• It was early in the morning when i opened my eyes to see Chris lying next to me. It was so early that the sun hadn't risen yet. Chris was still asleep and I didn't want to wake him. I moved over closer to him and pulled his arm over me. He was warm and I could feek the rhythemic pattern of his heart. It was comforting to know that he was there next to me. i remembered a time when he and I would spend months apart and I wouldn't hear from him for weeks. Chris and I weren't the average couple. I am a neurosurgeon, and he is the member of a gang. Now don't get the wrong impression of him. He is a really good person, and really wouldn't hurt a fly. Actually the reason that we don't see each other is because the gang is after him. He is trying to get them to leave us alone, but once you're in a gang you don't leave.
    Me and Chris met around Christmas. But none of the past is important. What is important is the present. As I rolled into him and cuddled with him trying to fall back asleep I heard a crash. The first thing that comes to my mind is that it is the gang brothers. I quickly go to wake up Chris, but he was already wide awake and standing up, blocking my view of the door. He waited, waiting to see what they were going to do. I saw the door open. That is when I saw him, Marcus, and I knew that Chris and me were in for it. "So you want to leave the brotherhood, well then you will leave like you came in, beat. Only this time she's going to watch," said Marcus, pointing his half- finger at me. Then before I could do anything two guys grabbed me and dragged me downstairs behind Chris and Marcus. He brought us into the living room, and then the beating started. " If you close your eyes you little b***h I'll only hurt him more." That was the threat that was thrown at me, so I watched. I couldn't scream, I only cried. Chris didn't even try to fight back. When he so beat up that he could barely move he looked out at me and then passed out. That is when Marcus was done with him. The two guys let me go and I through myself on top of Chris. The three of them left and when I was sure that they were good and gone I carried Chris to the car and drove him to the hospital that I worked at. No one asked questions, but he was treated as royalty. No one asked because they know our story. I stayed with him that whole night. He was extremely lucky that there was no severe damage. He did have a few broken bones and needed a few dozen stiches, but other than that and a few cuts and bruises he was fine. I was the only docotor that attended to him. I wouldn't even let one of the nurses touch him. Everyone that knew about us thought that he was a waste of my time and that I could do so much better than him. But what did I care, since when do I let other people live my life for me.
    He spent two nights in the hospital and then he was discharged. I took off the rest of the week so I could be home with Chris. He wanted me to go to work and leave him alone, but I didn't listen. Mostly we did nothing but spend the days in each other's arms talking and watching T.V. Then we had a more serious talk. "Mary what are you doing with me?'
    " I'm taking care of you. What else would I be doing?"
    "I mean, why don't you go get hitched to one of those other docotors who can give you all that you want?''
    "I don't need anything more than this. Having material things don't take the place very well of the warmth of another body against you."
    " Mary do you really want to spend the rest of your life with me, cause if you haven't noticed we are complete opposites. You have the brains and well...I have the guns."
    "Chris don't you dare question my love for you. I have stuck with you for this long, and I'm not about to walk out on you now. If I didn't love you I would have left years ago."
    "Mary, look at me. I'm not going to die of old age. I'm probably going to get killed. Mary I don't want you to feel the pain of losing me. Mary they are not just going to shoot me, they are going to torture me and make you watch. I don't want you to have to see that. I care about you too much."
    "Chris, I don't want to think about that right now. I just want to enjoy our time together."


    TO BE CONTINUED....