Chapter 76

A/N: I gotta stop lying to y'all, but I can't 💀

I decided on doing a hospital scene bc I like to see y'all emotionally distressed in the comments 🙂 enjoy.

Pull up and fight me.-Shia

Esined

I sat in a chair besides August's hospital bed, holding his hand to my lips. I kissed his knuckles softly and sniffed.

I was crying tears of joy. August's surgery was successful and he was resting now.

Hours had went by without me knowing his physical state. I was worried out of my mind and it seemed as if the staff all had the same answer for me. I was beyond happy to be with August now. Knowing that he's okay calmed me down a lot.

Mel and I were the last ones to go in August's room to see him.

Of course, his family and mine came to check on him. My family as in Erica and mama. They didn't stay long because August had been sleeping majority of the time. When he was up, he just laid there and didn't say anything. He seemed irritated and didn't want anyone around.

Visiting hours were almost over, and they had a rule of allowing only one person to stay overnight.

"I'll see you tomorrow, okay?" Mel stood up.

"Okay. Be safe. Thank you for protecting me today," I said.

"No problem," Mel came over to me and I stood up.

"Call me when you get home," I said.

"I will,"

We hugged and he left the room.

When the door closed, I took my seat next to August again.

I studied his face as I played with his fingers. I held his hand and put my head down, slightly dozing off. I rested my head on his bed, but his vibrating phone made me snap my head up.

I took his phone into my hands and turned the ringer off. I wasn't going to look at his phone, but I saw Chantelle's name.

I tilted my head in confusion and slid onto her message. I typed in his passcode and began to read their messages.

Their messages went back as far as a month. Some were about her still paying him back what she owed him. The other messages were just her wanting to talk. There was a message that August sent her that stood out to me.

Hey. I wasn't cool wit u tryna hit on me when I was over yo house last week. I tried to be mature and sit down so we could talk. It's not gon work if u try to touch me and make passes.

I read or lowly to myself, mumbling out the words.

Chantelle: Sorry. I just can't resist you sometimes

I didn't ask that. U know I got a girl. So chill fr. U got a bf too and we never goin down that route again

Chantelle: I understand and I won't do it again. I'm really sorry. Will I still be seeing you after graduation?

Yeah.

Chantelle: I guess we aren't meeting up tonight? Okay. Just wish you would have let me know sooner 👌🏾 10:15 pm

Another message popped up from Chantelle a few minutes later.

Chantelle: Left me on read. Cool. 10:19 pm

I debated on typing a response to her. I was deciding against it, but my fingers began to tap on the screen quickly.

Hi, Chantelle. This is Esined. Kinda confused as to why you're texting my boyfriend, but I guess I should ask him why he responds to you too. August can't text you right now, but I'll be sure to give him your message. 10:22 pm

Chantelle: It's definitely not what you think. I'm sorry. 10:24 pm

Naturally, I rolled my eyes. I held his phone in my hand and stared at him as he slept. I locked his phone and set it to the side.

I rested my head and sang lowly, trying to tire myself out.

Someday I know he's coming to call meHe's going to handle me and hold meSo, it' going to be like dying, PorgyWhen he calls meBut when he comes, I know-

Covering my mouth, I yawned lightly. "I'll have to go,"

Even though I told August that I hated this song, it was out of anger. This song kept me balanced mentally and made situations easier for me. It would forever be my comforting song.

I guess singing the song worked. I dozed off and finally fell asleep.

"Esined," I heard a whisper. "Esined," I heard another voice. I was standing in the bathroom. I tried to move, but I couldn't.

"Over here," a voice said.

I looked around and I noticed my family in the room.

My dad was in an orange jumpsuit with hand and ankle cuffs on. Don had on the same outfit with scars from his fight with August. My mama stood next to Boss with fear in her eyes. Boss rubbed her shoulder and whispered things to her that made her cringe. I heard Erica scream and I began to panic.

"Erica!" I called out, only causing Don to laugh.

