Aaliyah's Prelude |C.B|

fifty - eight

Aaliyah Brielle Na'Jai Harper
Twenty-Two
Los Angeles, CA
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I woke up feeling more exhausted than usual, but I pushed through it. My foot was still giving me trouble, the heavy boot making it almost impossible to move around with any kind of ease. Every step felt like I was dragging an anchor, but I couldn't let that stop me today.

Chris had sent me the list of houses his manager picked out, and even though I hated that he wasn't going to be there with me, I needed to find the right place for us.

Someone had to.

We needed a fresh start, and maybe he was right... Maybe a new house would help.

Joyce was already waiting for me downstairs, her usual lively self, cracking jokes and making me smile- Just like her son, as I hobbled over to the couch to put on my shoes.

She was always a breath of fresh air, and I was thankful she was coming along to help. I needed someone who could keep things light, especially with everything going on between Chris and me.

"You ready, baby girl?" Joyce asked, grinning as she handed me my purse. "We're gonna find you guys the perfect place today, I can feel it."

I managed a small smile, trying to match her energy. "Yeah, let's do it. I'm ready to get this over with."

Joyce chuckled and helped me to the car. The first three houses we saw didn't do much for me. I found reasons to dislike each one, whether it was the layout, the neighborhood, or the way the sunlight hit the rooms. But this fourth house was different. I could feel it as soon as we stepped inside. The space was bright and open, with high ceilings and large windows that let in plenty of natural light. The kitchen was modern and spacious, just like I'd always imagined. For the first time, I actually felt like I could see myself living there.

But as we walked through the house, something started to feel off. My stomach cramped up suddenly, sharp and painful, making me wince.

I tried to ignore it, chalking it up to stress or maybe the chills I ate.

But the cramps kept getting worse, and by the time we reached the living room, I felt like I could barely stand.

"Joyce, I need to sit down," I said, my voice strained.

Joyce turned to me, her expression shifting from playful to concerned in an instant. "Are you okay, Li? You look like death."

I nodded, but the truth was, I didn't feel okay at all. My skin felt clammy, and a wave of nausea hit me out of nowhere. The cramps weren't letting up, and I could feel myself getting lightheaded. I tried to steady myself on the back of the couch, but my vision started to blur, and I felt like the room was spinning around me.

"I don't know," I whispered, panic creeping into my voice as I tried to sit down on the couch. But my legs gave out before I could get there, and I stumbled, barely catching myself.

"Liyah!" Joyce was at my side in a flash, helping me lower myself onto the couch. Her voice was calm, but I could see the worry in her eyes. "What's wrong, baby? Talk to me."

"I don't know, I just... I feel really sick all a sudden," I admitted, my breath coming in short gasps. "My stomach... it hurts, Ma. It really hurts."

Joyce's face paled, and she knelt down in front of me, one hand on my knee and the other on my shoulder. "Okay, okay, we're gonna figure this out. Just try to breathe, alright? I'm here." As she started to feel around my belly.

As she moved her hands around, I could see her face panic making me panic. "What's wrong?"

"Uh- Nothing-."

I nodded weakly, but the pain was getting worse, spreading from my stomach to my lower back. A cold sweat broke out on my forehead, and I felt like I was about to throw up. My mind was racing with fear, the only thought repeating over and over:

'What if something's wrong with the baby?'

"Joyce, I'm scared," I confessed, my voice trembling. "What if—what if something's wrong with the baby?"

Joyce's eyes widened in alarm, but she quickly composed herself, trying to keep me calm. "Hey, don't go there yet, alright? We don't know anything for sure. Let's just get you to the hospital, okay? They'll take care of you and the baby."

She turned to the real estate agent, Eva, who had been standing nearby, looking just as alarmed. "Eva, we need to go. Can you get the car?"

Eva nodded quickly and rushed out of the house, leaving Joyce and me alone. Joyce rubbed my back gently, trying to soothe me, but I could feel the panic rising, my heart pounding in my chest.

"Joyce, it hurts so bad," I whimpered, clutching my stomach as another wave of cramps hit me. I felt like I was going to pass out, the pain so intense that it took my breath away.

Joyce's calm exterior cracked just a little, her voice trembling as she said, "I know, baby. I know. Just hang in there, okay? We're gonna get you help."

I leaned back against the couch, trying to focus on breathing, but it was like I couldn't get enough air. The room felt like it was closing in on me, my vision going in and out of focus. I was terrified, the fear gripping me so tightly that I couldn't think straight.

"Joyce, I think I'm gonna throw up," I gasped, clutching her arm as if that would keep me grounded.

"No, no, stay with me, Aaliyah," Joyce urged, her voice more desperate now. She was scared, I could see it, but she was doing everything she could to hold it together for me. "We're almost there, okay? Just hold on a little longer."

Eva came back in a rush, saying the car was ready. Joyce helped me up, practically carrying me to the door. The cramps were relentless, and by the time we made it outside, I was barely holding on.

As we reached the car, another sharp cramp hit, and I cried out, doubling over in pain. I felt like I couldn't breathe, the world spinning around me, and for a moment, everything went black.

I could hear Joyce's voice, urgent and afraid, but it felt far away, like I was underwater.

"Aaliyah, stay with me! We're gonna get you to the hospital right now, just hold on!" she shouted, helping me into the car as gently as she could. But I was too out of it to respond, my mind and body overwhelmed by the pain and the fear.

As the car sped toward the hospital, I curled up in the backseat, tears streaming down my face. The cramps were still there, but now there was a new fear, a cold dread that settled into my bones.

What if something's really wrong? What if I lose the baby?

I tried to push the thoughts away, tried to focus on Joyce's voice as she kept talking to me, trying to keep me calm. But the panic was too strong, the fear too real. I felt like I was spiraling, losing control, and there was nothing I could do to stop it.

"Please, God," I whispered, barely able to get the words out. "Please, don't let anything happen to my baby."

When we finally reached the hospital, I was barely conscious, my body trembling uncontrollably as the pain continued to tear through me. Joyce and Eva were both at my side, helping me out of the car and into a wheelchair.

"Somebody help us!" Joyce called out, her voice cracking as she pushed me through the doors. "She's pregnant and in pain, we need help now!"

The next few minutes were a blur of doctors and nurses rushing around me, checking vitals, asking me questions I could barely answer. All I could focus on was the pain and the fear that something was horribly wrong. The last thing I remember before everything went dark was Joyce's hand squeezing mine, her voice telling me to hold on, that everything was going to be okay.