A Story To Tell | Book 2

.36.

:::VANESSA:::

"Vanessa, you can't keep sitting in this room staring at your brother. It's not healthy for you and you know it."

I heard Dorothy's voice as she walked into the room, breaking my concentration on Lamont. I really didn't want to be bothered up with my aunt today, but rather I liked it or not, she was family. She was also Deon's mother. She was just as crazy and just as outspoken as Deon, too. And last thing I needed was a piece of Deon in my ear making me lose track of what meant the most to me. And right now, Lamont was all that I wanted to worry about right now. I wasn't hungry and I'd sent almost everyone who'd come into this room to tell me what she said to deliver my messages back to her.

"I'm not hungry, Dora." I tell her without even looking back at her.

"Girl, you ain't ate in two days and it's not healthy for you. Come on now." She said with anger in her voice as she touched my shoulder, gently. "We're all going to Chili's and we don't want to leave you here like this."

"Dora, I'm a grown woman. I'm not a child." I say to her as I fold my arms.

"Well, sometimes I really wish you were so that I can beat your ass in here thinking that you can talk to me like you are right now. Your mother would lose her mind hearing you right now. I told her that I would feed you while I'm here so get your big ass up out of this chair and come on and eat with us." I rolled my eyes and looked at Dorothy with a serious face. I really didn't want to be bothered. "You can look at me like that all you want to, looking like your pappy. Get up. Lamont will be just fine for an hour."

Dorothy took my hand, pulling my arms apart from one another. I stood up from the chair and looked at my brother laying there in the bed. He hadn't moved an inch since we'd first gotten here. And as bad as I didn't want to leave him, I knew better than to continue arguing with Dorothy. I took a deep breath and turned away from Lamont and took my time walking out of the room before looking back at him as if something would happen if I left. Dorothy squeezed my hand, making me turn away to watch where I was going as I walked out of the room.

When everyone saw me, they stood up from their seats with smiles on their faces as if it were me in the hospital bed in a coma and they were seeing me with my eyes open for the first time.

I felt so disconnected from everyone, I just didn't want to talk to them. I felt as if my dreams had been taken right from underneath me as we walked out of the hospital. Dorothy insisted I ride with her while everyone else scattered around for their cars to meet us there at the restaurant. We were only two-three minutes away from Chili's so the car ride was going to be quick.

As I sat inside of Dorothy's car, Dorothy looked at me as she started her ignition. Instead of saying anything, I just looked down, feeling the tears about to make another appearance for the umpteenth time today. Dorothy touched my hand and intertwined it with hers. That's when I broke out into loud sobs, just praying my brother is okay. He's my heart. I knew that I wouldn't be the same without him. I loved him so much that words couldn't explain. He was my everything. We were just so close. He's my best friend. And I can't go a day without talking to him. If God took him away from me, he might as well take me too. I couldn't be without Lamont. It's impossible.

"Don't do that, baby." Dorothy said to me. "I know you want me to tell you that Lamont's going to be okay and all of this, but we have to be honest with each other, baby girl. Lamont's not doing so good. And as much as you'd love for him to wake up, in reality, he's weak. You know that as well as I know it. You have to prepare yourself for the worst, baby. I know you don't want to because you love him so much and he's your big brother. But you have to let him go." She said to me, making my hopes fade away.