"Where is she? What are you doing to her?" I cried. "Mama!" I looked at her.

Boss had moved his hand up her shirt and chuckled deeply into her ear.

"Don't touch her!"

"Look away, Essy. Don't watch, okay?" she sniffed. "It'll be over soon,"

I put my head down, but Boss moved his hand from Mama. He grabbed my face and forced me to watch him grope my mama as tears fell from her eyes.

"Esined," I heard Eric say.

Boss let me go.

I looked over at him and he looked so sad.

"Why do you ignore my calls? I just want to be a better father for you. I'm sorry for what I did. If I could take it all back and love you like I should have. I should have been a man and I'm sorry. I'm s-"

"Don't you think it's too late for you to be a better man now?" Brandon had appeared. "She doesn't need you. She has me now,"

I looked at him.

Him and Eric began to go back and forth, arguing.

"She does need me. She needs her dad and that's me!" Eric yelled.

"I am her dad!" Brandon overpowered him.

The room got quiet and everyone looked at him.

"What?" I asked.

I heard a scream and Don started kicking the cabinets below the sink.

"Why are you doing that? Stop!" I yelled in frustration.

He snatched open the door for on of the cabinets and snatched Erica out. "Stop screaming!" he yelled in her face.

I tried to get off of where I stood, but I felt something tighten around my neck.

I stood still and noticed that I was on a chair and I had a belt around my neck.

At once, they all began to yell my name and beg me to save and help them.

I stood on the chair.

I then realized that I couldn't help any of them. If I took a step to help them, it would kill me on the process.

I reached my hands up and tried to take the belt from around my neck.

Randomly, two gun shots went off and everyone yelled my name. It wasn't me who was shot. It was August.

He was sprawled across the ground. He reached for me and I reached for him as tears fell down my face.

I stepped forward, completely forgetting the belt around my neck.

It tightened around my neck and I began to lose my breath.

"Help," I waved my hands as I struggled to breathe.

It seemed as if everyone just spoke louder. They ignored my cries. They were complaining about how I hadn't saved them or at least tried to.

I was literally dying and they still didn't save me.

August was trying, but he was held back by unknown people. They're were black masks on their faces. Their masks had letters painted on them in white.

One had T, another had I, and the last had D. I couldn't put it together and it confused me.

I was trying to save myself, but I ended up giving up.

The room grew quiet and stared at my body hanging from the shower pole.

"Essy!" my mama cries had began to fade.

I jumped up from my sleep and looked around August's hospital room. I touched my face and neck in a panicked motion. My hands shook as I gripped the chairs arm rest. I pushed down on them for support, and stood up. I rushed to the bathroom and drop to my knees in front of the toilet.

I vomited into the toilet as the images of my vivid nightmare replayed in my head.

I weakly flushed the toilet and sat on the side of it. Afraid that I'd vomit again, I pushed my hair back from my face.

Luckily, I didn't. I stood up and washed my hands. I rinsed my face off with water and looked in the mirror. I opened a new toothbrush from a package and brushed my teeth. I rinsed my mouth.

I refrained from looking in the mirror and I left the bathroom.

August was awoke and watched me as I walked in. "You good?" he spoke.

He voice was already deep and raspier than usual. Him just waking up only made his deeper.

I honestly shook my head no. "I'm sorry if I woke you,"

"It's good. What's wrong, Pooh?"

"I had a nightmare. I know you're tired, so we don't have to talk about it,"

"I'm not dat tired," he sat up slowly. He groaned in pain and sat back in his previous position.

I frowned and walked over to him. "I'm so sorry this happened to you,"

"Betta me than you,"

"Don't say that,"

"It's true. You got so much ahead of you and ta look forward to,"

"That doesn't mean that your life matters less or doesn't matter at all,"

He licked his lips. "You gon' tell me about yo nightmare?"

"I don't even know how to explain it," I sat down in the chair beside his bed.

