“I’m Amir,” he said, his curly hair falling into his face.
That’s when I realized he was the one from earlier who asked them to stop fuckin with me.
“Where are we going? What’s happening?”
“Listen, I’m getting you out of here. Don’t ask a bunch of questions. Let’s just go,” he said quickly.
“Why are you helping me?”
“Because my family is going about this shit the wrong way. Don’t get me wrong, I hate what happened to Salah, but you didn't do this shit, and neither did an innocent baby. So, come on. Let’s go.”
He wrapped his arm around my waist, and I threw my arm over his shoulders, clinging to him as he pulled me up.
“Where are they?”
“They are down there with some hoes thinking I'm standing watch. Just come on, we have to hurry up.”
I limped as he helped me, dragging me along and out the side door. Amir must’ve prepared himself for this escape because his car was sitting right in front of the door. As soon as we reached it, he opened the back door and helped me inside, then slammed it shut and ran around to the driver’s side.
“Fuck this shit,” he muttered, burning off.
He drove off so fast I could barely grab onto anything before my body was flung against the seat.
“I understand why you helped me, but aren't they going to be mad at you for this?”
“Yeah, but just because I’m the outside child of my father, they treat me like I don’t mean much to the family anyway. Like I’m nothing when I’m the coldest mutha fucka in that family. So that’s exactly what I’m about to be, nothing. I’d rather get the fuck away from here and start my own family. One where I will be appreciated one day instead of being treated like a black sheep.”
He replied, and I leaned my head back against the door, still trying to use my breathing techniques. My stomach felt less pain now, but the pressure had moved down to my vagina, and I felt the need to push.
“Amir, I don’t know if I can make it to the hospital. I feel like I need to push her out right now.”
I panicked, and he looked at me in the rearview mirror.
“I can’t take you to no fucking hospital beat up like this. I have to take you somewhere else so that somebody else can get you help. I have to get the fuck away from Brooklyn ASAP.I can drop you off somewhere else, and you can get help there. Alright.” He made eye contact with me through the rearview mirror, eyes wide and frightened like he was the one having a baby in the backseat. That showed me he had compassion. He was a human, unlike those monsters I’d just been dealing with.
I thought hard about where to go, and home to the projects wouldn’t work. I’d have to cross the courtyard and go all the way up to my mama’s place for help, and I didn’t even know if she and Ray were home. Princeton wouldn’t be any help either. He’d probably panic seeing me beat up like this, let alone having a baby. Then the hospital close to there is shit. They would probably not even have any beds available for me right away.
I debated for a good minute and then that is when the perfect spot crossed my mind. I would be protected and with people who will actually spring into action quickly for me if I go to Ciara and Hov.
“There is a subdivision out here that you can drop me off at. I can get help there.”
“Alright. Just tell me where.”
“I think the street is called Rivers, Riverside in Brooklyn,” I said between breaths.
“I think I know that area. I got you.” He whipped the car around like he was on a racetrack.The sensation of feeling the need to push got even more powerful in that moment, even stronger and I couldn't ignore it.
“Oh my god! I need help fast,” I groaned, rocking back and forth and the pressure was unbearable, so pushing felt like it was the only thing that could bring me some relief.
I grabbed the seat and pushed, squeezing the leather so hard I could hear it slipping under my fingertips.
“Wait, are you pushing out your baby right now?” Amir asked, almost running into a car in front of us, before quickly maneuvering around it.
“Yes, she’s coming. I can't help it!”
I pushed harder and harder until there was a sudden release of pressure from my vaginal area and I felt a small body in between my thighs.
I spread my legs open wider and looked down in a panic. My baby was lying in the seat, and I picked her up while still trying to keep my balance in the speeding car. The umbilical cord was still attached, and I did the only thing I knew how to do in this situation. I was there when my mama gave birth to Princeton, and I remember the first thing the doctor did was smack his bottom. So, I smacked hers, and a few seconds went by before a small cry escaped her lungs.
