The Act|| Tarasia

Chapter Fourty Nine

Taraji's POV

After leaving the baby shower, Danielle unfortunately ended up having to go home because her daughter came down with a bad stomach bug. I've finally learned to be content with being alone, but it would have been nice to have her around and kick it with her for one night like old times. Once I got back home, I showered the long day off of my body and changed into fuzzy, flared cream-colored leggings and a matching cardigan that swept the floor. As I was sitting in my bed with the tv on for background noise, I reflected on the day's events. As soon as I saw Fantasia again, I felt this familiar stirring and longing in the lower region of my body. The attraction is still there. I suppose it never really left. We were just forced to learn how to hide it. Perhaps I should've just stayed away and had my gift for the baby delivered, but that would be sending a message that I was running away from her, and I don't run away from anything anymore. It doesn't make it any easier that Kendall basically threatened me to stay away from her. I wish that she would have told me that she was going to tell him about us, just so that I could be mentally prepared for the blowback, but I'm glad that she did it. In a way, I feel free. I don't have to hide anymore, at least not from him. She was looking very tempting today, but temptation is a trap, and the only thing you can do with a trap is avoid it or fall into it and let it destroy you. I already fell in once and I barely made it out alive. I can't let it happen again, no matter how bad I want it. No matter how bad I want her.

Just as I was finally dozing off, my phone chimed with a text notification. I would usually have my phone at DND at this time, but it slipped my mind to turn it on. It was a text from Fantasia. A soft smile spread across my face as I read it.

Tasia💜:  I wanted to thank you again for the beautiful stroller. I don't even want to imagine what you spent on it. Most people in our situation wouldn't have even shown up for me, so just the fact that you came was a good enough gift🫶🏾If you're not busy tomorrow after shooting, we can go out to lunch and catch up

Before I could respond to her, another text came through, but this time it wasn't from Fantasia. This time it was from Brandee.

Brandee🦋: Are you awake? I know you're probably tired from working so much, but I really need to vent to someone

I called Brandee immediately, deciding that I wasn't sleepy anymore. What I've learned about Brandee over these past few months is that she's the type of woman to burry her feelings until she's ready to dig them up again because she doesn't want anyone to think that she's complaining or being too sensitive or something like that, so I know that if she says she needs to vent then she really needs to vent.

Taraji: Hey B, what's up?

Brandee:*sighs* Hey. I'm so sorry if I woke you up, but I really need to talk to you before I snap and lose my job.

Taraji: No, you're ok. I wasn't sleeping. What's going on with your job?

Brandee: I just don't know if nursing is for me anymore. I love taking care of people and being able to patients and their families peace of mind, but the system is so fucked and I don't know if my conscious can handle being apart of it anymore. Everybody around here is just in it for the money and it's so plain to see. I'm a damn good nurse, but that doesn't matter if I'm apart of a bad system. It's hard to fight the good fight alone. It feels like a losing game.

Taraji: You're speaking out of frustration, and that's totally understandable, but don't let frustration be a deciding factor. You were born to be a nurse. Nobody advocates for patients the way that you do. I will have never survived being in that hospital if it wasn't for you taking time out of your busy day to talk to me and try to make me laugh. You made me forget about my pain. You gave me hope that the next day would be better. That's what you do for patients, and there's no job on this earth more important than that. I'll support whatever decision you make for the sake of your mental health, but really think about this, B. Why did you want to be a nurse in the first place?

Brandee: You already know the story.

Taraji: Tell me again. Sometimes we need a reminder why we do the tough things that we do.

Brandee paused with a heavy sigh, and I knew that she was trying to keep her tears at bay. Her story made me cry the first time she told it to me, and there's no doubt in my mind that it's going to make me cry again.

Brandee: My mom developed cervical cancer only a month after I was born. I grew up watching her spend most of her days in a hospital. My mom wanted a home healthcare nurse so that she could be home with me, but she couldn't afford it. So this very special woman named Nurse Betty took on the role and came out of her own pocket to take care of my mother. She was around so much that she became like a bonus mom to me. My dad was nowhere to be found. He couldn't handle watching my mom's health deteriorate, so he ran. But Nurse Betty was always there. She made my mom smile on days when all she wanted to do was cry. When her hair started falling out from chemotherapy, Nurse Betty took her out to buy wigs and she had the best time trying them on. I can still see her smile and hear her laugh to this day. Her kindness made my mom want to fight the disease that much harder. It went away for a few years, but when it came back, it came back hard. When the cancer won, Nurse Betty legally adopted me. That's why I wanted to become a nurse. During a time when black people, especially black women didn't feel protected in the healthcare community, Nurse Betty made my mom feel safe.

Taraji: Wow, I don't think I'll ever get tired of hearing that story. Your mom is still smiling down at you, and I know that Nurse Betty is proud of you. Do you feel better now?

Brandee: A little bit. I just want to shut the world out for one day, but people keep getting sick. People get sick every day.

Taraji: True, but you can't take care of anybody if you're not taking care of yourself. Come over to my place on your off day. I have a whole salon in my house. I can help you relax and unwind. Everybody needs a self-care day. I have a ton of new products from TPH that would be perfect for you.

Brandee: That sounds amazing. My off day can't come fast enough. Thank you for listening to me. I hate the circumstances that we met each other under, but I'm glad that we met nonetheless.

Taraji: So am I. Good night B. I love you.

Brandee: I love you, T.

I hung up and put my phone on the charger, turning my tv off as I laid on my side and pulled my covers over my body. I forgot to respond to Fantasia, but I'll see her tomorrow. I'll see her tomorrow, and her husband won't be there.