We Will Be Together No Matter What(Kenneth Bryant) A dirty faded white Plymouth sped down a country road sending a cloud of dust into the air. The trees and a few houses were barely visible with the car moving so fast. Inside Country Music was blasting from the radio. Mindy sat in the back seat unable to contain herself. She looked out the window. She looked up and down and all around. She looked at the two men in the front seat. More than anything else Mindy looked at Marcus. But he didn't look at her. She was so afraid wondering if this was the end. Marcus looked down at his lap. Then he looked at the two men and through the windshield. But he didn't look at Mindy. Everything was happening so fast, and he hated being unable to do anything. Marcus didn't want to face Mindy like this. He wanted to die fighting for her like a man rather than be killed like a helpless animal.

The car made a sharp left turn off the road down a narrow-wooded path moving slow and steady. Soon the car stopped at a secluded spot. The two white men got out and rushed to the back on either side. They snatched Mindy and Marcus out of the backseat. The other man shook Mindy by the arm violently.

" That black boy can't save you now. You come on here bitch. Get on over there!"

Mindy yelled, " You're hurting me! "

Marcus nearly broke away from the other man holding him. " You let her go. You bastard! " The white man spun Marcus around and punched him in the stomach.

" You shut your damn mouth boy and get your black ass over there. You're going to get yours! "

They hustled the two of them several feet to where two other white men were standing near a large hole with a massive dirt mound. There were three shovels on the ground. One of the men was hefty and going bald. He was smoking a cigarette which he threw it to the ground and stomped it out. Then he turned his head left and spat before speaking.

" You do gooders come down here making trouble stirring up our blacks about voting and civil rights. To make it worse a white woman like you consorting with a black man. You both make me sick. But it don't matter no more. You both going to die. "

One white man yelled. " Let's get it on. Kill the race traitor whore! "

The other one looked at Marcus. " Making trouble and going after white girls. Watching you die is better than Christmas! "

The big man cocked his pump shotgun. The fourth white man had said nothing the whole time. But he was holding a pistol.

Mindy and Marcus looked at each other. Mindy shouted, " I love you! " Then she looked at the two white men and shouted the words again before closing her eyes.

" I love you too Mindy. I love you forever! " Then he glanced up at the sky.

The bald man tried to raise the shotgun as the other two yelled.

" Yee haw. Killing time! "

" Get em done! "

" Freeze drop the gun FBI! " The man with the pistol was aiming at the bald man. Suddenly, FBI agents and State Police Troopers streamed out of the trees with guns drawn.

" You men are under arrest for kidnapping and attempted murder! "

Marcus grabbed Mindy hugging and kissing her as the other three men were taken away. An FBI agent approached them.

" Okay you two. Everything is going to be alright we need to go. "

In the back seat of a police car Marcus held Mindy close with her head resting against his chest.

" I'm sorry I didn't want you to see me that way. "

" It's alright. We're alive and together that's all that matters now. "

" Mindy I'm going to marry you. I promise. It's just going to take some time. "

She looked up into his eyes. " We will be together no matter what. "

They didn't die that day rural Alabama. They made history as part of the Civil Rights Movement helping get the Voting Rights Act of 1965 passed. But they didn't think that way. All they knew was they were in love. Mindy's family said Civil Rights were fine, but you don't marry black people. Marcus's parents said he should stay with his own people, and marrying a white woman would only cause trouble. Some friends openly rejected them. Others avoided them while always making excuses until Mindy and Marcus gave up on them. Being in a long-distance relationship made things harder too. Marcus was at Ohio State University while Mindy was at University of Wisconsin. They got married after graduation in 1967. Soon they had two children and bought their first home. Over the years blatant racism became less common. But there was still subtle opposition. However, the culture changed, and society became more accepting of interracial couples. Marcus and Mindy experienced all the joys and pains of life together. They fought and reconciled. They lost the passion and romance while pursuing careers and raising children. But they fell in love all over again. They lived and loved like anybody else.

2024

The sky got darker as the smoke thickened. The fire was getting closer. It had destroyed nearly a hundred homes to the north and west already. Marcus didn't wait for an official evacuation order. He rented a small moving van, and Mindy reserved a hotel room. They packed up what they could and were about to leave. Mindy stood in the doorway looking around lost in her thoughts. There were lots of memories of times spent here with family and friends. Now a wildfire threatened to destroy it all. Mindy bit her lip and held back tears. Marcus came up behind her and gently placed his hands on her back and right shoulder. To her his touch was always reassuring.

" Honey, we have to go. "

Mindy turned to him, and they walked away arm in arm.

" Marcus what will do if the house burns down? "

" Mindy, I don't know. But one thing is certain. "

" What's that? "

" We will be together no matter what. "

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