" I will do whatever it takes just to keep you in my life
I'll walk about a thousand miles just to be by your side "
- Tynisha Keli

A week later...

Graduation:

This week has been the hardest for me. I just don't know what the hell is going on with me.

My body has been feeling different and I'm not sure why.

I have been taking prednisone everyday like I am supposed to, but it seems to me that its making my body feel a little...bizarre.

"Zaria...?"

I heard my mother voice say as she cracked my bedroom door open. I had to get down to the school before the graduation ceremony.

It was 7:22 am and the graduation coordinator aka Ms. Lane wanted all the graduates in the auditorium by 8am.

No later than 8:15 am.

"Are you okay?", mommy asked me as she approached my bed.

"I don't feel too good mommy", I whined. "I ain't sleep too good. I kept waking up to use the bathroom"

"Hmm"

My mom placed the back of her hand on my forehead. Her eye brows slowly wrinkled as she moved her hand to my neck.

"Zee. Your kind of warm" she uttered, looking at me with worried eyes. "You feel alright?"

I nodded my head yes. I mean, I feel a little weird but I always feel like this. I think it's some of the side effects of the immunosuppressant.

She says I feel warm, but my skin to me feels cold and clammy.

I flipped the cover off my body, revealing my bare legs as I placed my feet onto my carpeted floor. I slowly stood up, feeling like I could fall immediately.

"Zee!", my mom shouted as she grabbed my left arm.

Her eyes widened as she stared at me with nervous stricken eyes.

I always felt a little weak, so I don't know why she's being over dramatic this morning.

"Mom I'm I'm fine. I'm go get dressed", I ensured her with a weak smile.

My mom eyes stayed fixated on mine, not blinking once. She opened her mouth to speak, only to quickly close it and nod her head.

"Alright..." she heaved a sigh before letting my arm go. "Eric called and said he's sending a ride to drop you off at your final rehearsal this morning. Bout 7:45 they'll be here"

"Ok"

I sighed as I crept across my floor, gathering my toiletries so I could take a shower and get dressed before my ride arrived.

I finally entered the bathroom and turning on the shower, hopping in.

The steam felt good on my skin, but even with this hot water I still feel cold and clammy. I spoke to Eric every day since my prom night.

He went from Eazy-E to Eric to just being someone I can call a true friend.

I even spoke to his wife. She was nice I guess. I admit, I was a little jealous which is normal but she is really a nice lady.

She sent me aLouis Vuitton purses with a chain that I appreciate oh so much.

I hurried and finished my shower and hopped out and began brushing my teeth after drying off.

I exited the bathroom and oiled up before slipping into my graduation dress and applying a little makeup.

I put my shoes on and grabbed my cap and gown off the back of my bedroom door before rushing down the steps.

"Momma!", I called out to her as I opened the house door. "I'll see you at the ceremony"

I closed the door before she could answer. Today was a dreary, grey day in Georgia.

I should have grabbed a sweater but I was too busy rushing so I wouldn't be late.

The black Mercedes Benz sat beautifully on this dreary day as my chauffer held my door open.

"Good Morning Ms. Simpson," he spoke as he extended a hand with his white glove.

"Good Morning", I smiled back, gracefully placing my hand into his.

"Mr. Wright has left you a note as well as breakfast on the breakfast trey in the back of the car." He says as he helped me inside of the car, then closing the door.

I deeply inhaled the new car scent as I looked to my left to see a bouquet of soft petal pink roses laying there beautifully with a note attached to it.

"Zee,

I hope you like the flowers I sent you. I'm super proud of you! I'll see you at the ceremony.

P.S: I bought you some Mc Donald's breakfast. That bacon egg and cheese biscuit shit you said you liked. They biscuits dry as hell so I got you some orange juice too. I rather a big fancy breakfast but this is what you like so...enjoy ha-ha.

-with Love

Eric.

I giggled as I opened the brown Mc Donald's bag to see my food.

Something so simple as Mc Donald's breakfast makes me smile. It's just what I like to eat.

I admired my flowers and ate my breakfast before I arrived in front of my school building.

I felt a little better, still kind of weak and a sensation of aching in my pelvis area, like my cycle wanted to start

I could see the rain drops start to dance on the windows, hearing them tap tap tap on the window as well.

Why is it raining so much? It's been like this for the past week.

The car came to a complete stop as the chauffer hopped out and helped me out, hovering a white umbrella above my head, which was great because I didn't want my wig to get wet.

Even though its human hair.

The chauffer walked me up to the school building, then holding the door open for me.

