Terminal One

Everything Happens for a Reason

Same Day
2 hours later
Emory University Hospital

Fatima is in a daze as she exits the operating room from the surgery.

She's mumbling to herself unable to formulate a coherency of words to articulate what and who she just saw on the operating table.

"Fatima..." a nurse says, "Are you ok?" "Huh?" coming out of her thoughts. "Uh yeah. I'm fine." "You don't look so good.." "I don't." "Yeah. I think you need to take a break girl. You're pregnant and whatever's got you flustered like this, isn't good for you or the baby. It's like you're not breathing..." she pointed out.

The nurse takes Fatima to the calming lounge and gives her some water. "I'll let everyone know..." "No, no..." Fatima utters. "I'm fine. I guess I just need a minute..." "Ok. I'll check on you in a while." "Thanks, Latrice." "You're welcome Girl." as she leaves the calming lounge.

Fatima sits for a minute and instantly starts bawling in tears. After a few moments, her phone vibrates indicating she has a message.

Mia:
Where are you?

Fatima:
In the calming room 😢

Mia:
Are you ok? NVM I'm on my way up

Fatima didn't feel the need to respond nor did she know how to but not even a minute and a half later...

The door opens. "Miiiaaa..." "Who I got ta fuck up at my good job?" "Nooo." "So why are you crying Booski? I mean besides the hormones." she asked, trying to calm herself down because when Fatima cries Mia don't wanna hear shit but a name and their location.

"I was in the operating room..." "Ok." "And the person on the table was Riley..." she sobbed.

Mia's eyes flutter. "I'm sorry...WHAT?!" Fatima nods, as the tears continue to flow.

"She had been shot twice and she was 8 months pregnant..." "Was..." "The baby is in the NICU..." "And Riley?..." Mia asked nervously.

Fatima shakes her head. "Fuck..." Mia huffed, slumping down in front of Fatima.

It's quiet as Mia takes a tissue handing it to Fatima. "Booski..." "Mia. I know we had our differences..."

"That's an understatement..." "MIA!" "What?" she shrugged. "Look Booski. I'm sorry ok. I mean is it fucked up that she's dead, sure. But you know how I felt about her so..." she spoke, leaning back placing her hands on the floor to balance herself.

"So you don't feel anything." "I feel sorry for the kid." Mia replied. "Again. If this situation was the other way around and anyone else I would be bawling tears with you but she's not. I hate that she had to die, especially with two gunshot wounds...That's brutal and quite frankly seems a little personal if you ask me." she shrugged again.

"Do you know if she's still with Dorian's ass?" "I honestly don't know." Fatima murmurs. "She reached out to me about a year and a half ago but I didn't respond." "And probably for good reason..." "Mia ... Her mother died..." "Oh hell. Now I really feel bad for the baby." Mia mumbled.

Fatima rubs her belly. "You hungry?..." "Not really." she murmurs. "If I eat anything right now. I'll probably just throw it up." "Well look. Maybe it'll make you feel better to go see the lil' tink tink and pray for him." She suggested.

"Will you come with me?" "Of course." Mia said, getting up from the floor. "But listen, Ti. You can't expect everyone to feel how you feel in situations like this. You and I are the same but we're still cut from a different cloth."

"But you're supposed to forgive people Mia." as they walked out of the calming room. "And who's to say that I didn't. Again. I chose myself and my peace when it came to Riley. That bitch..." "MIA!" "May she rest in peace." as she drew a cross on her body. "She crossed one too many boundaries for me. And in the words of the great Maya Angelou." "Here you go..." "When people show you who they are...BELIEVE THEM!!!" She mocked in her voice.