School is so hard.
As soon as we made it to the hospital, Cindy and Jazmine were rushed into the emergency room. It took three nurses and four cops to hold me and Huey back, but eventually, we stayed in the waiting room. Huey looked scared as shit; his face turned an unnatural pale color and he had his lips clamped up tight like he was trying not to scream.
I dunno how I looked, but I could imagine that I looked even worse.
"Aye man, "I knocked Huey's knee with mine. Huey turned to look at me, "What Riley? "He asked, sounding completely annoyed and fed up with life as we know it.
"I heard 'bout how ya an' Jaz started hookin' up, "I replied. I wanted to change the topic just a little bit, just so Huey wouldn't have to think about what was going on in that emergency room. Huey sighed, "So, Jazmine told you huh? "He asked, as if he wasn't surprised. "I always knew you'd find out from her. "
"Wha' does tha' mean nigga? "I asked, confused. Huey smirked sadly, "Well yeah, I came on to her when I was drunk. And like the idiot I was I just kept going back to her for more, "He rubbed his head with his hands, "I don't know. She's been my best friend since we were children. I've never known anyone else other than her, anyone romantically anyways. "
"Did ya ever think 'bout leavin' her? "I asked.
Huey shook his head, "No, actually. I never thought I'd ever have to. I never imagined we'd be here right now; her being pregnant and me having to take on two jobs just so we can pay for that baby. "
"That baby, "I scoffed. Huey gave me a look, "What? "He asked.
"That baby is gon' be yo baby! "I shot back, "It's not jus' any baby, tha's yo baby too. Yo's an' Jaz, "I crossed my arms over my chest, "It sounds like ya blame Jazmine for everything that's happened, but it takes two to make a damn baby! You've been actin' like a little bitch since ya found out Jaz was pregnant. I thought you were the calm one, an' I was tha childish one. But right now, ya actin' worse than how I would. "I needed to get that off my chest.
Huey smirked, "I see, "He said lowly, "An' knowin' Jaz, she's gonna forgive yo ass even if ya leave her, "I added. Huey's eyes darkened, "Yeah. "He said.
I heard someone yell, and Mr. and Mrs. Dubois were in the waiting room, yelling, asking for Jazmine. A nurse was trying to calm them down, but Mr. Dubois was the one freaking out. Mrs. Dubois looked like she was fed up with this drama shit, but she also looked worried.
"Where is she?! "Mr. Dubois demanded. The nurse looked kind of scared, like she had never been approached like this before, "Oh, uh, sir, she's in surgery with the other young woman, Cindy, "She replied, "I don't know when the surgery will be over, but you can't see her until it's done. "
Mr. Dubois threw his hands up and sighed, "Fine! "He joined me and Huey in the waiting room. He cast Huey a glare, "Well, what did you fail to do now, huh Huey? "He asked mockingly. Huey looked like he was ready to pounce on that nigga, but he held himself back. Mrs. Dubois hit Mr. Dubois on the back, "Stop it Tom, really, our daughter's in surgery and you want to pick a fight with her boyfriend? "She sounded fed up, too.
Mr. Dubois only muttered something under his breath before staring off into space. Mrs. Dubois began calling family members I guess.
A nurse came in to the waiting room; a blonde girl with dark eyes, "Riley Freeman? "She said my name. I jumped up, "Yeah, tha's me, "I followed her away from Huey and Mr. Fights-a-lot. She led me down the hall, "Well, I'm glad to tell you that Cindy is alright, "She began. She looked around, "Where is her mother, Mr. Freeman? "
I shrugged, "I'll call her ma soon, but tell me the rest, "I assured her. The nurse only shrugged, "The wound's stitches ripped under trauma, causing her to bleed. Thankfully, she didn't lose as much blood as expected. She was a little disoriented and shaken up, she keeps going on about someone named Jazmine…, "She waited for me to explain, so I did.
"Jazmine's her friend, the otha girl, "I told her, "She's tha pregnant one, but tell me, how's she doin'? Wha's goin'? On wit' her? "
The nurse gave me a look, "And how are you related to Miss Dubois? "She asked suspiciously. I rolled her eyes, "I'm her baby daddy's brother, "I shot back, "She's gon' be my future nephew or niece's mama, "
The nurse nodded, "Miss Dubois is still in critical condition, "She replied quietly, "I was not supposed to reveal any information about her at this point, but it doesn't look good. "She smiled at me, but it was a sad smile, as if she was apologizing for something.
