February 1995

| Good Samaritan Hospital |

Rih

8:32 AM

I watched Shayla sleep while I rested my head on O'shea shoulder. He has his arms wrapped around my body tightly, like he was afraid for me to move and a blanket that the nurse gave us. A small smile appeared over my lips as I looked around the room at Kim and Ren who was knocked out on the loveseat, and Yella who was sleeping on the other couch opposite from me and O'shea.

Eric punk ass hasn't shown up or answered anyone calls. But when he gets here, I got a couple of words for his ass. How does he think that it is okay to put someone you so call love in this situation? You know the streets talk and if you are willing to go out in public with this broad, thinking that your wife wouldn't find out...then you're really a piece of shit.

I got cut out of my thoughts as I watched Shayla slowly started sitting up in the bed.

"Lala", I said as I slowly stood up and walked over to her bed.

Shayla eyes fluttered a little bit, but met my gaze and she smiled. I bit my bottom lip while smiling and wiping my tears away.

"Bitch, you scared me", I admitted as I grabbed her hand and rubbed it.

"What.... why and why am I in a hospital bed?" Shayla said with her morning voice before clearing her throat.

I sighed, "Baby girl.... you see something that made you black out...you don't remember?"

Shayla stared at me confused, then looking around the room.

"Where's Eric? Why isn't he here?"

I shook my head getting angry at the sound of his name. It's his fault that we are in this situation. I stared at her with guilt in my eyes. She doesn't remember what she saw that landed her in this situation.

Before I could answer, I heard shuffling from Kim and Ren who was sitting up now and smiling. Ren stood up and came to Shayla bed.

"Damn...you got us out here scared and shit knucklehead", Ren said as he rubbed the top of Shayla's hair, making it a little messy.

She laughed softly, "I'm sorry, but what the hell is going on...why am I in here?

We all exchanged looks, but we didn't say anything. I'm not sure if Shayla want me to say it or she really doesn't remember.

"How your stomach feel?", I heard Yella voice say.

I turned and looked as he was stretching and walking over to her bed. Turning behind me, I finally see bae awaking as he scratched the top of his head and smiled at me. I smiled back then turned to Shayla.

"Its fine...a little sore but I guess I'm okay..." Shayla looked around at all of us. "Are Y'all keeping something from me...why yall keep....is my baby okay?"

"I...um...- "I stammered as I stared at Shayla's eyes that was filled with hurt, pain, and confusion.

We heard the room door open and a male doctor with slight grey hair entered the room holding Shayla's file. We all turned our attention to him. He smiled as he walked to the front of her bed, facing all of us.

"Good morning everyone" he started. "I am Dr. Myers...how everyone doing this morning?"

We all mumbled and smiled as we quieted down. Shayla looked confused as she stared at the doctor.

"Why am I here..." She said as she became anxious. "Why am I here somebody better tell me something right now".

"Uh...Mrs. Wright yes... you were admitted last night due to a panic attack that you had last night. And your blood pressure was severely high for a preg...- "

"What about my baby? where my husband?" Shayla whined as she interrupted Dr. Myers with tears in her eyes.

I squeezed her hand while Kim stood on the other side of her, running her fingers through Shayla hair. It fucked me up to see my best friend in this much pain. No one deserves this...ever. Shayla sniffled with the Nasal Cannula under her nose and looking down at her arm where they stuck the IV in.

"Umm...If you ladies and gentleman don't mind, I'd like to talk to Mrs. Wright alone...Please", Dr. Myers said gently as he looked around at us.

I felt my face scrunch up as my lips quiver and tears immediately fill my eyes. Please god don't let her lose her baby. She has suffered enough, I don't think her heart can take this, I prayed to myself.

"Yea...sure" O'shea said as he nodded at the doctor. He looked at Shayla and rubbed her hand. "Come on Y'all"

O'shea grabbed my hand tightly as we started to walk out of the room. I looked over at Kim who was wiping her tears with the back of her hand. I blinked quickly as we made our way out the room. Ren closed the door behind us and went to sit on the chairs that was against the wall, across from the room.

I stood in the doorway, looking through the glass as Dr. Myers sat down on Shayla bed and began looking through her files and pulling out a paper, pointing to it.

"Fuck...I wanna hear what they saying", I mumbled out loud as I watched with Sadness in my eyes.

"Baby...just wait she'll be okay...alright?" O'shea said to me as I felt him wrap his arms around my waist and lead me away from the door.

***

Eric

11:55 am

I rushed out the elevator and slightly jogged down the hallway only to be met up with the crew.

"Wassup..." I said as I tried to catch my breath.

Rih and Kim were mugging the fuck out of me. If looks could kill, I'd be 12 feet deep in the fucking ground. Kim chest heaved up and down as a flash of anger rushed across her face. Ren looked at me and hung his head, shaking it.

"Oh, look who want to show up now...you cheating bitch!", Rih shouted with tears in her eyes as she lunged towards me from her chair.

