Short Story: Say My Name.

"She just started blastin' n*ggas!"

"I thought I was 'bout to die!"

"I bet they were f*cking each other..."

"How come she didn't get shot?"

Tiffany felt confused and troubled. Within the last hour, her life changed for the future and now she is left with pondering thoughts. How come she didn't kill me? Why does she even want to talk--to me? What difference will I make? She's already dug her grave...

The young woman was escorted, by police officers, to the main cafeteria of her college. Tiffany had witnessed a brutal massacre right before her eyes in this very exact place. 10 students' lives have come to a tragic end, by the hands of one person. This person...is in the middle of the cafeteria, sitting at a table. Her head is hanging low and Tiffany is reading the other girl's body language as stiff. Is she even breathing?

Tiffany sits down, gradually, to not disturb the other girl--Nazaret Cummings. Nazaret's head raises and her eyes are undoubtfully clear. As if this woman hasn't shed a tear or shown any kind of emotion, Tiffany strongly believes Nazaret does not regret her past actions. Nazaret is simply at peace.

"You know why you're here," started Nazaret, "so don't look so depressed."

Tiffany gasped slightly. She leaned over onto the table, trying to see some sort of remorse within Nazaret's eyes--only to find none. "Naz...you shot 10 people." Tiffany stated lowly.

Nazaret begins to smile but the smile fades instantly once she realizes Tiffany is still serious. She stretches and shrugs her shoulders. "You knew this was coming, Tiffany...Why are you still surprised at how I'm acting?"

"Naz--"

"Tiffany." Nazaret's face became stern. She looked away from Tiffany's face and focused on something else. A few minutes passed and Nazaret glanced back at Tiffany. "You have been a good friend though. Even with all the rumors and stupid sh*t these kids say...you have a pure heart."

Tiffany's eyes teared up; Nazaret just told the motive as to why she is still alive. Tiffany wipes her eyes and sits up straight. "Naz, you didn't have...You're so smart and--"

"Pretty like you?" Nazaret chuckled. "Got long, shiny hair like yours? Or caramelized, clear skin like yours? Then maybe my future is even brighter?"

"Naz, that's not what--"

Nazaret held up her hands and closed her eyes, telling Tiffany to surrender her thoughts. "We've went over this plenty of times. The only reason why I'm at this school is my academics."

"And it can take you far!"

"Far into insanity!" Nazaret shot up.

Watching Nazaret shoot up aggressively made the present officers in the room begin to walk over, Tiffany felt her time running out. She didn't know what to do or say next, and she drastically searched Nazaret's eyes for an answer.

"We can find you help. I-I'll talk to my lawyer, raise money--" Tiffany choked up as the officers walked up, one of them pulling out handcuffs.

"Time's up, young lady," bellowed one of the cops.

Tiffany stood up and back, watching her friend getting chained up. They placed chains on her as if she was going straight to the chair! This young, Black woman, Tiffany thought, had a promising life and now it's gone because she couldn't tune out the nay-sayers. Was Tiffany not that great of a friend? Could this day have been avoided?

"Tiff..." Nazaret walked up to Tiffany, with an officer on both sides of and behind her. "Just make sure they pronounce my name correctly. You know what to say."

The girl wanted to hug her friend one last time but she knew the officers wouldn't allow it. She began sobbing as she watched Nazaret being taken away, to her fate. The room began to spin. The heart within Tiffany's chest was beating but it felt as if she wasn't breathing. All Tiffany saw was the blood on the walls and floors. The bullets Nazaret fired sprayed the entire room, making bullet holes visible in certain places. The bodies were still on the floor, covered under bloody, white sheets--turning cold and going into rigor mortis.

Tiffany started to walk out, to give any kind of help towards her friend when her head suddenly felt light. Her vision darkened and just before her eyes saw nothing but blackness, two paramedics came running to her.