Chapter 12
Death
Note: A month has past between chapters 11 and 12, Dom and Letty are still in Mexico and Mia has gotten the acceptance of her relationship with Brian from Jesse, Leon and Vince.
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Queens
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It was the beginning of November, when Jen waltzed back into my life. I got off the bus one day with Jade and there she was sitting on the steps to my apartment building waiting. She jumped up as soon as she saw us coming across the street.
"Mo, what the fuck is this all about?"
"Nice to see you too Jen, what are you doing here?"
"I came to see why you were trying to steal Jade."
"What are you talking about Jen?"
"I'm talking about the adoption papers."
"Jen, you left us eight months ago, what am I supposed to do? You asked me to take care of her when you left."
"I guess you're right Mo, I mean it wasn't even like I wrote to you while I was gone. I just focused my entire energy on getting out of there and getting clean again."
I looked at her closely and realized that she had put on weight since I had last seen her. The wild look was gone from her eyes.
"Ma, cold."
I looked down at Jade, then up at Jen my conscience screaming at me to do the right thing and take Jen back even thought the rational side of me was saying that Jade and I were probably going to get hurt again.
"Grab your stuff Jen and come up. You can stay here with us until you get back on your feet."
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A Few Weeks Later
I sat in the kitchen and watched Jade play with Jen. Jen had surprised me she had gotten a part time job, and spent the rest of the time doing stuff with Jade. We had an argument or two in the beginning, about Jade calling me ma but eventually she seemed to agree that it was probably better if we didn't confuse her now. It had actually started to feel like my life was back on track again. Lia's cousin Lance had been spending a lot of time with me and he seemed like a nice person so I couldn't understand why Lia warned me away from him. I wouldn't consider him a boyfriend since the most I had did was kiss him once or twice.
"Hey Mo, you want to rent a movie?"
"Sure, what do you have in mind?"
"How about Gone in 60 Seconds?"
"That sounds good, let me go change and I'll take a ride with you."
"Mo, stay here Jade and I will go."
I smiled ignoring the chill that ran down my spine. As normal as everything seemed I still had an irrational fear that Jen was going to up and leave with Jade again.
"Well I guess if she wants to go that's fine."
I watched as Jen bundled Jade up in her winter coat.
"You're walking?"
"Yeah, it's only two blocks away."
"You had better grab the stroller on your way out. By the time you start walking back she's going to be tired."
"I will Mo."
They started to walk out the door, and I got another chill down my spine. I mentally reprimanded myself, but got up to give Jade a hug and a kiss.
"I love you Jade. You are a good girl for Jen okay?"
"Kay, ma."
I watched as she took Jen's hand and walked down the hallway.
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Twenty minutes later
I got up and checked the freezer to see if I had any ice cream. There was none, glancing at the clock I figured that I would have more then enough time to run down to the corner store and grab some before they got back from Blockbuster which was in the opposite direction. Leaving my building I glanced down and saw Jade and Jen just starting up the block. Jade was still walking along the stroller. I hurried around the corner to the store. I got there just as they were closing up.
"Hi Mr. Thomas, glad I made it."
"Well, Ms. Morgan how are you tonight? Where is that beautiful daughter of yours?"
"She's at Blockbuster with Jen. I just wanted to grab some ice cream for us."
I talked with Mr. Thomas for a few more minutes before glancing at the clock behind the counter.
"Well, I'd better be going they should just be getting back any minute now. Have a good night Mr. Thompson"
"You to Morgan and give Jade a hug for me."
"I will."
I walked out the door and headed up the block. I took no more then five steps when I heard the screeching of tires and a bus horn honking. A chill raced through my body and it felt like my heart had stopped.
"Oh God! Jade!"
I took off running, slipping on the patches of ice that littered the sidewalk, when I reached the corner I quickly took in the scene before me. A car had jumped the curb and smashed into the steps of a house. A bus was lying on its side blocking the street. I glanced down the street and didn't see Jade or Jen.
"Shit!"
Then I realized there were people on the other side of the car. Some of which were calling for someone to dial 911.
"No!"
I dropped the bag that contained the ice cream and ran in that direction. As I rounded the car, I thought I was going to die. My chest felt like it was going to explode; I didn't know who to run to first they were both lying there unmoving. Everything seemed like it was suddenly moving in slow motion, why weren't anybody helping them, where were the cops and EMTs?
"No, Oh God, No."
I ran to Jade first and tried to find a pulse. I was able to find a very weak one
"Jade, please baby don't leave. I'm so sorry. Please don't die on me."
Her eyes opened but they were a very dull green unlike her usually vibrant color. There was so much blood on her, it seemed like it was everywhere.
"Ma, mo got boo-boo."
"Jade, oh baby don't talk, mom's not going to let you die. Please baby hold on."
I carefully picked her up and cradled her in my arms. Then she opened and closed her eyes one last time as her body convulsed.
"NOOOOOOOOOOO!"
The tears final began to fall as I crawled over to where Jens body was laying on the ground.
"Please Jen not you too, I can't lose both of you."
I knew Jen was dead as soon as I got next to her; her body was practically bent at a right angle. I didn't know what to do, I was holding my dead daughter in my arms and the person who I considered my sister was lying dead in front of me. I could hear sirens in the distance and people screaming, I held Jade tighter and closed my eyes trying to block out the noise.
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One day later
I opened my eyes and found that I was in a bed with a very worried looking Lia sitting next to me.
"Lia."
"Mo, thank god your awake. I was so frightened."
"Where am I?"
"Your at my house, we figured it might be a good idea to have you stay here for awhile."
"I'm so sorry Mo, I was in shock when the police called me."
"The police called you?"
I was confused, why did the police call Lia and why wasn't I home with Jade and Jen? Then it hit me they were in an accident. I tried to remember what had happened but everything was very fuzzy. I sat up and Lia's arms went around me.
"I lost them both didn't I?"
"I'm so sorry Mo, I know how much they both meant to you."
"Did they suffer?"
Lia pulled back from me a little, then took a deep breath.
"You don't remember?"
I shook my head and looked at her and she continued.
"From what the police tell me that they died instantaneously."
"Oh God Lia, What am I going to do without them? They were my life."