Onika, a single mother, is desperate to find a cure for her daughter's mysterious illness. Just as hope fades, she meets Dr. Beyoncé Knowles, a determined doctor who refuses to give up.
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Onika Maraj Houston, TX
Dr. Gross locked eyes with me for a brief moment before shifting his attention to Lauren. He smiled, a confident ease in his demeanor as he introduced himself.
"Lauren, I'm Dr. Lance Gross. I'll be delivering your baby today." His voice was calm, reassuring, the type of voice you wanted to hear in these kinds of moments.
He gave Nipsey a nod, acknowledging him. "And you must be the dad. Good to meet you."
Nipsey grinned, dapping him up. "Appreciate you, Doc."
Dr. Gross turned back to Lauren, and then his gaze flicked to me again. I felt his eyes linger a little too long before he said, "This must be your sister?"
There was a hint of a playful tone, his smile widening.
Lauren chuckled. "Might as well be."
I could feel the heat rush to my cheeks. Clearing my throat, I looked down at my phone, pretending to be busy with it, even though I knew I wasn't.
"She doesn't talk much, huh?" Dr. Gross added with a teasing grin, trying to get a reaction out of me.
I glanced up from my phone, feeling the need to say something.
"I talk," I said, meeting Dr. Gross's eyes briefly before looking back down. "I just don't know you. I'm here for my sister."
He chuckled softly, shaking his head as he moved to the counter to grab a pair of gloves. "Fair enough," he said, pulling them on with a practiced snap. "Just making conversation." He turned back to Lauren, all business now. "Alright, Lauren, I'm gonna check to see how far along you are, okay? Just breathe and try to relax."
Lauren nodded, her hands gripping the edge of the bed as she tried to stay calm. Nipsey reached for her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze.
Dr. Gross moved closer, his voice still smooth but more focused now. "You're doing great so far. Let's see where we're at."
Lauren took a deep breath and nodded again, her face tightening with anticipation. I could feel the tension in the room shift as Dr. Gross began his exam, his movements careful but efficient.
"Okay," he said after a moment, his voice steady, "looks like you're about six centimeters. We're getting there, but we've still got some time to go."
Lauren exhaled, looking relieved but also exhausted. Nipsey leaned down, kissing her forehead. "Almost there, baby. You're doin' amazing."
"You're progressing well. We'll keep an eye on things, but let me know if you feel more pressure or the contractions get stronger." He gave Lauren a reassuring smile before glancing my way again, though this time, his focus stayed where it belonged.
I blinked, processing what Dr. Gross had just said. "Six?" I repeated, glancing at Lauren, then back at him. "So she must've been in labor this whole time?"
