𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐎𝐟 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐬

𝐓 𝐖 𝐄 𝐍 𝐓 𝐘

• Aftermath •

Beyoncé slowly woke up, her consciousness gradually returning as the fog of anesthesia began to lift. Her surroundings were blurry, and she felt groggy, her body heavy and disoriented. As she blinked against the brightness, she saw the figure of a doctor approaching her bedside.

“Miss Knowles, you’ve woken up a lot earlier than expected,” the doctor said, his voice steady but gentle. “Do you feel any pain?”

Beyoncé mumbled, her voice thick and slow. “No, I’m good.”

The doctor nodded, a faint smile playing on his lips. “Good. Because you still need to represent me one day.” He chuckled lightly, trying to ease the mood in the sterile room.

Beyoncé managed a soft laugh, her eyes drifting towards the dim light filtering through the curtains. Her phone, which had been set on the bedside table, buzzed persistently, interrupting her thoughts. She reached out clumsily to grab it, her hand trembling slightly as she answered.

“Can I answer?” Beyoncé asked, her voice still heavy with sedation.

The doctor gave a nod of approval. “Sure, go ahead.”

Beyoncé swiped to accept the call, but before she could say anything, she instinctively covered the camera with her hand. “Oni, seriously, you couldn’t resist?”

Onika’s laughter came through the speakers, warm and familiar. “I had to check on you. Are you okay? Are you in pain? Do you still have thighs? Because I love your thighs.”

Beyoncé’s lips curled into a sleepy smile. “Calm down, love. I’m okay. I’m better, actually, even though I can’t feel anything right now.”

Onika’s face filled the screen, her concern evident despite the playful tone. “I was so worried about you. It’s been a couple of days since the surgery, right? How’s the recovery?”

Beyoncé shifted slightly, feeling a dull ache but no real pain. “Yeah, it’s been a couple of days. The surgery went well. I’m just a little groggy from the anesthesia, but I’m okay. How’s everything back home? How’s work?”

Onika leaned closer to the camera, her expression softening. “Work is... manageable. I miss you, though. It’s not the same without you around. We’ve got some new cases coming in, and I’m trying to handle everything, but it’s definitely not the same without you.”

Beyoncé’s heart warmed at the sound of Onika’s voice, even though the call was a bit of a haze for her. “I miss you too. It feels so strange not being there, especially with everything going on. But I’m glad you’re holding it down. I know you will.”

Onika smiled, a touch of sadness in her eyes. “It’s been hectic, but I’m managing. I’ve been thinking a lot about us. About what we talked about before...”

Beyoncé’s eyes softened, her voice gentle. “Me too. It’s been hard not being able to talk to you or see you every day. I keep thinking about what we can do when I get back.”

Onika’s gaze grew more serious. “I’ve been thinking about that too. I want us to work. I want to be with you, but I also don’t want to rush anything or put any more pressure on us.”

Beyoncé’s hand, still holding the phone, traced the edge of her blanket absentmindedly. “I understand. We’ve both been through a lot, and we need to figure out what’s best for us. But just knowing you’re there, that we’re still connected even when we’re apart, means a lot.”

Onika’s smile returned, bright and genuine. “I’m here for you. Every step of the way. And whenever you’re ready, whenever you’re back on your feet, we’ll figure it out together.”