"What'cha mean? "I asked. I could feel my face heat up and my palms got sweaty. Jazmine had to be okay, she had to be.
"Well, the blow was fatal. Either she or the baby won't make it tonight. "The nurse gave me the most serious look on the planet. My heart dropped, this was going to kill Huey, "Please, do not tell her family anything. We are hoping that we can save her in time, but as of right now, the odds are stacked against her. If she can't pull through, one of them won't make it. "
"How could tha baby live anyways? "I asked, "It's too young, "
"Babies can sometimes survive while in the earlier stages, before the actual due date, but it's very rare, "The nurse answered, "They must be under constant care, and are easily able to attract disease and sickness, and can get extremely hurt very easily. "She scratched her head, "Often, families choose to pull the plug, or let them die, because yes, the baby is in constant pain. "
I felt my stomach drop this time, "Holy shit…, "I whispered, "This ain't good, "
"Where is the father of the baby? "She asked. I sighed, "He's in tha waitin' room wit' her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Dubois. "I shook my head, "They ain't on good terms right now though, "
"I see, "The nurse said. She began to walk away, "If you want, you can see her now. Cindy, I mean, I take it you're her boyfriend. She's this way. "
Cindy laid in a white bed with white sheets and white blankets. She wore a blue and white stripped hospital dress and she looked like she'd been through hell. I tried to get ahold of her mother, but Mrs. McPhearson was down at the station trying to give her statement. This just left me with Cindy.
"Hey Cin, "I whispered. Cindy opened her eyes and smiled at me like she hadn't seen me in forever, "Reezy, "She coughed, "Wha's goin' on? "She asked. I shrugged, "Nothin' much, "I lied. Cindy nodded, "Tha's good. How's Jaz? "She then asked. I cringed at the question, "She's still in tha surgery room, "I replied as honestly as I could.
Cindy's eyes clamped shut as she began to cry, "Did they say anythin' bout her at all? "She asked. I shook my head, another lie, "Nope…just tha' they were still operatin' on her or somethin'. "
She nodded, still crying. I gently pulled her into a hug, "Aye ma, it's alright. It's gon' be alright. "I kissed her forehead. Cindy cried a little more, "Why this had to happen to us Reezy? "She asked me. I kissed her forehead again, "I dunno ma, really, "I ran my hand through her blonde hair, "I dunno, but we gon' get through this, I swear, "I had to promise her something.
Cindy nodded, "Yeah, okay, "She wiped some tears from her eyes and leaned back onto the bed, "Stay wit' me Reezy, "She grabbed my hand with hers and squeezed, "I don't wanna be alone right now, "She admitted, blushing a little. I chuckled, "Ya really think I'm 'bout to leave ya here like nothin'? "I asked. She smiled, tears still falling down her cheeks, "Aye baby, don't cry, "I said. I sounded like I was pleading her not to.
"I'm tryin', "She coughed some more, "But it's hard. "
"I know it is baby, "I grabbed a chair and pulled it up next to the bed, "I'm gon' stay right here wit'cha, "I promised, "I'll be right here, ya need anythin'? "
"Yeah, some food, "Cindy groaned, "I ain't eat nothin' since I got here! "She complained. I knew she was trying to lighten the mood, so I nodded and laughed a little, "Aight, gotchu. Ya sure ya can eat though? "I asked, standing. Cindy shrugged, "Nah, go ask. If she says yes, then I want some McDonald's or some shit. "She gave me an eager smile, so I nodded, "On it, "I leaned down to kiss her forehead again before leaving the room, "Hurry back! "She called out after me.
Huey was still in the waiting room with Mr. and Mrs. Dubois. I felt bad, but I needed to ask, "Aye nigga, "I said, sliding into the seat next to him, "What? "He asked, "You got a ride? "I asked. Huey gave me a look, "We rode in the ambulance here, remember genius? My car's back at the McPhearson's place. "
"Oh, true, "I felt tired as shit now.
"Why do you need the car? "He asked.
"Cindy's hungry, "I replied, "She's doin' okay, they fixed her up real nice. "
"That's good. "Huey said, but he only looked even sadder. I realized that they hadn't told him about Jazmine yet. I wanted to tell him, but how the fuck am I supposed to tell a nigga he gonna lose either his baby momma or his baby in one day?
For a moment I sat there with him, trying to find a way to tell him what he needed to know.
