Biggie shrugged.
“They know I’m leavin’. I’m not about to sit around here any longer. They already took that I.V. out and checked my vitals, so I say I’m good to go.”
“You’re ignorant,” Demo said, shaking his head, but he wasn’t about to hold Biggie up when he was on a mission. To them, it felt like Biggie had just done a stint in prison, and they were happy as hell the shit was over.
Slowly, they walked out of the room. Thankfully, the floor was pretty quiet, so Biggie was able to slip out of his room with no hassle or signing any papers, or God forbid, riding down to the entrance in a wheelchair.
Demo had to admit, though, by the time they made it to the elevator, Biggie was out of breath. The nurses had made Biggie walk laps around theICUa couple times a day, and it wasn’t easy. He should have known getting to the car would be harder than normal.
“You good, man?” Demo asked as he eyed Biggie while they got onto the elevator.
Biggie huffed, leaning against the wall. “Yeah, I’m cool.”
Truthfully, he couldn’t wait to lay down, but he wouldn’t admit that out loud. He wasn’t used to being this weak. Vulnerable. Fragile. For a big nigga, he was active and used to moving around at his will. Being shot was a huge wake up call for him and made him realize how much he had taken for granted, including this new life God handed him in the form of Wallis and Tuesday.
Tuesday had visited him every day while he was atBloomfield. He had never taken the time to really get to know a woman without the physical shit getting in the way, but this situation forced him to stop looking at his baby mama as physically attractive and get to know her mentally.
He learned so much about her, from her love of cooking to her hustling nature to her family dynamic. She even mentionedthat her mom wanted to formally meet him, which surprised him. He wasn’t too much of a family man since his mama died, but he realized he wasn’t opposed to settle into this new family dynamic Tuesday presented to him.
When they made it to Demo’s brand new ride, Biggie had some trouble sliding into the seat. Not only that, it surprised him how his nerves rattled inside him at the realization that he was getting back into a car. Biggie wasn’t afraid of anything, but trauma was a mutha fucka, and even the body understood when something traumatic happened.
He breathed steadily as he waited for Demo to get into the car. It wasn’t until they pulled out of the hospital parking ramp that Demo noticed Biggie gripping the side of the door and the center counsel with his eyes closed.
“Bro, you good, man. Them niggas is dead. Whole hood went up for you after they heard what happened. Ain’t nobody gonna do nothin’ to you.”
Demo’s words made Biggie realize he was panicking, and he was able to ease his eyes open and nod.
“‘Preciate it, bro.”
“It’s cool.” It was silent for a few minutes before Demo said, “You know I ain’t come to see you because I didn’t want to drive? I felt like a bitch for that, too, so I told myself I had to be the one to get you from the hospital. We got into this shit together, and I wanted to be the one to get you home—safely this time.”
Biggie let his words marinate. It was clear they were both struggling with the aftermath of that shootout. Though Demo hadn’t been shot, it had been hard for him to see Biggie like that. A part of him felt responsible, like if he had drove better or helped shoot them niggas, things would have turned out differently. The truth was, they were both lucky to be alive, and that made the moment feel weighted with heaviness.
“I’m done, D. I can’t do this shit no more,” Biggie finally said in response.
Demo nodded, allowing the silence to stretch between them, before he sighed heavily.
“I know, man. I knew that was comin’, and I honestly don’t have a fight to give on it. I really ain’t even all that sure I want to be in this shit anymore.”
Biggie adjusted in the seat as he continued looking out the window.
“We gettin’ too old for this shit, man. I think we need to invest in some legit businesses and leave this street shit to the youngins. They clearly want it more than us at this point. Let them have it.”
Demo ran a hand down his face as they stopped at a red light.
“You might be right, homie. We just don’t know nothin’ but the streets. We don’t know nothin’ about starting a business.”
Biggie smirked.
“I know someone who does, though. Aye, turn here. Take me to my baby mama’s house. We can talk more about this in a few days.”
Demo nodded and they spent the rest of the ride in silence. When they pulled up to Tuesday’s house, he saw Tuesday and Wallis in the front yard waiting for him. He had let her know he was on the way before Demo showed up to his hospital room, and he was glad they were waiting outside for him. He couldn’t wait to see his boy and love on Tuesday. She had been keeping him at arms length, standing on business when it came to him getting out of the game, but all that shit was dead now.
“You need help?” Demo asked when Biggie reached for the door.
Biggie halted his movements and turned toward Demo, reaching his fist out.
“I’m good, man. Thank you. I mean that. You ain’t have to come get me if you weren’t ready to drive. I really appreciate it, bro. This a nice ride too. It’s a good look.”
