"JuJu!" Says an echoey voice. "JuJu! Mijo!"
His eyes burst open as he looked around the area he was in and saw that he was in a white room.
"Wh-what? Mom?"
There was no one in the white room but him, but he heard familiar voices around him.
"Hey! Big bro!"
"L-Lina?"
JuJu's heart raced as he called out to his sister, his voice trembling with relief and confusion. The room remained eerily silent for a moment before a soft glow began to emanate from one corner.
In the faint light, he saw the outline of a figure materializing, slowly taking form until it solidified into the shape of his late little sister, Paulina. Tears welled up in JuJu's eyes as he took a step forward, reaching out to touch her, but his hand passed through her translucent form.
"Lina… Is that you?"
Then, figures of his mother, Emmanuel, and Byron appear.
"This… this isn't real… where am I?"
"Mijo, listen…" Says his mother. "Don't let us hold you back, por favor… You are a good person, survive, for all of us…"
"Mama, but..."
"But nothin'," Emmanuel butts in. "You got this, bro. We'll always be with you."
JuJu sighs as he looks down at his feet.
"JuJu!" Says Lina. "Don't let us down! Don't let me down… What did Daddy always say?"
"What?"
"Always Strive and Prosper…"
JuJu's chest tightened as memories flooded back – memories of laughter, of struggles, of love shared with his family. Their voices echoed in his mind, urging him to press forward despite the overwhelming grief threatening to consume him.
Taking a deep breath, he nodded, determination flickering in his eyes.
"Always strive and prosper," he whispered, repeating his father's mantra like a sacred vow.
The white room began to fade, melting away like mist in the morning sun, leaving JuJu alone in a vast expanse of darkness until he started to fall into the dark abyss slowly before waking up in his bedroom, covered in sweat.
Gasping for air, JuJu sat up in his bed, his heart pounding against his chest as he tried to shake off the remnants of the haunting dream. His bedroom was bathed in the soft glow of dawn, a sharp contrast to the darkness of his subconscious.
Running a shaky hand through his nappy hair, JuJu tried to steady his breathing, the echoes of his family and friend's voices still ringing in his ears. It had felt so real, too real for comfort. But as the moments passed, the edges of the dream began to blur, leaving behind only a lingering sense of unease.
Pushing himself out of bed, JuJu stumbled to the window, drawing back the curtains to let in the gentle light of morning. Outside, the world seemed to be waking up, oblivious to the turmoil raging within him.
But JuJu couldn't shake the feeling that the dream held some deeper meaning, a message from beyond the realm of consciousness. Was it simply his mind playing tricks on him, or was there something more to it?
Shaking his head, JuJu tried to push aside the lingering doubts, focusing instead on the tasks that awaited him in the day ahead. Yet, as he went about his morning routine, a nagging sense of urgency gnawed at him, whispering that he couldn't afford to ignore the message of his dream.
With a heavy sigh, JuJu made a silent promise to himself – he would honor his family's memory and strive and prosper, not just for himself, but for them. And with that resolve burning brightly in his heart, he stepped out into the world, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
"I didn't get to say what I wanted to say… If you can hear me, I promise, I won't give up." He says softly.
Part II - Reborn
-3 Weeks Later-
The sky was clearer now, still cloudy, but calmer than before. The leaves from the trees bounce slowly with the breeze flowing off them. JuJu is at the front gates of the community, killing any roamers around the outside. He's seen so much, his brown eyes seeming like they changed into a different color.
He sees one roamer still alive, growling and crawling towards him, as he gives it an emotionless stare before stepping on its neck and pulling the trigger on his revolver.
He then hears footsteps behind him and sees that it's Leni.
"JuJu," she says. "Can I talk to you please?"
He holsters his revolver and nods.
"Sure, Leni."
He goes and follows her back inside the gates and sits on a bench next to him.
"I heard you took pills. You know that's not okay, right?"
He groans and looks away.
"Why is everyone in my business? I stopped taking them, Lynn took them away from me."
"Because we all care. And she did well taking them from you. She really cares about you, JuJu."
"I know, Leni. I know… I just needed something to numb the pain, they didn't even work anyway."
"It's good they didn't work. Things will get better, I promise. I see you as my little brother, just like Linky. Don't ever think you're alone… okay?"
He looks down and smiles softly, knowing that genuinely made him feel something.
"Thanks. I'm sorry for the way I've been acting recently."
"It's okay, don't worry about it. I'm just happy you're okay."
"Yeah…"
"Well, I gotta go. Remember the things I said okay?"
"Yes ma'am," he smiles.
"Ma'am?" Leni replies.
"Sorry, just a force of habit," He chuckles.
Leni giggles back.
"You're so nice JuJu."
"My mom taught me well."
She smiles at him one more time as she walks away. JuJu watches her retreating figure with a sense of gratitude. Despite his initial resistance, he knows deep down that her concern, like that of his friends, comes from a place of genuine care. Leaning back against the bench, he sighs, feeling a weight lifting off his shoulders with each passing moment.
As he sits there, lost in his thoughts, he realizes he's not alone. He has a community that supports him, and friends who stand by his side through thick and thin. And though the road ahead may still be challenging, he knows that with their help, he can face whatever comes his way.
With a newfound sense of determination, JuJu stands up from the bench, ready to face whatever challenges the future holds. The scars of the past may still linger, but he's determined to rise above them, just like the phoenix depicted in his mural.
