PROLOGUE
Zoe
She’d broken one heel as she sprinted through the airport. When she’d finally made it back to Jasper Lane, Zoe decided to take them off and drive her rental car to the hospital barefoot. Looking at the bottom of her feet, one would think she was the one in need of medical care when she shot through the electronic doors of the hospital.
Zoe’s eyes were wide, hair frazzled, clothing unkempt as she leaned against the check-in front desk. Her heart was palpitating so hard she’d begun to heave and lose her ability to speak. Somehow, maybe only by God’s grace, Zoe was able to stutter, “Zi-Zi.”
Shaking her head, Zoe closed her eyes and inhaled a deep breath.
“My sister. Zina Bush. She’s here.”
The nurse’s calmness was the complete opposite of Zoe’s demeanor as she sat back in her seat and typed on her computer. After looking through the records, she mumbled, “Ah, yes. ZinaBush. She’s in room 306. Go down the hall and make a left to get to the elevators. Once you’re on the third floor . . .”
“Thanks,” Zoe interrupted, running down the hall.
Late in the midnight hour, she received a call from Monica, one of Zina’s close friends, who told her that she was in the hospital, because of cancer, and that it wasn’t looking good at all. Zoe had tried to speak with Zina then, but she was unresponsive. For the last nine hours, all Zoe could think about was her sister suffering in solitude while she’d been out living her best life.
Because it was Zina’s idea that Zoe spend the past year traveling the world. And now, every regret Zoe housed revolved around that one decision.
Making it to room 306, Zoe burst through the door. All of her fire was put out at the sight of her sister. Her head, once covered with long and flowing locs, was completely bald, and Zoe could tell by the indentation in her face and accentuation of her bone structure that she’d lost at least ten pounds. Trembling hands went to Zoe’s mouth as the wind was knocked out of her. Falling into the closing door, Zoe slid down it as her knees weakened.
Zina’s eyes opened slowly. Her head swiveled in Zoe’s direction. Zina smiled with one side of her mouth, calmness immediately filling her. Her heartrate began to drop with each second that she stared at Zoe.
“My baby,” she croaked before coughing. “C’mere, Zoe.”
In no rush to stand, Zoe looked around the room. Her eyes settled on Monica who had tears streaming down her cheeks. Quite frankly, the sight of her big sister’s condition scared her. All Zoe could think about was her sister’s pain and deterioration during what had become the best part of Zoe’s life. All Zoe could think about was how Zina suddenly preferred phone calls over FaceTime. She swore it was because her new phone service was horrible, but Zoe could see for herself that wasn’t the truth.
Standing, Zoe cupped her hands in the center of herself and slowly walked over to Zina’s bed. She stood on the side of it, eyes closing as she tried to steady her breathing. Her eyes opened when Zina took her by the hand. She squeezed it gently as the other side of her mouth lifted.
“I’ve been waiting for you.”
“I’m so mad at you, Zina. Why didn’t you tell me you were sick? I would have been right here by your side. You sent me away just so you could deal with this alone?”
Zina’s smile wavered as her grip on Zoe’s hand loosened. “I love you, Zoe. Live your life to the fullest, baby. Let nothing or no one stop you.”
Zina’s grip loosened even more as her eyes began to flutter. “Zina.” Her eyes closed altogether as her monitor beeped rapidly. “Zina?” Zoe shook her shoulder while Monica walked over to them as Zoe’s monitor flatlined. “Zina!” Zoe hopped onto the bed and straddled her sister, shaking her shoulders rapidly as tears fell from her eyes. “Zina!”
Nurses and doctors rushed in, all pulling at Zoe so they could get to Zina. But it appeared it was too late. The moment she set eyes on her sister, she was at peace, and she let her heart and spirit go.
PROLOGUE
Haji (Ha-G)
Even though he lived next door to Zina and would hear her when she made it home, Haji still made his way to her front door to wait for her. He didn’t even want walls and a door between them. When she arrived, Haji wanted to pull her into his arms and thank God for her health.
Except, he wouldn’t be able to do that anymore.
Because she was gone.
His closest friend was gone.
That didn’t keep him from sitting in front of her door though.
Scratching the top of his head, Haji put the blunt to his lips and inhaled until he coughed and exhaled. She had to come back to him. Zina just had to. Out of all of Haji’s friends, he loved Zina with the purest love. Just the thought of never feeling her presence again had his eyes watering as his nostrils flared. Haji grabbed his bottle of Jack Daniels off the concrete, opened it, and put it to his lips.
Fuck cancer.
Especially the kind that traveled from a healthy woman’s ovaries to her heart, reducing her to skin and bones in the prime of her life.
