“She’s been looking forward to your visit since spring break.”
I swiped at the tear that rolled down my cheek. “I’ve been looking forward to it, too.”
We said goodbye, and I took a breath.
I wasn’t fond of my hometown; in fact, I hated it. But I loved my annual weeklong visits with my aunt. We had always been close, but once I’d left Chance, our bond had become even tighter. She was the only reason I returned. Over the years, I always worried about Aunt Addy’s health, but it had been a while since I’d been truly scared.
Trying my hardest to hold it together, I rolled my shoulders back and entered the rehab center praying. I went to the room number that Monica had texted me, and I froze. As I peeked through the cracked door to see my aunt, something inside me broke.
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
Addison Payne was my role model. She was my real-life inspiration. She was the person who helped me see that there was a world outside of Chance. She was the person who allowed me to be my full self. She was the person I went to for advice. She was my first best friend. As much as I loved my parents, my aunt was my everything. So nothing could’ve prepared me to see her like that.
Looking small in that hospital bed, she had tubes and wires coming from under her gown. She was too young to have endured so much. Squeezing my eyes shut, I reminded myself of the words she’d instilled in me since she got sick three years ago.
We have faith in God’s plan, and we don’t let fear control us, she would say.
She had overcome everything that had hit her in her lifetime, so I was going to have faith that she’d come out of this, too. I took a deep breath and plastered a smile on my face.
“This is niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice,” I remarked as I walked into the spacious hospital-style room. The bay window with the view of the courtyard caught my eye immediately. “I see they put you in a suite!”
Aunt Addison sucked her teeth, amused. “Jazmyn, stop.”
My jaw dropped, feigning shock. “What?”
“The view and the TV don’t change where I’m at.”
The slight slur in her words pained me.
My smile faltered as I made my way to her bedside. “But it helps.”
She laughed lightly. “Yeah, it helps. But I’d rather be home.” Sighing, she reached out for me with her right arm. As soon as her bony fingers gripped my hand, she continued. “I’m happy to see you.”
“I’m happy to see you, too.” I choked back the emotion welling up inside me. “You know I can’t start my summer without seeing my aunt Addy.”
She shifted in the bed a little. “I ain’t much to see right now.” Her eyes darted to the back of the room. “Monica let me come out the house in a bonnet, no earrings or lipstick.”
“Well, it was a bit of a medical emergency,” Monica replied with a grin. She walked to the foot of the bed. “And with all the tests that they had to run on you this week, you didn’t need any of that stuff.”
Aunt Addy pursed her lips. “There is never a good enough reason to leave the house without earrings and lipstick.”
She put her hand on her hip. “A stroke is a good reason, Addison.”
My aunt gave her an aggrieved look. “You would really deny me my dignity?”
Her longtime nurse choked back a laugh. “Because I didn’t put your earrings in?”
My aunt’s lips pulled downward. “So that’s a yes.”
“You two are funny,” I commented, before they could continue their normal back-and-forth. “What can I bring you to make your room feel more like home?”
“Discharge paperwork.”
I laughed. “I’m serious!”
“Flowers,” she answered quickly. “The pictures from my mantel and my bust…” She continued her list, and I took notes on my phone.
I nodded when I thought she was done. “I can do that. I’ll get everything you need to fix this place up. And I’ll pack a bag of clothes—”