He eventually stands up from the bench and walks back to his home. He sees Marcus sitting on the front steps of the house, smoking a joint as he gives him a nod. Marcus's dreadlocks are so long they go past his shoulders, almost like Bob Marley.
"Feelin' alright?" He says as watches JuJu walk closer to the house.
"Yeah, I'm chillin'. Just talked to Leni about some things and took out some extra roamers around the area."
They do a handshake as JuJu enters the house. He goes up the stairs toward his room and changes into something more comfortable. He puts on a navy blue tank top with black basketball shorts that go above his knees. He grabs a small towel from his backpack and heads down the stairs again to the garage. He opens the main garage door for the fresh air to come in and starts wrapping his hands in bandages to protect his hands. He then looks straight at the punching bag ahead of him.
As JuJu stands before the punching bag, he takes a deep breath, centering himself. His mind drifts back to the events of the past weeks, struggles, and internal and external battles. But now, at this moment, he's determined to channel all that pent-up energy, all that frustration, into something productive.
With a focused intensity, JuJu begins to unleash a flurry of punches, each strike landing with precision and power. The rhythmic thud of his fists against the bag echoes through the garage, a cathartic release of the turmoil brewing within him.
With each punch, he feels a weight lifting off his shoulders, a sense of clarity emerging from the chaos. It's as if the physical exertion is helping to purge the emotional turmoil that has plagued him for weeks.
Marcus watches from the doorway, silently observing as JuJu unleashes his pent-up emotions on the punching bag. He knows that for JuJu, this isn't just about physical exercise; it's a way to confront his demons head-on, to reclaim a sense of control in a world that often feels chaotic and unpredictable.
As JuJu continues to pound away at the bag, Marcus can't help but feel a swell of pride. Despite the challenges he's faced, JuJu refuses to be beaten down. He's a fighter, through and through, and Marcus knows that with that resilience, he'll overcome whatever obstacles come his way.
After what feels like an eternity, JuJu finally slows his assault, his chest heaving with exertion. He takes a step back, wiping the sweat from his brow as he catches his breath.
Marcus approaches him, a knowing smile on his face.
"Feel better?"
JuJu nods, a sense of calm settling over him.
"Yeah... I needed that."
Marcus claps him on the shoulder, his pride is evident.
"You've got a hell of a right hook, JuJu. Keep that fire burning."
JuJu nods, his gaze seeming like he has a lot more in him.
"I will. Thanks, brother. It feels like I've been, reborn, y'know?'
"God has many things planned for us. This was one of them. That's why you're still here. You're more of a fighter than I'll ever be. And also, I've never said this to you before, but I want you to know, I love you alright? Like a brother."
JuJu's expression softens at Marcus's words, touched by the sincerity in his voice.
"I love you too, M. You've been like a big brother to me, always looking out for me. I couldn't ask for a better friend."
Marcus smiles before speaking again.
"I'm gonna let you go back to doin' your thing, I'll be in the house."
JuJu nods as he goes back to his workout. He goes to the pullup bar and decides to do inverted sit-ups. He climbs the bar, puts himself upside down, and lets his legs hang from the bar as he moves his upper body up and down.
As he continues his workout, the strain of physical exertion serves as a welcome distraction in his mind. With each rep, he feels strength, physically and mentally, coursing through him.
In his final push of the set, he groans loudly as he slowly hops off the bar and lands on his feet, before laying on the garage floor, having his towel cover his eyes as he lies there.
A sense of peace washes over him as JuJu lies there, catching his breath. The garage is quiet, except for his breathing and the faint hum of the overhead lights. His muscles ache from the exertion, but it's a satisfying ache, a reminder of his resilience and determination.
As he lies there, his mind drifts back to the events of the past weeks, the struggles and the victories, the moments of darkness and the glimmers of hope. He thinks about his friends, the community he's a part of, and the bonds that hold them all together.
Despite the challenges they face, JuJu knows that he's not alone. He has a support system and a network of people who care about him deeply. And in this moment, that knowledge fills him with a sense of gratitude and strength.
Eventually, JuJu sits up, wiping the sweat from his brow with his towel. He takes a moment to catch his breath before standing up and heading back into the house. He sees Marcus asleep on the couch with a book on his face as he chuckles and heads upstairs. He goes into the bathroom and turns the water on to shower.
As the warm water cascades over him, JuJu closes his eyes, letting the sensation wash away the last remnants of tension from his muscles. The sound of the rushing water fills the small bathroom, creating a soothing backdrop to his thoughts.
In this moment of solitude, JuJu reflects on the journey that has brought him to this point. The trials and tribulations, the moments of despair and doubt, all fade away in the comforting embrace of the present.
With each passing moment, JuJu feels a sense of renewal washing over him, like the water cleansing not just his body, but his spirit as well. He's reminded of his own resilience, his ability to rise above adversity and emerge stronger on the other side.
As he lathers soap onto his skin, JuJu can't help but feel a sense of gratitude for the simple pleasures of life – the warmth of the water, the feel of the soap against his skin, the sense of peace that comes from knowing he's surrounded by people who care about him.
After a few minutes under the soothing stream of water, JuJu reluctantly turns off the shower and steps out onto the bath mat. He wraps a towel around his waist and takes a moment to look at himself in the mirror. He sees his old self inside him, the kid with a dream, that was shattered into pieces. He is now molded into this world, to survive, prosper, and protect the others he cares about.