"Just break it down ta me,"

"Well. I was in the bathroom at my childhood house, in Texas. Someone was whispering my name. I couldn't move and I didn't know why, so I stayed still. Don, Eric, Boss, Erica, my mama, Brandon, and you were in it. Eric and Brandon were arguing, then Brandon ended up saying he was my dad,"

"Dats crazy,"

"I know. And Boss was touching my mama. He forced me to watch. I felt like a child again,"

August frowned. "He made you watch when you were a kid?"

"Yeah," I mumbled.

"I'm sorry you went through dat,"

"In my nightmare, Don was abusing Erica,"

"I wouldn't be surprised if he has,"

"Honestly, me neither,"

"Did anything else happen in the dream?"

"You showed up. You came to save me, but you were held back by three men. They had on masks and there were letters on them. The letters were T, I, and D. I didn't know what they meant,"

"I don't either. That's strange,"

"Then two gunshots went off. And everyone started begging me to save them. I immediately went to save you, but there was a belt around my neck and I was standing on the bathtub. I stepped forward and it tightened around my neck,"

He frowned when I began to tear up.

"I was dying and everyone was complaining about why I chose to save you instead of them,"

Through his pain, August managed to sit up. He sat up just to wipe my tears.

I sniffed and moved closer to him.

"It's okay, baybeh. It was only a nightmare,"

"I know, but it was so scary. I feel like there was hidden truth in it,"

He moved over and patted next to him.

I climbed into the wide bed with him and he put his arm around me.

All you could hear was my sniffing.

August rubbed my shoulder and I looked up at him.

"Why'd you jump in front of me? Those bullets were meant for me," I said quietly. "I hate seeing you like this,"

"I took them because I love you. Bullets are nameless, Esined. If those bullets were honestly meant fa you, then I wouldn't have go the instinct ta jump in front of you,"

I twisted my lips.

"I know you hate seein' me like this and I'm sorry, I know it seems selfish, but I'd rather you see me like this than me seein' you like this. Seein' you like this would break my heart and I don't want anotha heartbreak. I'a rather feel the physical than mental pain..."

"I understand you completely,"

"But on a brighter note, you know what?"

"Hm?"

"I'me be okay and outta hea soon,"

"Yeah,"

"You know I'd neva let anything or anyone hurt you, right?"

I nodded.

"And I mean it when I say I love you, Es. You mean everything ta me and I'm not lettin' anything get in the way, ya heard me?"

I nodded again, but I couldn't help but drift off to Chantelle.

"And dats includin' Chantelle," he added.

"How'd you know I was thinking..." I trailed off.

"I saw you text her back,"

"I'm sorry for reading your messages,"

"It's cool. I would have read yours if it was reversed," he chuckled lightly. "Thank you fa not assumin'. I can assure you dat there's nothin' goin' on,"

"I trust your word, but I'm curious,"

"About?"

"What y'all talked about,"

"Well, Chelsea had dis idea dat I should get closure from Chantelle, so I can be wit you and not have as many trust issues. So, I told Chantelle I wanted answers and closure. We met up and she started tryna validate and give me excuses, ya know? Explainin' why she did what she did and broke my heart,"

I nodded, understanding. "Thanks for clearing that up. I was worried for a second,"

"You don't have ta worry, babe. Honestly, havin' ya heart broke sucks, so I'd neva want ta break someone else's heart. Especially not yours. If you don't want me ta meet up wit her, I won't,"

"I want you to get your closure," I leaned up and kissed his lips lightly. "I'm okay with it,"

He gave me a small smile. "Thank you,"

"Mhm," I said. "I love you,"

"I love you mo', Pooh," he kissed my forehead.

I smiled and snuggled closer to him.

Though August comforted me, my thoughts would often drift back to my nightmare. I just didn't want it to become more of a reality than it already was.

-Hi guise.

I hope you are all doing well.

Who wants to fight? 🙃

Excuse typos please.

Comments & Votes are appreciated.

Much love, Shia. Xoxo