Adina Howard?
1992
Marshall's POV
Deshaun and I rushed into the waiting room of the hospital.
It was around 7 PM, and the hospital felt eerie, with cheap lights flickering. Only the sounds of our shoes hitting the hard floor, mixed with Adina and a nurse yelling, threw chaos in the air.
I'd never liked hospitals; they killed people. I stood strong on that shit, even though I'm sure I could look at it a different way.
Adina, held back by nurses, paid us no attention as tears ran down her face, and her voice cried and screeched. "Adina!" Both Deshaun and I called simultaneously as two other nurses pushed what looked like a black unconscious female into a nearby room on a hospital bed.
Deshaun's face went pale. Who is she???
Adina's cries became louder as she tried to go to the room where the other nurses took the woman.
"No! I need to go with her!" She budged and pulled.
"Adina! Chill out!" Deshaun ran up towards them, trying to calm her down, and I followed behind him. "Chill out. What's wrong, yo??" He put his hands on her shoulders before Adina snatched her arms out of the nurse's hold, hugging Deshaun around his waist. Her cries intensified as she buried her face into his chest.
I never thought I'd see Adina cry. Something real bad must've happened.
Deshaun told me some shit went down with Adina's parents, and they were at the hospital. Neither of us got any more information. Knowing no one else would be here to comfort her with whatever the hell happened, we drove here as quickly as possible.
Deshaun whispered near Adina's ear, something I couldn't hear, but whatever it was, it seemed to calm her down a bit.
I stood, not knowing what to do or say. I felt like Adina and I weren't close enough to hug like Deshaun was hugging her, so I stayed out of it. I knew it wasn't the time to ask questions either.
"We're gonna run some tests, can you three wait a moment?" The short female nurse looked at the three of us.
Both Deshaun and I nodded before the lady walked away, straightening her laboratory coat and hair as Adina had caused a fuss and lots of chaos.
"Adina, can you tell me what happened?" Deshaun pulled away from the hug, holding her face between his hands as Adina's eyes looked to the ground.
"So much shit, Deshaun...." Adina paused, shaking her head as tears continued to fall down her red-tinted cheeks. "My- my dad hurt me and my mom real bad."
The lady being pushed into the hospital room on the bed was her mother... I now realized.
Shit.
"Like how..?" Deshaun questioned, but that only made Adina cry more.
I rubbed my forehead.
I ain't know how bad Adina's situation was.. I'm a fuckin asshole, yo... I know I already apologized but fuck, dawg...Fuck. This shit ain't right.
I wondered if he hurt her as well.. but I'm too afraid to ask.. it would be out of my lane to interfere with this situation too much.
"Deshaun, I don't know what's gonna happen. I'm scared as shit, yo." Adina's voice cracked as Deshaun continued to wipe the tears from her face.
"Yo, everything's gonna be aight. I promise, Dina....Alright??"
Adina nodded to Deshaun's reassurance.
...
The past hour and a half, we sat, waiting for an answer from the nurses.
When I finally saw Adina face to face, there was a huge bruise that trailed around her neck, definitely answering my question on whether or not her dad hurt her.
Adina didn't even know I was there until we got ready to sit down. But when she saw me, her eyes lit up, and she seemed surprised that I was there anyway. Which I understood.
Also, she told me that my mother had helped her—not to get here, but she went to my mom's house to use her phone. I was surprised my mother even answered the damn door...
I swear to you, when I wasn't at my mom's house, the craziest shit wanted to happen. I wished I could have been there for Dina when it happened.
Adina's head rested on Deshaun's shoulder as we waited for her name to be called.
I never felt so damn awkward. I felt so bad but so confused and unsure of what the hell to do at the same time, yo.
"Hey, I'mma be right back. I gotta use the bathroom, aight?" Deshaun spoke to Adina in a soft voice.
She nodded.
As Deshaun walked away into the bathroom, Adina's head fell back, looking up at the ceiling. Her eyes and nose still red from crying so much.
I looked at her and looked away multiple times, wanting to ask if she was okay. But that was obviously a stupid question.
I asked anyway, wanting to break the awkward silence. It might not have been awkward for her, though. I knew her mind was hella occupied, stressing over all the shit that had happened.
"You aight?" I looked at her.
Adina's tears seemed to worsen after I asked her that question, only making me feel worse. I couldn't imagine how she felt, though.
"Fuck, I'm sorry, yo."
Adina held her face in her hands, trying to cover her cries.
I debated whether or not I should hug her. I ain't good at any of this comforting shit.
I awkwardly hesitated a few times but soon enough, my arms wrapped around her, trying my best to show that I cared in some way.
Was what I was doing the right thing or not???
It had only been a couple of days, but I did care about this girl, yo. She's a cool chick, and to see her going through such a thing brought me some deep internal pain.
Adina didn't hug me back for a minute, but eventually, her arms tangled around my back. So I guessed I might be some type of comfort, which made me feel better. I didn't know if I was doing the correct thing or not. I just wanted to help. All I'd been doing is sitting here like a damn idiot, yo.
"Adina Howard?" A nurse called with a clipboard in her hand.
Adina's ears seemed to perk up when the nurse called her name.
Adina removed her arms from around me, wiping the tears from her face.
"Everything gon' be aight, okay?" I continued trying not to be useless in this situation.
Adina nodded. "Are you gonna come?"
"I don't think they gon' let me. I ain't family."
"I can just say you're—"
"Adina Howard?" The nurse called out again.
"Marshall, please? Deshaun ain't come out yet. I don't wanna be alone, yo." She begged.
I hesitated.
"Aight, yo, aight." I got up.
"Thank you."
I followed behind Adina, walking towards the nurse.
"Uhm, I'm sorry, sir. Just family is allowed." The nurse stopped me.