"Chill out!" Cube said as he grabbed Rih and restrained her.

I jumped back and stared at her blankly for a second. "What the fuck you talking about? Aint nobody cheating...Yo Cube get yo...- "

"It's not the time for this shit man...go in there and check on your WIFE", Ren emphasized as he looked up at me.

"Is..is she alright?" I asked, nervously.

I looked at Yella who shook his head and head nodded for me to walk towards Shayla room. I felt my face soften as I approached the room door. I looked through the window and Shayla was crying hysterically and rocking back and forth as two nurses sat on each of her sides, trying to control her.

"What the fuck happened to her man?" I yelled as I grabbed Yella shirt.

"Man...go in there and see what's up we don't know, they wouldn't let us sit in there" Yella said as he smacked my hands away. "Damn man, stretching out my collar and shit"

I rolled my eyes and slowly turned the door knob and opening the door. Everyone attention turned towards me and my ears was hit with Shayla's high pitched scream.

"Nooo....my baby....no", she cried as she rocked back and forth.

"Fuck", I mumbled to myself as I entered the room some more after closing the door.

"Mrs. Wright, you have to calm down okay... your husband is here...calm down honey", an older brown skinned nurse said as she rubbed Shayla's back.

"My baby.... My baby...My baby" Shayla chanted as if she was in a trance.

I felt my chest heave up and down as she started coughing and panting. I bit down on my bottom lip and stared at her with guilt in my eyes. Her eyes met mines, watery, red and swollen. Her face was drenched in tears and sadness covered her face as she stared at me.

The nurses moved out of my way, allowing me to sit on baby girl's bed and get a little closer to her.

"The Doctor will return shortly...just make sure she is calm; her blood pressure is already spiked" the nurse said to me as she walked towards the door.

I thanked them and heard the door open and close as Shayla stared off into space, weeping quietly.

"Baby..." I sighed as I sat on the side of her bed and ran my fingers through her hair and holding the back of her head. "Baby I'm here..."

She didn't respond. She stared off into space as she sobbed quietly. I looked at the monitors that was next to her bed, then back at her. It fucked me up to see her hooked up to all this shit. I gently rubbed my hand across her stomach.

"My.... baby", Shayla mumbled as she stared off into space still.

I looked at her, "What about our baby?"

I heard the room door open as I watched a tall, slightly grey haired man enter the room. He walked over to me and extended his hand.

"Hello, you must be Mr. Wright...pleasure to meet you unfortunately under these circumstances", he flashed a small, but genuine smile.

"Thank you, sir, and yeah I know", I replied while shaking his hand.

We pulled our hands apart as I stood up and put my hands in my jean pockets.

"How she doing?" Dr. Myers asked as he stood there with his clipboard.

I shrugged, "She keep saying my baby, she won't say nothing else.... did she lose the baby?" my eyes widened.

Dr. Myers stared at us for a second. Shayla looked up at me, with more tears rolling down her cheek.

"Mrs. Wright...do you want him to know? I mean he has to know but I am just asking your consent", Dr. Myers says as he took a seat on the edge of the bed.

I jerked my head back in confusion, "Know what? What he talking about?"

Shayla sniffed and headed nodded as she wiped her tears off her face. I was confused as hell at this point. What the fuck is going on? I felt butterflies in my stomach as Dr. Myers stared at us for a second, then looking away.

"Well...are you gonna say something?" I said with a hint of irritation. "How is E'mani my baby?"

"Sir...we think that the baby will be okay...but um"

My heart rate increased faster as I sat down on Shayla bed, rubbing her back.

He continued, "I...umm I am sorry to tell you this, but your wife tested HIV Positive" he said, with his voice cracking a little bit.

I felt my heart skip a beat, before my eyes widened and I stared down at Shayla who started sniffing and coughing while wiping her tears.

"Get the fuck outta here Doc...are you fucking serious?" I waved him off as my eyebrows furrowed together. "You gotta test that shit again....my wife...MY WIFE AINT GOT NO HIV"

"Mr. Wright please calm down, I know this is a difficult thing to hear and we will.... -"

"Doc she's pregnant, she's due soon! she can't...no...No" I screamed as I plopped down in the seat next to Shayla and covered my face with my shirt and belted out a cry.

"There are patients who have been HIV Positive and pregnant. They have the virus but in some cases, the babies don't contract the virus. Many studies show...- "

"Doc please, my wife and my child is gonna die...and you talking to me about case studies?" I screamed as I kicked the chair in front of me across the room.

I stood up and proceeded to walk out the room, but was turned around by Dr. Myers.

"Sir, you and your wife needs each other now more than ever and we need you to get tested as well..." He said as he gently placed his hand on my shoulder.

Hot tears ran down my cheeks as I looked at Shayla, who laid back down and stared at the ceiling. She made no noise, she was physically here but mentally gone.

Dr. Myers continued, "Stay here with your wife okay...we will get you tested...I'm...I'm truly sorry".

He softly patted my back as he walked out the room and closed the door behind him. 

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