GUILT

Chapter 14

      It was now about a few weeks later and Trae had a doctor's appointment. Trae called his uncle to pick him up and he drove him to the hospital. Trae was feeling better physically but he still had to go through physical therapy to ensure that he would be stable enough to walk again. The pain hurt tremendously as the doctors encouraged him to move without his crutches but he was strong enough to push through it. When he was finish doing the simple exercises, he sat back in the waiting area with his uncle. Trae was sweating and breathing hard.

"It's not so easy huh," his uncle joked.

"Not at all." Trae grabbed the water bottle from the floor and sipped from it. Then, the therapist told them to come into the room.

"I know that was difficult going through the workouts but they are mandatory in order for you to heal," the doctor stated. "Are you having any other difficulties Mr. Jackson?"

"No sir, just in pain from the exercise."

"I do understand. Good thing is, your records show that you are healthy. Have you been recently smoking or drinking, engaging into any sexual activities?"

Trae ignored the thoughts of what happened with Joi. "No doc, I wish," Trae laughed.

"I understand how you feel but you must stay safe to ensure that you don't injure yourself during your healing process. Once you're healed, you can go back to doing whatever you like," the doctor said. "I'm looking at your paperwork, the nurses sent in before your exercise. Are you stressed out about anything?"

"I actually am, why? Is that a problem?" Trae said trying to apprehend.

"Well, it's important that you keep your stress levels down because we don't want your blood pressure to go up too high."

"Okay, I'll take it easy doc."

"Well, that's a good idea." The doctor handed him his paperwork. "We'll see you next time Mr. Jackson, have a wonderful day." Trae left the hospital and got into the truck with his uncle.

"So what's this about you being stressed out?" his uncle asked.

"Unc, it's nothing."

"You are going to quit putting off questions with me. It's something if it showed up on the paperwork."

"Unc, the girl of my dreams may be in danger and I don't know how to get her back."

"Danger? Get her back? You tellin' me this is over a female kinfolk?"

"Unc, I messed things up between us and I don't know how to fix it."

"You fix it, point blank period. If you're the one that caused it, fix it. Don't stress over it. If it's meant to be, you'll find out. Just make things right if you really care for it."

"But my mama not going to appreciate her."

"Boy, you 23 years old. And you're telling me you still trying prove things to your mama? You are grown. It does not matter what her decision has on your life if it's something you really want."

Trae sighed, "You don't understand."

"It's your life kinfolk, you don't understand," his uncle iterated. "Now what's this about danger?"

"I'm handling things on my own Unc. I got it all worked out."

"You need to tell me."

"JT is after me for my money and now he's trying to take Chantelle away from me."

"JT? The boy you used to hang around back in high school? You know he's a part of a drug cartel, right?"

Trae began to look puzzled. "I thought he works for an organization downtown."