Page 65 of Love me Like XO

He didn’t say anything else. We rode the rest of the elevator up in silence, stuck in our thoughts. I knew beating Fiona’s ass wasn’t going to wake Empress up any faster, no matter how much I wished it would.

EMPRESS

I couldn’t breathe, and for some reason, the once light feeling became heavier. I was no longer suspended, I felt weighted. I no longer heard the sound of crying. This time it was different, this time I heard his pain. He was in pain. It wasn’t that of him standing at my bedside every so often squeezing my hand. This was a pain I wanted nothing more than to carry for him, but I couldn’t. I wasn’t even carrying my own. I was stuck here going back and forth in my head, trapped in a moment that already passed.

Why couldn’t I wake up?

I convinced myself I was here to die, but whomever was supposed to be accompanying me to my final destination was late. He or she had more pressing things, right? Maybe they were busy leading others on their final trips. I was so fixated on that thought and the complete nothing before me, that I jumped when I heard a voice intrude over everything. A voice that covered the whole space and commended me to listen.. It wasn’t Zero’s, nor was it either of my brothers.

It was Malik.

“I need you to wake up, Em. Need you to open yo’ eyes because this nigga is on straight nut mode with you like this. We all are. Shit, your sister just tried to kill your other one and nobody can talk sense into her, but you.”

“But m—” I felt like I was choking and couldn’t finish my sentence.

“You heard me? C’mon sis’ open up.” Malik had joy in his tone, but I didn’t know what for. Not until I heard his feet pitter away. “She’s awake. Go get a doctor or something, man.”

How was I awake when I couldn’t even see? Why couldn’t I see? I began to panic, then out of nowhere I felt a light shining brightly. My eyes fluttered a few seconds before they were open, and I was looking directly at a doctor who seemed shocked I was even apart of the land of the living.

“Where is—is,” I could barely speak because my throat was dry.

“Get her some water or some shit and get that fucking light out of her face.” There was Malik’s brashness again. When they finally got me the water and I coughed a few times as it went down, I took in the room. I had questions, but I also knew the doctors needed to check me out. So, I allowed them to while I watched Malik stand at the door and make calls. He did tell mehe had sent everyone to get food, after promising to stay and watch me.

It took them a minute, but once they were finished checking me out and updating me on my miracle condition, I was left to think. I wondered if I made it because God wasn’t done with me yet, or because of the lives I was nurturing. Either way, I was here, but where was he? Where was Zero? Were my babies alright?

“The babies?” I glanced up at the doctor for an answer. The very answer I was afraid of.

“Apparently just as strong as their mother.” She smiled politely. “I’ll have someone come in a little later so you can hear their heartbeats.

“Where is he, Malik?” I asked as soon as he stepped in the room, and it was just he and I.

“Going against doctor’s orders and on his way up here.” Malik looked stressed. More stressed than I had ever seen him. He wasn’t on his normal goofy timing.

“What do you mean going against doctor’s orders. What happened?”

Malik stepped forward about to speak but didn’t get the chance to.

“My baby. My baby is awake!” my mother’s overdramatic ass rushed into the room. “My beautiful baby.” When she reached me she pecked my forehead over a million times before stepping back and giving me some space. Then after her it was my sister, making sure to glare at me and threaten me.

I was happy to see all of them, but I needed to seehim.I needed to know what happened for Malik to say he was going against doctor’s orders. I needed to feel the warmth in his skin and hear the thump in his chest. I needed him. So while they rejoiced that I was awake I spent the time staring out of the window waiting until he got here.

Somewhere within that wait I fell asleep. I don’t know how long I slept, but when I woke up the room was quiet, the only sound came from the machines in the background I had become accustomed to. I glanced around the streetlight lit room before my eyes landed on the rerun episode of Martin.

I tried to sit up, but it proved a little harder considering my leg was in a cast, and so was my arm. I didn’t realize I knocked the water off the little table in front of me. It made a loud thud as it fell, and the water hit the floor. All of the ruckus woke up the being asleep in the Laz-e-boy in the corner of the room. I didn’t realize who it was until he was at my side. Within seconds, the light was on and there he was.

“Baby girl, you gotta be easy.” He had a concerned expression on his face. He rushed to my side like I was the one who fell.

“When did you get here?” I asked after I immediately threw my threw my good arm around his neck. He was hurt because the moment I melted into his body he winced a bit. He hid it well, but I could feel it.

“You was knocked the fuck out. Wanted to let you sleep.” He kissed my forehead, before sitting me back on the bed.

“What happened?”

“What makes yo?—”

My expression must’ve told him how not for the bullshit I was, because he shook his head and spoke. Of course I could tell he was choosing his words wisely, but I know he knew he had to give me something. “Amia shot me.”

I don’t know what I expected to come out of his mouth, but it wasn’t that. “Why? Where? Are you okay?” My eyes began to scan him for where she shot him, but he was wearing a hoodie, concealing it perfectly.

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