Someone else beat me to it.
"Mr. Freeman? "Another nurse, a black haired woman, came in, "Mr. Dubois? Mrs. Dubois? "
"We're here! "Mrs. Dubois shot up with lightning speed while Huey and Mr. Dubois scrambled after her. I decided to join them, because why not? The woman began to walk away, talking to them about Jazmine.
"Well, this wasn't an easy thing to do, "She began slowly, like she was trying to avoid whatever the hell she had to say, "What happened to Jazmine? "Huey asked, "Where's my little girl? "Mr. Dubois cut in. Mrs. Dubois pushed him back, "Please, just tell us what's going on. It's been hours! "
The nurse sighed. She gestured for us to keep following her. We followed in silence; she didn't really say anything much after that. The new on Jazmine was obviously taking its sweet time being delivered. We stopped in front of a room with Jazmine's name on it.
Huey was the first to try and reach for the handle, but the woman stopped him, "Hold on just a minute now, "She warned, I need to tell you all something. "
"What is it then?!" Huey nearly screamed, but the nurse didn't even look fazed.
"This wasn't an easy decision, "She went on, "We tried our best to do everything we could, but ultimately, we had no choice in the matter, it was too far along to stop or reverse, or even save. "She kept on going and going like she was never gonna actually tell us anything.
"Wha' happened to Jaz and tha baby? "I asked. I seemed to have startled everyone because they all looked at me, like they hadn't even realized I was there. I gave the nurse a look, letting her know I knew the two outcomes of the situation. She stood up a little straighter and adjusted herself.
"The mother's life was at risk, "She stated simply, "Therefore, we had to allow the baby to be aborted. "
The hall was dead silent. Huey's blackness left him, "What? "He asked in a stupid voice.
"Miss Dubois was fatally wounded in an area where the baby was, "The nurse went on to explain, "While on the ambulance, she was acting as if she was going into labor. Once here, we discovered that her body was naturally trying to abort the baby. We have a way to save the baby, although the baby would live with several health complications and could even die. "So that's what that blonde nurse was talking about.
"In the end, we decided to allow the baby to be naturally aborted, as it was damaging Jazmine's life. Jazmine…she was on the brink of death. "The nurse said in a sad tone, "The baby was practically taking the life out of Jazmine while being aborted. We were able to save Jazmine, but the baby was not spared. I'm sorry, Mr. and Mrs. Dubois, "She said to Jazmine's parents. She then looked at Huey, "I assume you're the baby's father? "
"Yes, "Huey choked, "Yes, "
"Well, Jazmine's still asleep, and I don't know how long she'll be out. We had to sedate her after she began kicking and screaming during the procedure. I don't think she realized at that moment what was going on. "The nurse added, "So when she wakes up, I think it would be best to tell her as calmly and gently as possible. We'll have a checkup on her when she wakes up. "The nurse gave us all a sad look before walking away.
I turned back to Huey. It looked like the life had been sucked right out of him. Damn…this was some deep shit. Jazmine's baby dead? It didn't even seem real. But it was.
"You…, "Mr. Dubois began to advance towards Huey while Mrs. Dubois held him back. Oh hell no, he was gonna try this at the hospital with Jazmine in serious condition?
"Honey, stop, "Mrs. Dubois tried, but Mr. Dubois pushed her off, "No Sarah! "He yelled at her.
"Listen, "Huey said calmly and deadly. He gave Mr. Dubois the most terrifying look I had ever seen on him before, "It's not my fault the baby died. I didn't hit her, I was trying to protect her. It isn't entirely my fault she got pregnant either; it takes two to make a fucking baby! "He was snapping, I could tell. His face was getting redder as he continued to yell and Mr. Dubois.
"I love her, "Huey whispered after a moment, his face turning back to his normal black, "I love that baby, too. I know I made a lot of mistakes…, "He sighed, "But I loved them, more than you think I did. "
Mr. Dubois was shocked by Huey's response. The look on his face was priceless. After a moment of silence, Mr. Dubois turned on his heel and marched away, Mrs. Dubois in tow. She turned back to look at Huey and gave him a smile. I bet he earned her respect.
"Damn Huey, tha' was some rough shit, "I said. Huey shrugged, "I guess. "He muttered. He stared down at the ground.
"Aye man, it'll be aight, "I assured him, "Don't worry 'bout it. "
"If only it were that easy. "Huey sighed.
Sorry guys
Xoxo, queen