The door to my room opened as I was in my head. Kégo came in with a nurse and shook his head. He looked stressed out, which worried me a little. It had my thoughts go to Granny and Diego. I knew from the doctors that Journei and the baby were good and sleeping on the maternity floor.
“Sis ’bout to get put out. I need yo’ mummified-lookin’ ass to get up and go calm her ass down. Hittin’ on these nurses like they punchin’ bags. Go let that girl see yo’ face.”
A small chuckle left my lips, which comforted me. The doctors didn’t lie when they said she was OK. I quickly learned that Journei had a short temper. Last night showed me how fast it took for her to pop. She wanted Galleria’s head on more than one occasion, and if I weren’t beside her, I was sure she would’ve been on her head.
“Bruh, what you want me to do? I’m laid up just like she is. Just tell her I’m good and to calm down,” I responded.
“Nah, nigga, you not hearin’ me. Sis gon’ fuck that white bitch up, and then yo’ baby mama gon’ be in jail birthin’ yo’ son.” Turning toward the nurse, he tapped her shoulder like she was the homie. “Aye, tell him how she cuttin’ up, up there.”
The nurse gave a small fake smile and said, “Mr. Gills, we will allow you to leave your bed for a few if your presence will help.” I nodded and stood slowly.
I woke up not too long after gettin’ there. They informed me on my injuries that were second-degree burns, which explained the wrappings I had all down my left side.
I felt the heat from the fire on my skin while I was pulling Jourdell out the fire. That was somethin’ different on all levels. I’d never smelled flesh burn the way his was. I knew for a fact that his injuries were far more severe.
The nurse brought the wheelchair over that she had to the side of her. It was hospital policy for all patients that weren’t discharged to be escorted by wheelchair or bed, or so she explained after I refused.
I took the seat and let Kégo take me to my woman. I could only imagine the hell my baby was causing.
The maternity floor was more inviting than the burn unit I was in. There was life up there and not just people laying around waiting to die, heal, or whatever their case was.
As we passed a nurses’ station, I spotted a nurse that had a handprint on her face. My thoughts immediately went to Journei being the cause of it.
Kégo stopped in front of her room and reached for the handle. I didn’t know what I would see behind that door, but I was praying my woman didn’t have any injuries period. Someone saying “they’re okay” didn’t always mean they were.
The door opened, and I saw Journei sitting on the side of the bed staring at the wall. She was zoned out and wasn’t no tellin’ what was runnin’ through her head.
I stood up from the wheelchair, and as if she felt me, she closed her eyes and cried. I made my way over to her as quickly as I could and sat next to her, intertwining our fingers. I needed to see her just as much as she needed to see me.
“I thought…” Her eyes were still closed with her head down when she spoke.
“It’s gon’ take more than a fire to take me away from you, mama. You gon’ have to let me see those pretty brown eyes so I can be at ease for a minute though.” I needed for her to see me to know I was still here with her.
Those soft-brown eyes connected with mine, and it was me that was satisfied instead. Journei changed my life in ways I could hardly give details about.
It was weird knowing a stranger had me ready to give up everything I worked for just to have her. The consequences on how she became my world didn’t faze me. I was ready to reap whatever I sowed to keep her.
“I can’t lose you, Christian. If I have to go into mommy mode, then you have to go into daddy mode. We have a child that needs both of us. You can’t save everybody.” I saw the fear in her eyes,and I didn’t ever want to be the cause of that again. It hurt me more than anything.
“Journei, I’m still a pastor at the end of the day. I will always think of my family first, but he’s yours, regardless of the relationship y’all have. I didn’t die in the process, and neither did he. But if it makes you feel any better, I won’t run into any more fires.” I spoke honestly. It might not have been what she wanted to hear, but it was the truth.
“Oh, so when he come around, you act like an angel but was just ready to beat that white bitch’s ass? Fuckin’ baffling, you hear me?” Kégo’s comment caused everyone to laugh.
Granny and Diego were able to convince the hospital to get us a private room that we could share. Annie Mae was put on oxygen for a few hours after being tested.
She, Papa, nor Kégo weren’t affected the way Jourdell, and I were. Journei was pregnant, so she was being held for observation regardless of how fine she felt.
We shared a room but slept in the same bed. Journei displayed more emotions now that she was pregnant. A hissy fit was what she threw when I denied her request of lying next to her. She was spoiled by my affection and wanted it constantly when I was around.
They kept us for a total of four days mostly because of me and my burns, but Journei thugged it out with me. She was ready to go the first day.
I looked into her eyes enough times to know when somethin’ was bothering her. She held worry and concern in them, so I brought up a topic to see how she reacted. We were alone at the moment, so I was hoping she would voice it.
“Mama, we gettin’ discharged soon. You want to stop and go check on your pops before we head out?” I asked.
The glare she gave was a clear no, but I wanted her to try. She told me there was a time when she loved him, so if they talkedabout their past, maybe they could grow and develop somethin’ new.
“Please don’t push him on me. You said you wouldn’t let him hurt me and lettin’ him back in my life is exactly what he’s gonna do.”
