The Streets Or Me: A Louisiana Love Story by Nicole Dior Page B

like hell ma, feel like somebody out to get me or some shit. I gotta watch my back everywhere I go, even pickin' Lucas up from school. I wish I never got into this life, I wouldn't be so paranoid. I done offed so many niggas in my past that I feel like it's starting to catch up to me, like death lurking at every corner. No matter what happens, I want you know that I love you Miracle Black, everything that I did in the past and whatever I do now was/is for you, Courtnei, Lucas, and A'Laya. All mean the world to me and if these streets take me before I can get out, I'm leaving everything to you, my moma, Court, and the kids. I ain't forgot about you ma, I'll see you soon. I love you Miri.
     
    Luke
     
    I felt the tears fall from my eyes after I read the letter. I've never heard Luke talk this way about leaving the game and death. Is there something that he isn't telling me or that he's trying to tell me? Is he in some kind of trouble? My heart was breaking because I needed answers and I couldn't get them behind these damned bars.
     
     

Luke
     
    I walked inside the double doors of First Baptist Church of Christ and sat in the first pew. I hadn't been to church since I was 'bout six maybe seven years old, and that was to attend my sister Corie's funeral. I felt lost and needed guidance so I did the only thing I knew how to do besides be a street nigga...I prayed.
     
     
    "Dear God,
     
    I know I don't talk to you as much as I should, to be completely honestly, you probably won't hear or care ' bout a word I got to say, but Lord I need guidance. I done some crazy things in my life that could send me down the road for the rest of my life, but I'm here today asking for forgiveness and deliverance from this street life. I wanna live right and do better for my family. I need you to wash away my sins and help me get on the right track before something bad comes my way. I just wanna be free from the stress and worry of this game; God if you hear me please just help me do right. Amen!"
     
    "It's been along time since I seen you in a church, let along heard you pray."
     
    I look up and see my Uncle King standing over me. King Harris is my mom, Uncle Kevin, and Uncle Killa's oldest brother who happens to be the founder of the church. He used to be a druglord himself until he almost died during a drug exchange gone wrong in Dallas, since then he turned his whole life around and became a preacher. I stood up and shook his hand as he pulled me in a tight hug then pulled back.
     
    "Young Luke, what brings you by the church nephew?" he asked sitting beside me.
     
    "I need some guidance Unc," I replied.
     
    "What kinda guidance, talk to me," he said.
     
    "Miracle got locked up and charged wit' second degree attempted murder wit' a firearm for defending Khyia, they tryna give her five maybe six years wit' possible parole. I got niggas gunning for me in these streets, I’m stressed and I just need a way out Unc. I wanna do right for my kids and for myself, I never should've fell in this life let alone let Miri fall in it wit' me," I replied.
     
    "I told Killa he was making a mistake by letting you in the game so young. I understood you had ya son comin', but Luke you had a bright future ahead of you. You could've been in the NBA by now, yet you chose the street life doing the same thing that killed ya dad and nearly killed me then you dragged Miracle into that life now she basically threw her life away behind foolishness. It never should've been this way nephew," he said.
     
    I nodded in agreement with his statement. He was right about everything, but how could I really avoid this life when I was born into this life with both parents in the game. My dad was robbed and murdered outside our house when I was four, then my mom walked away from the life and struggled to take care of me, my baby brother, and my three sisters. Like I said before I got in the game so that I could provide for Courtnei and Lucas, when my moma found out about