I did not proofread so please bear with me.

Anéyah
__________

Thursday 10:30am|

My doctor signed the release papers yesterday and ever since that I've been here at my son's bedside.

Dionnis has been coming by after work and leaving after midnight. He looks at lemar everyday like he's his own flesh and blood.

Sometimes when he thinks I am asleep, he sits on the bed next to lemar and tell him about all the things he has planned for him like he knew deep down in his heart that lemar will see those days.

That lemar is alive.

He cries silently but his sobs usually gives him away. Seeing a grown man cry is a rare sight, they act like nothing can break them when in truth they're already broken on the inside but use their tough bodily features as a defense mechanism.

It pains me to see dionnis like this.

Dionnis and I had a little disagreement over me wanting to leave for Jamaica in two days. It torments me to leave lemar in the hospital but I know he has a strong support system that would  be here in my absence.

I advised everyone that his tubes are not to be removed until I give authorization to do such. Lemar is my child and he is my responsibility.

His father should be landing today, it's also funny how it took his son to be on his death bed for him to finally grace us with his presence after many years, months, weeks and days of begging him while lemar was alive and well.

Today shall be very interesting.

Choosing to be on my best behaviour is only in the good faith of my child, he would hate to see use bickering over him.

Leshawn likes to throw blames around and it would not take much for him to punch the right buttons when it comes to me.

A soft knock sounds at the door then the individual pushes it open. Aaliyah walks inside and greet me holding two white papers bags that immediately upon entry fills the once damped air with the sweet aroma of deliciousness.

My belly growls reminding me that I haven't eaten since night.

"Hey sis I bought you brunch since it's a bit late to call it breakfast" she says with a giggle and I check my phone for the first time today it's quarter to twelve already? Wow time moves fast when you're stuck in one place.

She hands me a bag and I open it revealing a familiar scent. "You went to my favorite Indian restaurant?" I ask and she nods happily.

I take out the gyro from the bag along with the extra white sauce and hot sauce.

Oh how I love Aaliyah right now.

I unwrapped my food and gently glazed it with the hot sauce before taking a huge bite. "Mhmm" I moan at the familiarity of the taste dancing on my tongue.

Aaliyah chuckles "I know you would enjoy it" she praise herself.

"Yeah" I reply with my mouth stuff with food. She opens her paper bag and take out her food to start eating.

Since moving back she hasn't had the time to go job hunting and the incident with lemar happening right after threw her off completely. We're not pressuring her but she likes to feel a sense of independence.

"Is devonte still in miami?" she query and I raise a brow as I gaze up at her. I knew this question was coming but I never anticipated that it would take this long.

"He is" I say casually and return to my food.

She sighs next to me; ever since Aaliyah moved to Jamaican I made a vow to stay out of her business. I know she saw me as the overly protective big sister but I did what I had to do in order to protect her.

Fiftie would never hurt her and I know that now so I'm content even if they do decide to give their relationship another try. On the other hand I would really like to know the reason as to why they broke up in the first place.

"He tried reaching out to me but I kept ignoring his calls and texts. I thought once he realizes that I'm ignoring him intentionally he would show up in person" Aaliyah sighs again and I chuckle humorously.

"Look sis, he's a grown man he is not up for playing games. I can see he looks like a straight forward guy so he would take it that yuh want to be left alone and that's what he will do" I share and she groans.

"I'm so stupid" she mutters and rest her head on the table she's sitting next to.

Yeah she appetite goodly gone now.

"He told yuh why we broke up?" She inquire, her voice muffled and I shake my head telling her "no".

She fix her posture and starts fumbling with her fingers. I wait for her to express what has been bothering her for weeks.

"He wants to have a baby" she confess refusing to make eye contact.

"A baby?!! But yuh just finished college? I am not trying to be a hypocrite here but you're in no shape nor form to raise a child on your own" I tell her truthfully.

She rolls her eyes "Yuh don't think I know that anéyah? That is why I asked him to give me a year while I gain experience from my new nieces— well niece now but yuh get what I mean.

He still refuses to give me the time so I broke up with him; I will not allow a man to force something so live changing on me when I am not ready then it got worse. He started accusing me of having sexual relations with my boss and we got into a heated confrontation where I sort of hit him out of anger with a lamp cutting him across his arm" she says timidly leaving me dumbfounded.

I take that back, Aaliyah can really take care of herself.

She a gwaan man.

