Tough Love

Chapter 2

Virgil

I sit on the stool smokin my blunt.

"Can this be quick? I got business." I say to the white man behind the camera. He nods and turns the shit on.

"What's your name?"

"Virgil. Real name is Akim Grace."

"Tell me about your childhood, your parents."

"My momma was a hoe, my dad was her pimp, a gang pimp. She weren't able to leave, so she leaned into it...destroyed herself wit the drugs and the hood love." I smile, but he don't seem so amused.

"Were you abused?"

I nod. "But I was in the system for the most part."

I drink my drink and smoke my joint and this man asks his dumbass questions.

"How old were you when you started?"

"16." I lie. Why would I tell this man the truth?

"How'd it happen?"

"I had hoes, they was always cheating. Figured we'd all get paid for it. But I ain't no gorilla, I'm a Romeo."

"How old are you now?"

"22."

"Have you ever been in love?" He asks.

"I was in love wit my mom," I say, my smile fades "but nah...I never been in love wit any a these hoes."

"Do you believe in love?"

"Romantic love?"

He nods in reply.

"Yeah I do. It's the driving force for a lot a things you know what I mean? But I don't think it's what it's made out to be and I ain't ever experienced it, don't think I ever will."

"Why not?"

"Just look at the circumstances, they ain't good enough for love."

"You never know," He mutters "I don't think there's any situation that isn't good enough for love."

"What are you? Some typa hopeless romantic?" I jokes and he laughs.

"Well I've been married for fifteen years, and still the best part of my day is seeing her face."

I don't answer, I just think. And he moves on.

"Are drugs a part of your life?"

"Nothin part from weed. Ain't need no other substances anymore."

"Anymore?" He looks at me skeptically. Ain't none of his business.

"I've got to say, you're not as charismatic as the pimps your age." Well, he didn't have to say that at all.

"How do you mean?"

"You act like a pimp of thrice your age."