So Much Better

The Outside

                     She looked around for another minute taking  deep breath and going into the car.

"Over to Marlo's."

             Marcus looked at me through the rear-view mirror then at Luiza. She was looking outside, staring at the people as they moved through the streets. I looked at Marcus and he looked away driving off. 

As we got to Marlo's office, I reached for her hand and she looked at me.

"You ready?"

She shook her head looking down. I looked at her, she cleared her throat and looked at me.

"People are gonna stare."

"There's nobody there." I assured her.

She shook her head looking down. I looked at Marcus and he left the car.

"They'll stare and snicker. I don't wanna go in there. When my arm broke he-."

"He broke your arm?" I said before tightening my jaw, taking a deep breath and slowly exhaling.

She nodded looking in my eyes, trying to understand me. I could tell she was searching for something in my expression, a permission, an order, an emotion yet she found nothing.
Just like all these years taught me every negative emotion known to human kind. It taught me to never show any of them. 

"The nurses laughed at me talking in spanish thinking I wouldn't understand." She said sniffing.

"There's nobody there."

"It's gon' be just like-."

"Look at me." I told her, she sniffed and gulped before melting into a new breakdown.

          I pulled her in and she sobbed in my chest. I stroked her back, letting her know I was right there. 

"Ai." She complained sitting up again and put her hand over her chest.

"Ai!" She cried panicking with her hand over her chest, she sobbed again fanning herself and I stood unsure of how to help.

 'Till she put her hand on her neck and grabbed my hand. I pulled her out of the car and straight into the building as she leaned over me losing strength. I picked her up just before she passed out and carried her straight into Marlo's office.

 He had a patient in the room laughing with him. As he noticed us his eyes widened and he jumped from his chair and set his eyes on her. 

"Damn it Aug." He said reaching to take her. 

I only realised I hadn't let go when he groaned mumbling.

"Move out of the way." 

I did and the patient made her way out and he called for a nurse.

"What did you do to her?" He asked checking her pulse.

"I brought her to you."

"How long she been passed out fo'?"

"Three minutes."

"Melanie!" He yelled out

"What's happening?" I asked trying to understand why he was unzipping her hoodie.

"Shit!"- He said looking at her abdomen. - " What did you do to her?"

"I didn't hurt her." I spat. "Just make her better!"

"You'll be luck if she can breath after this."

"You'll be even luckier if she has nothing wrong with her by the time she wakes up."

He looked at me shaking his head before touching over her ribs softly and she winced.

"Iza, I'm right here Ma." I said and she looked at me before her nose started bleeding.

Melanie ran in with a table full of utensils.

"August get out of here."She ordered me away.

"No-."

"NOW!" She barked.

I took a step back and looked at Iza being messed with by them.

I left the room closing the door and the reception was empty, just Marcus sitting on a couch eating his junk food.

"You want some'?"

"Nah. " I said sinking beside him.

"So..." He said looking at the tv hosted up on the wall, high enough for the entire room to see. 

            I slid lower on the couch and put my hands over my face. I yawned and shook my had looking up at the ceiling.

"Lord have mercy on her, protect her from any evil, restore all she lost and give her a second chance. In Jesus name I pray, Amen." I  said lowly.

"Amen." 

I looked over to see him with his head low.

"Remember those screams and bangs at the neighbours?"

He nodded.

"That's her. I haven't slept in three days, four with last night. "

"I got you, when Marlon show up I'll let you know."

I got up and took my suit jacket off. I unbuttoned my diamond cuffs, letting them fall in my pocket and unbuttoned  the shirt. I laid on the uncomfortable love seat in the reception in hopes of getting some rest.

I couldn't relax thinking about what was going on with Iza in that room just a few feet from me.

"Marcus?"

"Yes boss?"

"I want someone watching that bitch 24/7. If he tries to leave town squirm him back in. I want to know everything about him. Where he works, where he gambles, where he gets his high, where he finds his bitches. I'll deal with him myself when time is right."

"Yes sir."

"Get Chris to stay across the street. I want her as safe as my mother and the kids."

He was silent before replying with a "Yes sir."

I closed my eyes and let myself drift off, trying to organise the next week in my head. I'd have to get her things, clothes, take her to a salon, buy more groceries- know if she wants to stay at my place.

What if she don't want to say at the house, maybe she got family somewhea' and wants to go after them. I- I'll help her. Yes, August you'll help her find her family and let her live her life... Right after she gets better.