago make everybody around me suffer instead.”
A cold chill swept through the room.
Then Britney said the words none of them were prepared to hear.
“And Terry Ann… yuh name was the first name him call.”
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Reading this story reminded me of how real and terrifying the threat of violence can be in close-knit communities where people know each other well. The sense of distrust towards authorities, like the police who are seen as ineffective or influenced by connections, adds a layer of complexity and helplessness to those caught in dangerous situations. In many communities, similar to Terry Ann and Grandma Mae's, people face intimidation that comes from personal relationships, where offenders have connections that shield them from justice. This dynamic often leaves victims feeling alone, vulnerable, and desperate for protection. The clue of the folded note with a chilling warning highlights how intimidation tactics extend beyond physical violence, using psychological fear to control or silence individuals. In my experience, such threats can be isolating but also provoke a fierce protective instinct among families, much like Grandma Mae's determination to report the crime despite the expected dismissal. The narrative also shows the importance of support systems. When Britney returns, terrified but seeking help, it underscores how danger often affects entire networks of people and how vital it is to stand together. Using culturally rich language and expressions adds authenticity and emotional depth to the characters' voices, making their plight more relatable and impactful. It also sheds light on how language carries cultural identity and collective experiences, especially when facing adversity. Stories like 'The One That Got Away' are powerful reminders of resilience and courage, even when the odds seem stacked against you. They highlight the ongoing struggles many face daily and the need for communities and authorities to listen, respond adequately, and provide genuine protection.
