“We’re headed to the house, correct?” Ray asked from the front seat as Brick pulled from the hospital parking lot.
I looked back to see the hospital in the rear of the car. I felt hundreds of pounds lighter.
“To the house,” I responded.
“Hey, why are you all the way over there?”
Samuel pulled me to his side of the car.
After looking back at the hospital, I was flooded with memories and thoughts of what could’ve been. I thought back to the moment I found out Samuel had been shot then fast forwarded to the moment I watched him die. Life had certainly been a roller coaster, but now we were finally moving on.
“What's going on? Why are you so quiet? I can hear your brain working. Did something happen at the office or something?”
“No, just thinking back and feeling grateful. I don’t ever want to live without you and a little tired too,” I admitted.
“I’m grateful too. I’m so ready to sleep in my own bed, with you.”
“That would be nice to go straight home, curl up in the bed next to you and relax.”
“Do you want me to tell Mom that we are not up for dinner with the family?”
“Heck naw!” I chuckled. “Are you trying to get me murdered? Vivian has been planning this dinner for days and the party this weekend for weeks. No sir. We are going there, we are going to eat, and we are going to enjoy it!” I laughed.
“You sure everything is okay?”
“I got my man, he's well and going home. I'm perfect.”
Samuel
Rocand I waited for my father to enter the small visiting room. I’d spoken to him on the phone, but this would be my first time seeing him since the shooting. The guard escorted him into the room and sat him down across from us. He waited until the door closed behind the guard before he stood, walked over to me and hugged me. We’d never really hugged like that before. We usually did quick bro hugs but never a prolonged embrace. It may have had something to do with the prison environment that kept us from showing affection even when I was released. I never thought twice about it until now. He released me then went and hugged Roc before sitting back in his chair.
“It’s good to see you, Sun. How are you feeling?”
“I feel good. Getting stronger every day. Soon I won’t need this cane. I don’t use it all the time, but if I have to walk long distances, I use it.”
“Good. How are your wounds healing?”
“They’ve all closed up nicely. I still have some time before they are completely healed, but the doctors say that I’m making great progress.”
“Good and Roc, how are Coco and the kids?”
“Everyone is good, Pop. We are trying to find a school for Princess because she needs to get around other kids. She thinks she is a socialite and she is only five.”
We all laughed.
“Coco had been talking about going to college for business which I whole heartily support, and Princeton is a quiet genius. He’s like a sponge soaking up books and documentaries. He likes to spit out random facts like, ‘Hey Pop, did you know that if you lift a kangaroo’s tail from the ground that he can’t hop? Or an elephant’s tooth can weigh up to nine pounds.’ I be on Google typing; ‘kangaroo hop tail lift’,” Roc laughed.
“Did they get their birthday cards that I sent?” my father asked Roc.
“They did. They said thank you.”
“Alright, so do we have any leads on who pulled this stunt?” my father leaned into the table awaiting my response.
“No, Countee is working on it.”
“Did you see his face?”
“If I did see a face, I can’t remember. The surveillance cameras caught the whole thing. Countee is working with someone to see if they can clean up the footage.”