Norminah «One-Shots»

Numb the Pain {Part One}

"Okay, I'll see you later! Don't forget to text me." Normani shouts at Dinah who nods and gave her a kissy face. Normani chuckled and did it back before walking into her front door. Dinah smiled to herself and headed down the street heading home. "Hey, sweetie." Her mother, Andrea, said with a smile. Normani was curious as to why she was home early. Usually, she doesn't get off until 8 to 9 p.m. It was 4:30 p.m. "Oh, hey mom. Why are you home so early?" Normani asked closing and locking the door before making her way over to the couch where her mother was chilling with the television on. It was currently on commercial break. "They let us come home early today. Which I don't mind-- that means I get to rest and gives me time to announce the news before your father gets here." Her mother says nodding her head. "News? What news?" Normani asked sitting down. Her eyes widened. "Are you and dad getting a divorce?!" Normani says in a curious tone. Her heart picking up speed. Her mother made a face and shook her head followed by a soft chuckle. "Uh, no. We aren't. Yes, he gets on my everlasting nerves but I love him too much to let him go. It's something else." Normani lets out a sigh of relief. "Whew-- oh okay. Well, spill the beans. I can't wait anymore." Normani said as she began tapping her feet onto the carpet. 

Andrea took a deep breath and turned the television down. "I don't know how to say this in a better way but remember when I went to the hospital a few days ago and they were running tests on me?" She questions, Normani nods her head. "Yes...I remember." She spoke silently. "Well," Andrea continued "Turns out I got breast cancer all over again..." She says with a sigh. Normani's heart stopped, she felt it sink into her chest. Her throat got dry. She just sat there without moving. "Again...what does she mean again?" Normani thought to herself when she felt a teardrop from her cheek. "Mom how? We did what the doctor said, you took the medicine, everything. How is back?" Normani asked wiping her tears away but there was no use. Her tears just kept coming, as she sniffled looking at her mother. Her queen, her role model, her mother...and just the thought of not having her around because of cancer upset Normani to the core. Normani couldn't lose her other half. She just couldn't. "I don't know baby-- that's what they are trying to figure out. But I don't want to worry baby. Your momma beat it once, she'll do it again. However, if God himself is ready for me then baby he's just ready." her last sentence echoed in her head. "If God himself is ready for me then baby he's just ready." How could she say that? I don't want her to leave me. I'm not ready. She hasn't seen me grow up that much...she hasn't seen me walk across the stage, graduate college, make something out of myself, and have a family of my own...I want her here forever. By my side. I want to continue having the choice to hug her whenever, talk to her whenever, make her laugh, make her smile a little while longer. So god please don't take her..." Normani said but she couldn't hold it back anymore. she let the ugly cry come out. "Baby no...come here," Andrea said. Normani found the courage to bring herself onto her feet as she walked over to her mother when she found herself wrapped in her mother's loving embrace. 

"Mom I don't want you to have cancer...I don't want to lose you. I don't want you to leave because I'm not ready to lose you...God can't have you. I won't let him...I might seem selfish but you're mine. You're my everything." Normani said through sobs. Andrea started to tear up herself as her grip on Normani tightened. "You are my everything Normani. You have always been. I'm so happy to have such a bright and beautiful daughter like yourself. You can achieve anything you put your mind to baby. But you can't stop God's plan. It's all up to him. If he lets me beat it again that's wonderful. If not, just remember I lived a nice life. I got to raise you. I got to teach you, I got to hold you, I got to see you grow from being in the wound until now. I got to experience love...I found true love...I'm not unhappy with my life. Because I lived it to the fullest...so don't be upset. You just continue to pray and keep your head up but never be afraid to cry. It's okay to feel...you hear me?" Andrea was holding onto her baby girl. Normani nods sniffling. She looks up at her mother. "I love you, mom." Andrea kissed her forehead. "I love you more." 

3 hours later

Normani hasn't stopped crying after hearing the most horrible news in her lifetime. Her mother has breast cancer again. She cried so much she had no tears left to cry. She sniffled while holding onto her pillow as it was now 7:48 p.m. and it was dark in her room. she stared off into the darkness just wondering why this was happening to her...why was it back when her mother did everything she was supposed to? how can they get rid of it for good? She hated cancer and deadly diseases with a passion. Suddenly, her phone started flashing indicating that someone was calling her. Normani wasn't in the mood to talk but her eyes still looked down at the screen seeing a picture of herself and Dinah hugging with huge smiles. Dinah's contact name "My boo" with a black heart beside it. Even though she didn't feel like picking up she did. "Hello?" Normani said in a very soft voice. "Hey...what's wrong? You sound like you've been crying. Is everything okay?" Dinah asked looking at the screen but she could only see herself since Normani was in the dark and the phone was facing up. Normani laid on her back with her hands on her stomach. "Yeah, I'm fine." She said but her voice cracked. "No, you're not. I don't know what's wrong but I'm coming to get you so get ready." Dinah says. Normani sighed knowing Dinah wouldn't take no for an answer. Especially when she sees something is wrong with her. "Okay. Just call or text me when you get here.." Normani said. "Okay," Dinah said. "I love you." She added. "I love you too," Normani said before hanging up and forcing her numb body to get off the bed and get herself together. 

Meanwhile, Andrea & her husband were downstairs cuddling. He already knew since he went to the doctor's appointment in support of his wife. He was the one to read the results to her when they were sent in the mail. He was the one to comfort Andrea as she cried for hours because she didn't want to go down this road, he also told Andrea that she has to tell Normani the news. Andrea didn't want to she wanted him to deliver the news but he told her that it'll be better for her to say it than him. For a lot of reasons and she knew he was right. He worked up her courage to tell her on her own. "Tell her when I'm not here. That way you won't be relying on me to tell her. Okay?" He said kissing her forehead before pulling her close. Andrea nods. "Okay." And that's what she did. Either way, Normani was going to be upset with the news. No one ever wants to lose someone they love over cancer, sickness, diseases, etc. No one wants to lose anyone they love and care about at all. But sometimes it's out of our control. 

To be continued. . .