“That means yes,” Vanessa said.
“Only a couple of hits. Nothing major.”
The doctor shook his head. “You’re making this harder on yourself, Mr. St. Clair.”
“Today was my last day,” I told them truthfully. I was tired of being sick.
The nurse inserted a port into my forearm and started the IV. Sade stood nearby, watching closely. As soon as the nausea medicine hit my bloodstream, my body started easing up a little.
“What’s in that?” I asked.
“Fluids, anti-nausea medication, something for anxiety, sleep, and pain.”
“Just what I need.”
The doctor adjusted the IV and looked at me seriously. “Your body needs a break. This should help.”
My mother sat beside me after that and rubbed my hand.
“How’s pops?” I finally asked.
My mother sighed softly. “Not good.”
I looked down at the floor.
“He asked about you today.”
That one hit me hard.
“When you get some strength back, go sit with your father. Spend those last moments with him.”
I nodded once. Couldn’t really say anything else.
Sade looked over at me after that, and I knew she could see it all over my face.
The fear. The grief. All that shit I was trying to keep tucked down.
Vanessa walked over and squeezed my shoulder. “You gon’ get through this.”
I ain’t answer her.
The meds started kicking in stronger after that. My body finally stopped fighting itself long enough for me to breathe normally.
Sade sat beside me on the bed while everybody talked quietly around us.
I looked over at her.
“Go home, Sade.” My voice slurred a bit.
She looked at me like I was crazy and laughed. “You know I’m not leaving.”
The room started getting blurry after that.
Everything finally slowed down.
I leaned my head back against the headboard and closed my eyes for a second while Sade’s hand rested against my arm.
Then, my mind got quiet, and I fell asleep.