I cover my mouth with the back of my hand blocking her from seeing the laughter on my face.

She seals her lips together trying to withhold her laughter but we both fail miserably. Aaliyah burst out laughing and I couldn't hold mine back any longer, we both laugh out loud until tears come to my eyes.

"Out of everything yuh heard the only thing recollect in your mind is the lamp incident?" Liyah continue laughing after guessing correctly.

"Sorry, I can't help it" I say in between laughing.

Despite the odds, I'm grateful to be able to share a laughter with someone else.

We sober up and Aaliyah settles down with a somber expression, her eyes glued on lemar.

When the light goes out there is sadness in its absence, metaphorical speaking.

"Talk to him. Life is too short to spend it alone knowing that yuh could be spending it with the one yuh love" she avert her gaze back to me and her eyes glimmer with pain staining tears.

"It's okay to cry liyah... I know yuh love and miss him" I console her and she nods while using the back of her hand to wipe away the tears.

My hand glides across the table, taking hers into it. Without saying anything we both look towards lemar and I squeeze her hand as a way of telling her involuntary that I'm here for her.

Dionnis
__________

5:00pm|

Anéyah left to get a few suits of clothing to sustain her for at least another two days while she stays at the hospital.

The nurses kept telling her that it wasn't necessary to be staying here 24/7 since lemar will not be waking up.

Knowing how stubborn she can be I stayed quiet on that topic allowing her to make her own decision.

Someone knocks on the other end of the door then pushes it open. A thick bodily light skin man with muscular features enters the room and the nurse that I can only assume showed him the way retreats after he was safely inside closing the door behind of him.

"Good evening , I'm trying to locate anéyah" he says in an awkward tone.

"Mmm" I hum disapproving and eye him up and down.

He takes a step towards Lemar "no go nuh further unless me know who yuh be" I state firmly and the door pushes open again.

His face turns quickly in the direction of the door, Anéyah's eyes and his made four; I see a flash of disgust swims across her face before she attempts to disguise it.

"Hi leshawn it's almost good to finally see yuh again" she sarcastically greets and the man sighs in return.

Leshawn?

Lemar's sperm donor? I see where he got his complexion from.

"Look I didn't came here to fight I just want to see my boy but your bodyguard refuses to let me go any further" he replies and I scoff.

"Please don't insult me, I am no body guard and yuh know it" I answer calmly.

He looks at anéyah with pleading eyes and she sighs "babe? Can yuh please move so he can see lemar" anéyah says in an authoritative tone in her voice.

She's the boss, I retreat my feet settling back into the chair but my guard is on high alert for sudden violent actions.

He's lemar father of course he will not hurt him but mi still nah tek no liberty with no man; if Lucifer can betray god (his father) who am I to trust when some choices are not of good fortune.

Anéyah makes her way over the lounge chair and rest her belongings down.

She looks tense, I hate seeing her this way.

In a swift movement she's placed on my lap and I wrap my arms around her nuzzling my face in her neck.

She starts giggling "you're tickling me, stop". Her useless child father looks in our direction and I return his gaze with a playful smirk.

Anéyah tries to move and I hold her in place not wanting to lose the chance to embrace her since she has been keeping her distance from me since Sunday.

Death is not something a person can easily process it takes time and with moral support comes comfort.

Apart of me wants to tell her about the dream I had the other night while the other part is telling me to let her channel her grief without disturbance.

The longer I delay this information the longer it takes for Fiftie and I to resolve this issue.

Lemar is alive, I know he is.

"Surprise to see you here without your slave master, what's her name again?" Anéyah addresses Leshawn while she snaps her fingers trying to prompt her memory.

Leshawn groans "don't start anéyah, this is not the place or the time" he pleads and anéyah roll her eyes accepting defeat.

Ahhh so a him can cool yuh.

Me see de pree.

I stand to my feet forcing anéyah to do the same "I'm going outside to make a call I will be right back" I say and kiss her forehead before making my way outside.

Fiftie was sent out on a mission and I hope he gets some answers. I slide my hand into my pocket to retrieve my phone and call Fiftie.

Phone call

Fiftie: Yow

Me: Any luck?

Fiftie: Dawg mi find the house eno but the maid said he's off island and he has gone to Jamaica. He won't be back until three days.

This cannot be a coincidence. Anéyah is leaving in two days and the doctor is returning in three days a quandary is definitely afoot.

