FATIMA
I stirred awake slowly, my eyelids feeling heavy, as though I had just come out of a long, deep sleep. The room around me was dimly lit, and I could feel a dull ache in my body, a reminder of the surgery I had just undergone. Confusion washed over me as I took in my surroundings.
Then, I spotted Mimi sitting in the chair by the window, her hands clasped together, silently praying. I blinked a few times, trying to shake off the fog in my mind.
"Mimi?" I croaked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Her head shot up, and her eyes widened with relief. "Fatima! You're awake!" She rushed to my side, her face breaking into a smile, though her eyes were still filled with worry.
"What happened?" I asked, trying to piece together the fragments of my memory. "How long have I been out? Where's Zac? The kids?"
"You had a C-section, and you've been in recovery for a while," she explained gently. "Zac is with Jazz right now. He's... he's been really worried about you and the kids."
"Jazz?" My heart raced at the mention of my son. "Is he okay? Where is he?"
Mimi hesitated, her expression shifting. "He's... he's had some complications, Fatima. He's been in the ER and... Zac will explain everything when he comes back."
Before I could ask more, the door swung open, and Zac walked in, followed by Rhythm, Melody, Bluez, Tempo and Musiq. The moment I saw them, my heart swelled, but I also sensed the tension in the air.
"Fatima!" Zac exclaimed, relief flooding his voice. "You're awake!" He rushed to my side, and the kids followed closely, their faces lighting up at the sight of me, yet I could see the worry etched in their expressions.
"Mommy!" Melody cried, rushing to my bedside and wrapping her arms around me.
"Hey, sweet girl," I whispered, hugging her back, but I could feel something was off.
Zac's smile faltered as he took a breath, looking like he was preparing to share something heavy. "I'm glad you're awake. I need to tell you about Jazz."
I felt my heart drop. "What about him? Is he okay?"
Zac's eyes flicked to Mimi for a moment before he took a seat next to me, his expression serious. "He had to have emergency surgery. There was a complication... a collapsed lung."
The words hit me like a wave, crashing over me with a force that knocked the breath out of me. Tears sprang to my eyes, blurring my vision. "No... not Jazz. Not my baby..."
The room fell silent, the gravity of the news settling heavily on all of us. I could see the concern on the kids' faces as they processed what their dad had just said.
"Daddy, is he gonna be okay?" Rhythm asked, his voice trembling.
"I... I don't know, buddy," Zac replied, his voice heavy with emotion. "They're doing everything they can, but we need to be strong for him."
Mimi moved closer, placing a hand on my shoulder, her own eyes glistening with unshed tears. "He's a fighter, Fatima. He's strong, just like you."
I wiped at my tears, trying to hold it together for my kids, but the fear for Jazz clawed at my heart. "I want to see him," I said, my voice breaking. "I need to be with him."
Zac's expression softened, and he took my hand in his. "As soon as he's stable, we'll make sure you can see him. You just need to focus on recovering right now. He needs you to be strong."
I nodded, though the ache in my chest felt unbearable. "I just want my baby to be okay."
"I know, Fatima," Zac said, his voice low and soothing. "We're all going to be there for him. We just have to keep praying and hoping."
