Living Off Past Trauma [EDITED]

Unexpected Visit, PT.1

Published: 27April2025
Edited: 16June2025

Lola Brinks//Lani
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Present Time

A week had passed. The chaos had settled, but the silence that followed felt just as loud.

I lay in my hospital bed, a soft blanket pulled up to my waist, my head propped up by pillows. The room was quieter now — no frantic beeping, no urgent footsteps in the hallway. Just the steady rhythm of the heart monitor beside me, ticking away like a gentle reminder: you're still here.

My body was still tired. I was still on light medication. But I was awake. And I remembered everything.

The door creaked open.

Onika peeked in first, holding a small bag of snacks. "Hey," she whispered with a smile.

I smiled back weakly. "You brought me Hot Cheetos?"

"Of course. And apple juice. Don't say I never loved you."

Onika stepped in, followed by Lamar, my aunt Chanel, Omar and Taylor.  They didn't say much — they didn't have to. Just being there was enough.

"Hey." Taylor gave me a tight hug but not one to hurt the wound on my chest. "Hey." I pulled him closer, inhaling his familiar masculine scent. "How are you?" He kissed my cheek, taking a seat right next to my bed. 

I nodded slowly with a smile on my face, my legs crossed. "Better than yesterday," I said. "Still feel like my brain's trying to catch up... but I'm here."

Taylor chuckled softly. "Yeah, but ain't your brain's always tryna catch up?"

"Don't test me," Lola muttered playfully, the corners of her mouth lifting.

They all laughed softly. It wasn't loud, it wasn't wild — it was just the sound of people who had been through hell and were finally starting to climb out of it.

"Your chest okay?" Chanel asked. "Hm, so so. The pain isn't that visible but its there. If i inhale too hard, then it hurts, otherwise I'm okay. I have this typa treatment later on tonight."

"What typa treatment?"

"...I forgot." I mumbled with a small chuckle.

"Typical Lola" Taylor shook his head with a chuckle.

"How do you end up forgetting important information?" Omar chuckled.

"I didn't forget...It just got lost in my dream; all i should do is just find it." I shrug, trying to explain myself. "Righttt." chuckled Lamar.

I looked out the window, the sunlight streaming in gently through half-closed blinds. For the first time in days, I felt something close to peace. Not because everything was fixed — but because the people who loved I never stopped showing up.

And that kind of love?

That could bring anybody back.

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We we all just chatting, enjoying each other's company till a knock came at the door. An unfamiliar knock.

"You expecting anyone?" Onika looked at me. "N-nah." I shook my head as I looked at the door. Lamar stood up and opened the door and just looked at whoever it was at the door. Omar looked and his eyebrows rose. They both looked at me then back at the door.

"Who is it?"

He stepped to the side and my heart dropped when I saw them, my face went still, body tense.