Me: Aite bro, where are yuh now?

Fiftie: On my way to go check in on Aaliyah.

A smile grow across my face; how am I not surprised at all.

Me: Me see the pree (chuckles) check me when yuh done, certain things me no want to say over the phone.

Fiftie: Nuh seh 40 boss.

I hate it when he calls me boss and he knows it.

The call disconnects from my end, play too much.

After a few seconds I step back inside the room to find anéyah isolated and the tension thicker than before I left it.

If I didn't know any better I would say anéyah didn't pick a fight but me no name harry.

And a it dat.

She looks at me then turns away with a huff. Only god can come down and tell me I don't have a mad woman.

Anéyah torment yf when she ready.

When I'm standing directly infront of her she avoids my eyes and ask "what?".

I narrow my eyes at her "wah do yuh?" I ask sternly.

"Nothing" she lies.

Listerine or whatever his name is looks at us as if he's studying how we communicate with each other .

But I won't lie, jealousy is roaring inside of me like a thunder at the sight of him holding lemar's hand in his while he rests his head next to him on the spotless white sheet.

Two nurses came by last night to change them. I offered to help by lifting lemar and in that moment all my woes and doubts disappeared leaving with a feeling of content.

It's like our souls are connected.

I ignore his prying eyes and grab anéyah by her arm escorting her outside.

As the door closes behind us I waste no time in asking "What's wrong? You still love him?" a knot grows in my stomach as I wait for her response.

She glares at me "of course not" she retorts in a raised voice.

"Calm down it's only me and yuh here a chat eno" I say calmly.

She sighs and I could see tears forming in her eyes "Seeing him in person after all those years brings back memories and regrets I thought I buried when I moved to America" she admits.

"Okay, that's okay" I coax as I wrap my arms around her.

"Are yuh mad at me?" She mutters against my chest.

"Of course not baby, we're human, you're human" I express and she goes quiet probably deep in thought.

"I know yuh don't want me to go to Jamaica but I need this to finally be over. I need my happy ending and he won't stop until he kills everyone around me" anéyah says somberly pushing me into deep thought.

"Who else did he killed for yuh?" I ask out of curiosity and concern.

She doesn't say anything.

"Anéyah, answer me!" I demand with a little hostility in my voice.

"You've been searching for the doctor that did Lemar's surgery. I found out he was in Jamaica even before you did and I also found out he's Michaels' cousin" she avoids my eyes when I push her back in astonishment.

"That's why yuh told Aaliyah to bring your laptop?" I question and she nods.

"So why yuh couldn't tell me dis anéyah?" I ask in a serious tone.

"I.. I. This doesn't have anything to do with yuh and I see it clearly now. It's me he wants dionnis so let's give him what he wants, I need him to leave my family alone" her voice breaks and the tears begin to fall.

"Yuh mussi mad" I spat "Mi nah let that happen, I refuse to let yuh throw your life away by submitting yourself to a wasteman like Mj" I say firmly.

"We don't have a choice. Look at what's going on, we're backed into a corner" her voice raised another decimal.

I imagine a life with michael, having his children and living by his rules.

"You nah last dey anéyah" I tell myself .

Me know...

My stomach turns just thinking about having sex with him again. I mean it's not bad but I can't betray dionnis, I love him too much.

What to do?

Fight for my family that's what.

"I know you're smart but believe when I say Mj will find means and ways to trick you. You're no match for him when it comes to playing games that's why I recruited him" I inform her and she sighs in defeat.

"Please... just let me try" she begs.

"Wear a tracker" I insist and she nods.

"But of course baby" she says with a half smile, she tiptoes to kiss my cheek and I hold her face between my palms.

"Kinda kiss dat yuh a geh big man" I say with a mischievous grin on my face.

She blushes.

She looks into my eyes, she's so beautiful. Her eyes glistens under the light in the hallway, her lips curl into a wider smile "Yuh pretty bad" I compliment her and she blush again trying to look away but I hold her face in place so she has no choice but to look at me.

"Dion...." Her words were cut short as I cover her lips with mine. The familiar warmth subdues the tension around us and anéyah melts into me completely.

I pull back and she frowns "not today baby you child father here, remember?". It's more of an awareness to the man inside the room rather than a question.

No doubt there is sexual tension building up between us but I cannot think about sex in a time like this.

I'm sorry...

"Oh yeah" she chuckles "I forgot".

Yeah man a bud you want.