He bowed and wished me well on my future endeavors and informing me that Eric will indeed be in attendance soon as the ceremony begins.

I entered the school building, greeting some of my teachers as I made my way to the outside of the auditorium.

I watched as my class lined up, wearing their graduation regalia, smiling brightly.

"Good Morning Ms. Zaria", Ms. Lane smiled, giving me a hug.

"Morning", I say before swallowing hard.

My mouth began to feel a little dry. I need to find a water fountain or something.

Ms. Lane face turned into a worried look as she tucked my hair behind my ear.

"Zaria? You okay?"

"mmm...I guess so" I replied, furrowing my eye brows. "I look bad or something?"

"No No" Ms. Lane quickly replied, shaking her head. "You just look...tired. You need rest?"

"Well..." I sighed. "I didn't sleep much last night now that you mention it"

"Mmm. Nervous bout today?"

"No." I shook my head. "At least I don't think I am. I just feel a little weak"

"You want me to get you a chair or...- "

"No, its ok Ms. Lane", I ensured, putting my hand up. "I'll be okay" I smiled as I went to lean on the wall.

Ms. Lane nodded, giving me one last look before walking towards the other group of graduates.

My forehead began to sweat, and my hand started to shake and seeing different colored spots in my vision.

I closed my eyes, shaking my head lightly trying to regain my vision.

"I need some water", I said under my breath.

Then I remembered, there was a water fountain down the hall way I could go to quick before rehearsal started officially.

I leaned off the wall and all I could remember was hearing the voice of Ms. Lane saying "Zaria!"

My eyes flickered as I heard the rushing sounds of shoes running, screeching up and down the hallway, blurred visions of faces that hovered over me as I tried to regain my vision.

"Someone call 911!", a voice shouted.

I slipped in and out of darkness as I heard sounds of walkie talkies going off around my head.

"Zaria...keep your eyes open!"

"Hurry up and get the principal down here!"

"Fuck him...we need an ambulance"

"Call Nurse Johnson!"

"Zaria! Open your eyes !!"

"ZARIA!"

| Atlanta, Georgia |

Eric

Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
It's not warm when she's away
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
And she's always gone too long
Anytime she goes away

I winced in pain as I scratched my tightly braided head, looking out the window as Bill Withers played in the background on the radio station.

I arrived in Georgia last night, staying at the Sheraton Hotel in a penthouse suite.

"This rain is becoming a pain in my ass", I muttered to myself.

From what Zaria told me, it's been raining all week down here.

She says once I left to go back to California, the day after prom night is when the rain started, never checking up.

That shit aint sit right with me. It's like, her sadness began once I left.

I looked at the folder that Shayla gave me that had the surprise I had for Zaria.

I finalized Zaria's Dream: Lupus Awareness foundation, which is founded through the Ruthless Foundation.

"I hope she likes this flyer if not Ima change it until she's happy"

The rain started to pour harder as my driver merged onto the interstate, towards Zaria's school.

Her ceremony started soon and I didn't want to be late.

Dressed in my Ruthless Mafia jacket, a white T-shirt rested underneath, a dark blue pair of denim Guess jeans and a fresh pair of white Nike's Air forces, and finally: my locs, completed my outfit.

Yeah, most people would of wore a suit and tie but...Zaria said she wanted me to be comfortable.

I looked down as cell phone began to ring on my hip. Good thing it did, so I can silence it before the graduation started.

"Hello?", I answered.

I immediately became alarmed as I listened to her whimper and sniffle on the other end of the phone, before speaking.

"E...Eric"

"Yeah...?" I said. "Who's this?"

"It's Nina...Zaria's mother", she whimpered as her voice cracked.

I shifted in the seat, pressing the phone closer to my ear.

"Hey...Is everything alright what's going on?" I questioned, concerned. "Why you crying?"

I heard her cough a little and sniffle once more before answering me.

"...Its Z...Zaria...we're at the hospital"

I closed my eyes as I felt my jaw tighten in anger.

I must keep myself calm, not trying to upset myself before I know what's going on for real.

I swallowed hard, "...what hospital ya'll at?"

Nina gave me the address and I immediately told the chauffer to drive to that address.

He quickly exited a ramp and merged back onto the highway.

He was driving fast, but not as fast as I wanted.

I would have been hitting 120mph out this bitch. Wet roads or not.

I hope nothing happened to her. I couldn't stomach no shit like this right now.

---

More coming up soon !

I would love to know ya'll thoughts on this chapter.

Thanks for 📖 as always <3