One night in Manhattan

Shelby who?

***

Zac went to the bathroom, touched up his line with his clippers, and blasted Jay-Z songs through his speakers as he got ready. Decked out in a light grey Nike tech Suit white some white Air Force Ones and a fresh white T-shirt, topped with his favorite cologne. He went into his hall closet and pulled out his uno cards, a regular deck of cards and Jenga. He put Jenga back realizing how loud it might be for the hospital. He rummaged through his closet of games for a few more minutes until he found the perfect game. It was one he played with his students often. Zac figured he needed to move his car anyway, so he decided to drive to the hospital tonight, he stopped to pick up their pizza and drinks and continued to the hospital after making one more stop to pick up some flowers.

When he arrived he stood in the hallway because there was a team of doctors and medical students checking in on her and he did not wish to intrude. Once the room cleared out Fatima smiled at him seeing him with Pizza and Flowers in hand.

"hey, Bestie! These are beautiful!" she said complimenting his choice of arrangements.

"glad you like them. Where should I put them? Zac looked around and noticed all the flowers on the tables in the room.

"yea. My parents and their entire church have been sending me flowers."

He found a spot near the window and placed them down gently. He walked closer to her bedside and put the two boxes of pizzas in front of her on the tray table. "How are you feeling? You look better."

"I'm doing ok. I feel just as sore tho."

"do you know how long they're planning on keeping you?

"no one has given me an exact time frame except to say that it should only be a few days. They were worried about the internal bleeding when I came in and head trauma." She said pointing at her bandage. "but they said I handled the surgery well and my actual stomach wasn't affected. Just ruptured a few blood vessels. My head wound was superficial thankfully so. It's just a waiting game. They're keeping an eye out for blood clots. So.. fingers crossed." She said crossing her fingers.

Zac being the jokester, decided to cross everything he could causing her to laugh out. "ouch. Stop making me laugh you goof. It hurts." She was holding a pillow against her stomach as she laughed.

"what's with the pillow?"

"I'm supposed to use it when I laugh, sneeze, or cough so that I don't tear my stitches."

"Oops. My bad." He took a seat in the reclining chair they had in her room.

There was a long silence. "Ummm. You ready to eat your nasty pizza?"

"you don't have to be a hater. Just say you don't know good food."

He ran to the bathroom to wash his hands and then proceeded to put a slice on a plate for her. "well what kind do you have?"

"the best kind! Meat lovers. Pause."
"not you too!" he looked at her puzzled. "me too?"

"You're a grown man. why are you still saying pause?" Zac laughed. Force of habit I guess.

"So how has your weekend been since I literally crashed it Friday?"

"haaa. Funny. Ummm.. lets talk about you. are you an only child?"

"oh boy, anytime someone changes the subject like that. its something bad. Tell me now. Are you a serial killer or in training?"

Zac hung and his head and laughed. "You a trip girl. But no. I am just not having the best of days lately. Life is really really lifeing"