The Closer I Get to You

38

Beyoncé

Somehow Nicki isn't too hurt. I've been by her side the entire time. Miss Carol even had to come because I can't really handle seeing her at such a stage. Every time I sit next to her I just stare at the blanket and talk to her if she needs the comforting. I'm just pissed with her father. I wanna hurt him the way he hurt her. I understand it might not be in my place to do but I hate seeing her like this.

My baby sleeps and she sleeps only because they sedated her after she couldn't deal with the pain while being awake. He broke her nose. Broke it. A tendon in her hand is broken too. She might loose use of her right ring and pinky finger. I wasn't right on the internal bleeding but she is badly bruised up just about everywhere.

Mr. Maraj nowhere to be found. Funny he pulls something of this degree and is just gone.

Miss Carol stands at the doorway with takeout.

"Come here I have some words."

I give Nicki a kiss on the cheek before getting up and going to the door. I can tell this is serious.

Carol takes my hand.

"Look, I'm gonna handle Robert. Stay with my baby please."

"Miss Carol, you positive you can do this?"

I understand she's shorter than Nicki and a bit younger. If that man hurt his daughter the way he hurt Nicki right now, I fear for the woman. She's always been such a sweet woman and we've been closer since Nicki and I have started dating and I've been interacting with her more.

"I'm positive, baby. He won't get away with this. I don't play about my daughter." She puts a hand on my cheek.

"Here, for the both of you to eat."

"Carol, you positive?"

"Yes, Beyoncé."

She hands me the food and cups.

"I'll be sure to call afterwards. I won't be coming back to the hospital, I'll be in a hotel I'll find around. Take care of my daughter."

"I—- I will."

Miss Carol heads back for the elevators towards the entrance of the floor.

I turn and head back towards Nicki. The medication isn't too strong, she should be up soon but I refuse to eat without her. I take a few sips on my sweet tea then turn to look at Nicki.

She's beautiful but I won't forgive what that man did to her.

She can't even make an expression because her face hurts completely. I don't think I've seen her smile in a while.

Nicki groans as she wakes up and my pulse skips a beat.

"Who brought food?" She grits out.

"Your mama, want some?"

"Yeah."

"Feeling okay?"

"Yeah." She croaks out.

"You were out for almost the whole day, you must be real hungry, huh baby?"

"Yes."

I adjust and open the to go box. Nicki's face lights up. I know she's hungry.

She reaches up for the fork but jolts her arm back down after a certain point. That man really fucked her up.

"That's okay, I'll feed you."

Nicki gives me a "really?" look and I can't help but smile.

I grab the spoon and grab up some rice, bringing it up to her and she opens her mouth. She chews the food and swallows.

"Keep goin'."

I smile. She back to her cute semi-demanding self again.

We're three spoons in when she stops me.

"You okay?"

"Hurtin'" She massages her gums.

"Okay, let's pause for a second." I set the food down and hold her hand.

"Beyoncé..." she brings her hands away. "I can't believe my daddy done this to me."

I see her eyes watering and it sucks I can't really do anything about it. I hope Carol rocks his ass with whatever she has planned. Yelling was understandable, not tearing my baby up though.

Nicki begins to cry and leans towards me, crying on my shoulder. Shit just breaks my fucking heart. No man should be beating down on his family, not his own child. Certainly not a child who's half his height. Shit wasn't fair nor even. I know for a fact Nicki didn't do or say anything other than her sexuality. I should've gone with Carol. Fucked his ass up.

"Shhh, baby, it's okay now. He ain't touching you no mo."

She sobs some more and let's put some more "ow's". I wish I could take her pain away. This is unfair. She coughs a bit and winces some more in pain.

"Take it easy mama." I pull her away to get her to lay back.

I think she busted a stitch cuz there's now some blood on my shirt. I open up a package of gauze and dab a bit under her left eye.

"Shhh." I kiss the top of her head. "I gotchu now."

She continues crying and it hurts me.

"Bey..."

"Yes, love?"

"When we get home I just wanna forget about his ass completely. I wanna go home be with you and continue on with life. Ion want nothing more with that man, Bey. I learned my fuckin' lesson."

"Okay, baby. I'm right here."

I notice now her eyes are red not with tears but with slight blood. This whole thing breaks my heart. I guess she notices me looking and quickly dabs the corners with the gauze.

I completely understand and continue holding her. Her cries turn into spaced out hiccups.

"I'm fuckin' hungry, Bey." She begins giggling a bit as if she weren't just crying.

These medications must be something else.

I start feeding her slowly and the tears stop. From now on I'm going at all costs to protect my baby girl. This was a warning for the both of us and I plan to act accordingly after this.

I kiss her forehead once more and she pulls me in by the jaw for a kiss on the lips. It's fiery even in this type of setting.

"I love you."

For a second the two of us are quiet. I almost start to bite my lip in anticipation and nerves.

"I love you too. I promise no one's ever gonna lay a hand on you this way again. I'm protecting you at all costs." I gently smother her face in kisses.

"You don't have to, I'm old as shit I can—-"

"You're my girl, I'm doing it regardless."

"Stop, you're gonna make me fuckin' cry again!"