Dre Day

Squashing The Beef

Dre POV

The next morning, we're standing at LAX, the early morning sun casting a dull glow over the busy terminal. I'm surrounded by my crew – Jade, D.O.C., and Snoop. We're all here, but the air is thick with tension. My mind's a whirlwind, and I can't shake off the mix of anger, guilt, and confusion.

"Man, this shit is surreal," Snoop says, shaking his head. "T.A. in a coma. I can't wrap my head 'round that."

D.O.C. nods, his face somber. "Yeah, it's fucked up. We all had our differences, but T.A. was family, ya know?"

I grit my teeth, the conflict inside me threatening to spill over. "Family don't fuck you over like he did. But now... shit, I don't even know what to feel."

Jade squeezes my hand, her presence grounding me. "We're here for you, Dre. Whatever you need."

I nod, appreciating her support but still feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on me. The announcement for our flight comes over the loudspeaker, and we make our way to the gate.

On the plane, I sit by the window, staring out at the runway as we taxi. D.O.C. and Snoop take the seats across the aisle, and Jade sits beside me, her hand never leaving mine.

Snoop leans over, his voice low. "Dre, you ever think 'bout what you're gonna say to T.A. when you see him?"

I sigh, running a hand over my face. "I don't know, man. I got so much shit built up inside. Anger, hurt... I don't even know where to start."

D.O.C. nods in understanding. "Just speak from the heart, Dre. Say what you need to say. We all got love for T.A., despite everything."

I look at him, my frustration bubbling up. "Yeah, but it ain't that simple. That nigga betrayed me, betrayed us. And now he's lying there, and I don't even know if he can hear me."

Jade rubs my arm soothingly. "This ain't just for him, Dre. It's for you too. You need to let it out, find some peace."

I stare out the window as the plane takes off, the ground falling away beneath us. "I hope you're right, Jade. I really do."

The flight feels like it's both dragging on and flying by. I keep running through everything in my mind, the memories, the betrayal, the anger. I think about the good times too, but they feel so distant now.

When we land in Atlanta, the reality of what we're about to do hits me harder. We grab a cab, the driver making small talk that none of us engage in. My mind is too occupied with the upcoming confrontation.

"Hospital ain't far," the driver says, looking at us through the rearview mirror. "Y'all visiting someone?"

Snoop nods. "Yeah, our brother. He's in a bad way."

The driver nods sympathetically. "Hope he gets better."

We pull up to the hospital, and my stomach twists in knots. We step out, and I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself.

"Let's do this," I say, more to myself than anyone else.

We walk into the hospital, the sterile smell and quiet hum of machinery filling the air. Jade holds my hand tightly, and we follow the signs to the ICU. My heart pounds with each step, the reality of the situation settling in.

We reach the room, and I hesitate at the door. Through the window, I see T.A. lying there, hooked up to all sorts of machines. He looks so vulnerable, so different from the strong, confident man I used to know.

"Go on, Dre," Jade whispers. "We're right here with you."

I take a deep breath and step into the room, my emotions boiling over. I stand by his bedside, staring down at him. The words I've been holding in for so long finally start to spill out.