Page 47 of Impacted by Love

I'm a thirty-six-year-old man who can only remember a few instances of hearing love and appreciation from my parents. My mind wanders, taking me back to one of the few happy times in my childhood.

"Mommy! Mommy! I stayed on green all day, and Ms. Johns gave me a sticker and a Blow Pop." Waving the sticker and sucker in the air, I wait for Mom to turn and acknowledge me.

She's standing at the stove stirring something in the pot, making my stomach growl and excited about whatever we're having for dinner.

"Alright, baby boy. Give me some. Up top, down low, ahh… too slow," Mom says, smiling wide while doing the hand gesture she taught me after getting all my spelling words right.

"What it do, family?" Dad greets, entering the kitchen with a bottle of Corona in one hand and his lunchbox in the other.

"Hey, babe. How was work?" Mom says, kissing Dad when he pulls her into his arms.

"Yuck! Dad kissing girls will give you cooties," I grumble, frowning.

"Keep that same energy when you find one that puts that good-good on your ass," Dad says.

"Hush, Dre. Tell your father about your day, baby," Mom says, smiling.

A grin spreads on my lips, and I repeat my accomplishment for Dad, who gives me a pound.

"That's my little nigga," Dad gushes, giving me a high-five.

"Go wash up for dinner, Asaiah. I'm very proud of you," Mom adds.

Brrnng. Brrnng.

My phone ringing around the interior brings me back to the present moment, and my nose wrinkles upon seeing the unsaved number flashing on the dashboard. "Hello."

"Hi. My name is Thandie Cortez. Is this A-Asaiah?" an unknown female asks, instantly increasing my heart rate.

"Yes, this is he. May I ask what this is in regard to?"

"I'm trying to locate the family of Andre and Valerie Harrison. I was given your name as a possible relative," Thandie informs.

My grip on Onesti's hand tightens, and I briefly take my eyes off the road to look at her, seeing the puzzled expression dancing in her eyes.

"Are you still there?" Thandie asks.

"I'm here. I'm—uh, I'm their son. Is something wrong? Where are they?" My mind spins with questions flowing in and out at the speed of light, making it difficult for me to settle my thoughts.

"I'd rather not share information over the phone, but if you can get to Baxter Medical Center, someone will give you all the details," Thandie replies, and my heart stalls in my chest for countless seconds while my foot unconsciously yet slowly eases off the gas.

"I'm on… fuck! I'm on my way," I quietly respond, wetting my lips and fighting the urge to ask additional questions.

"See you soon," Thandie says before disconnecting the line.

"Man, what the fuck is going on now?" I ask with my throat constricting and bite my bottom lip to contain the cries welling in my stomach.

* * *

God, for real? Where's your sovereignty in this?

Upon arriving at Baxter Medical Center, I discovered that Mom and Dad are patients in this hospital. Dad is clinging to life after suffering from a stabbing attack where he tried to steal drugs from one of the fiends at Ritown Projects. According to the social worker I talked to, the knife perforated his lungs and several other major organs, which resulted in my dad losing his spleen and appendix. Unable to deal with Dad's gloomy prognosis, Mom did what was natural for her.

While sitting at my dad's bedside, she snorted several lines of cocaine, not knowing she'd been sold a bad batch. As a result, and in conjunction with years of abuse, her organs are failing, thus making Mom cling to life and making her Dad's roommate.

"Take your time. If you're not ready to do this, we can sit in the waiting area until you are," Onesti whispers, rubbing my back soothingly.

We've been standing outside my parents' room for the last five minutes while I work up the nerve to go in. Although the main door is open, the curtain is drawn, preventing anyone from seeing the occupants. My limbs are shaky, and my racing heartbeat is causing pain in my chest. Unknown to Onesti, I haven't moved because my legs feel weak, and a boulder sits in my stomach.

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