Cosmic Brownies
1992
Marshall's POV"Where'd Dina go?" Deshaun looked around before sitting back down next to me.
"The nurses already called her name. She checked with her mom and dad." I pointed towards the door Adina went in.
"Shit...I hope everythang gon' be straight, yo. This shit was a trip." He shook his head, letting a rough huff of air come out of his mouth.
"No doubt, yo... and I apologize, Doody."
"What you mean?"
"For disrespecting Adina how I did that day. I know y'all tight-"
"Ay, don't worry about it. As long as you apologized to her, we all good, brotha." He stopped my apology.
I nodded.
I honestly felt like I couldn't apologize enough, though.
"So, shit... what we 'posed do now? Wait?" I asked.
"I mean..., we can... I wanna make sure Adina is aight though. Once we clarify that, we can head back home... I gotta check on my mama."
"Aight then."
...
A nurse entered through the same door Adina had gone in, motioning for us to come inside.
We figured it was okay now since they might be done with whatever they were doing.
Deshaun and I stood up, heading towards the door.
Upon walking in, large curtains covered each space. The nurse opened one, revealing Adina and her mother.
Dina held an ice pack against her bruised neck, and I wondered when they were going to address that.
"Deshaun, baby," Adina's mother noticed him, speaking with a weak voice.
She had a big bandage around her head, and various IVs connected to her arm.
Adina noticed I was behind Deshaun and gave me a tight-lipped smile. I reciprocated, nodding towards her.
I hesitated about entering, but Deshaun looked back at me, signaling to come in, so I did.
"You alright, Auntie?" Deshaun asked Adina's mother.
"I'm getting there, D," she nodded, flashing a close-lipped smile.
"So... what's going on, what's up?" Deshaun and I took a seat.
"The nurses said she's got a mild head injury, being treated for a concussion, a fractured knee, and rib. She'll stay hospitalized for a couple of days, and then we can take her home," Dina explained. "We don't have too much information on my dad yet; we have to wait a little longer. He is badly hurt though." She scratched her head.
"Damn, I'm sorry, Dina..." Both Deshaun and I spoke in unison.
"I'm glad you're gonna be alright, Auntie. We were hella worried about you."
"No need to be. Thank y'all for being here... Who's this handsome young man?" Adina's mom pointed at me.
I gave her a close-lipped smile, waving.
"This is one of my good friends, Marshall," Deshaun patted my back.
"Do you know my daughter?" The woman asked me, glancing between her daughter and me.
"Yes ma'am, I met her through Deshaun at the cookout."
"Oh, you were there? I'm sorry, baby, I ain't see you around. I had to leave early for work."