“Hey, Bro. I’m so happy you’re awake,” Torrey choked out before hugging El.
“I got all the ladies in my life crying. Stop crying. I’m okay,” Samuel soothed.
“Are you sure?”
“Didn’t you just hear Momma run down that laundry list of questions?”
They both chuckled.
“Nigga! Yo’ street cred is on a hun’ed. You’ve been locked up, in a fight in jail, stabbed and shot! You on G status for real!” Roc said as he moved in to hug Samuel.
They laughed and hugged.
“What’s up Roc. You good?”
“Couldn’t be better. Imma try to keep my G card and stop talking now,” Roc said while backing away and clearing his throat.
“You lost that when you tried to sing that song to ole’ girl at the club and she walked away, angry!”
They both laughed.
“She just didn’t know real talent when she heard it,” Roc laughed.
“I will let you visit with your family, Mr. Valentine. I will be back in a few hours to go over some tests we will have scheduled for you in the morning. If you have a sudden onset of nausea, blurry vision, headaches or anything out the normal, call the nurse immediately. I don’t foresee that happening but just in case,” Doctor McIntyre instructed.
“Thank you, doctor,” Samuel said.
Doctor McIntyre and his team left the room.
Samuel
I reachedfor Averie’s hand. She came closer and kissed me again. Her lips were pliable and tasted like freshly made candy apples.
“How are you feeling?” Averie asked.
“I feel good. Are you okay?”
“I’m perfect now,” she smiled and kissed me again.
Roc moved the chairs around, so everyone had a seat close to my bed.
“I was in a coma for three weeks?”
“Actually, it was four weeks,” Mom corrected.
“Do you remember anything?” Roc asked.
“I remember seeing someone with a gun in my peripheral. I pushed Xavier out of the way before I felt the first bullet hit me. I remember Xavier and Raymond waiting with me until the ambulance arrived and I remember the searing, unbearable pain of the gunshots.”
Feeling a faint pain in my side, I rubbed it reliving where I felt the most pain that day. I didn’t remember the ambulance ride or arriving at the hospital. I would have brief moments of lucidity. I heard voices, but the words were not always clear. What was clear every time was the music playing. I always heard music.
“Did you get to see who had the gun?” Roc asked.
“No, I think he had on a mask. He didn’t get very close before he pulled the trigger, so he was not a trained assassin. He had the opportunity to finish me, but he didn’t get close enough to do it.”
“Maybe because of the close proximity of the police officers. I mean it was on the courthouse steps,” Averie said.
“That’s a possibility. I don’t know.”