The Other Side Of Paradise

XV

Beyoncé Giselle Knowles

Beyoncés leg bounced as she waited outside Onikas hospital room.

Sitting right next to Ming who had her arms crossed and had her head to the ceiling.

"How did you stay so calm back there?" Beyoncé asked and Ming sighed.

"I'm a trained medical professional. That's how." She mumbled and Beyoncé nodded hencing how tense this was.

"..but to tell you the truth I was scared out of my fucking mind." Ming confessed and Beyoncé turned her head towards her.

"Panicking wasn't going to help Onika back there—doesn't mean I wasn't terrified for her." Ming said before looking away from the stale lighting towards Beyoncé.

"I was lucky you were there though." Ming said and Beyoncé just looked down. "I was panicking the whole time." Beyoncé mumbled.

"I didn't expect you to be calm. If it weren't for you—I don't like to think of what could've happened." Ming said and Beyoncé didn't want to think of it either.

"You did a good job." Ming said honestly and Beyoncé nodded in thanks—but she was still worried about Onika.

Just then they saw a few nurses and a doctor walk out and she smiled at us. "So she's awake, and she's able to breathe on her own." She says and Beyoncé could see Ming's muscles relax a bit.

"She does however have some nerve damage in her nose. I'm assuming whatever drug that caused this overdose she must've been snorting. She will need a very easy and light procedure on her nose to avoid any further damage." She informs and Ming nods.

"That's fine. Anything else?" Ming asked and the young doctor nodded.

"After said procedure she will have trouble smelling for the next few weeks, and will need  bandages on her nose till the tissue heals enough." She said and Beyoncés nerves ease as she continued talking.

"She doesn't have any damage to any of her internal organs—but—I'm sure you're aware of her addiction?" The doctor asked.

Ming shook her head, "I had my suspicions but—I didn't know it was this bad." Ming mumbled.

Beyoncé thought back to the night she saw Onika stumbling, laughing at nothing—and being full on confused.

"Fuck I'm an idiot.." Beyoncé mumbled.

"It's alright. You're her family correct?" She asked and Ming pointed at herself.

"I'm her older sister, Ming. Beyonces her friend." Ming said and Beyoncé gave a little wave.

"Well it's good she has support. Ming I'll need to talk to you for a second." She said and Ming turned to Beyonce.

"You can talk to her. See how she's feeling." Ming said before getting up and Beyoncé got up nervously.

Ming on the other hand walked with the doctor as she turned towards her. "Does your family have a history of addiction? Anyone in your family?" The doctor asked and Ming nodded.

"Our farther. Yeah." Ming said and the woman nodded, "As I said before she has some damage to her inner nose—and that doesn't come from snorting a drug once. If there is a history of drug addiction—

"She's more likely to get addicted if she abuses it." Ming mumbled finishing the sentence for her and the woman nodded.

"I can refer her to some rehab centers if you'd like. There are some amazing programs that could help her." The doctor tried and Ming nodded.