Journey Toward Me (Not Yet Edited)

Chapter 10: Healing

Church the next morning was uplifting. The power in every word made me feel a lot better about the whole party situation. So afterward, I went to visit Amani in the hospital.

He was hooked up to a bunch off IVs with a bandage on his chest where he was shot. He looked up from watching ESPN and smiled at me.

"Hey Amani how you feeling?" I smiled handing him the "get well soon" balloon I had purchased before coming.

"I'm good despite some pains here and there." He replied staring into my eyes.

I looked away and proceeded to the window where I asked, "Where's Amara?"

He chuckled lightly. "She actually just left a little while ago. I had to threaten to throw away her copy of Save the Last Dance to get her ass up!" He laughed. That was her favorite movie.

"That's dirty!" I giggled staring out the window at the clouds.

"I had no choice! She had already stayed the night in that tight ass death suit and wouldn't have left if I didn't."

"She loves you just that much." I said  finally turning to face him while sitting in a chair.

He gave a distant smile. "Yeah.." A comfortable silence followed as he got lost in ESPN. I even found myself watching it and Lord knows I'm not into sports!

Without warning, he turned off the TV and stared at me intently. Again I grew uncomfortable.

"What? Do I have something on my face?" I asked nerviously rubbing my face for misplaced food. Breakfast was a little tasty that morning.

"Naw... It's just...You know last night really opened my eyes. For the past few months I've been so engulfed with anger about my parents. So much so that I lost sight of myself and my closeness with Amara. The wound on my heart from losing my parents probably won't ever heal but I have Amara to live for. Almost losing my life last night made me realize that life is short and I shouldn't be living it in anger and fear." His emotionalness got to me so I got up from the chair and hugged him tight.

"Ouch!" He winced in pain.

"Oops mybad Amani you just moved something in me!" I said loosening my grip on his shoulders and sitting in the bed.

I released him and for a moment, we were lost in each other's eyes. There was something about this; us gazing into one another's eyes. Looking into his deep brown eyes made me calm and tranquil. Stirred something in me.

He reached out his good hand and stroked my cheek. It made my insides tingle so I looked down shyly.

"Essence..." He called out for me and I looked up slowly... into those eyes.

He softly kissed my forehead... then my left cheek... my right... chin.. surrpassed my lips and brushed my nose. His lips were so soft! I couldn't take it anymore and placed my hands on either side of his head and leaned into him preparing for our lips to embrace.

Knock knock knock!

"Hello Mr. Reigns- Oh I'm sorry. I didn't realize you had company." A perky, petite, young blonde haired woman in purple scrubs stated. I had bolted back on the other side of the room sitting in the chair. We were just sitting there looking like two school children who were just caught stealing a cookie. I couldn't believe we kept almost kissing. I was going insane!

"Hello. I'm nurse Blake and I'll be your day nurse." She smiled brightly.

"Hi nurse Blake..."

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I left the hospital a little while later because I couldn't take the tension between me and Amani. But my question was,

Is there really anything between us? Maybe I'm crazy...

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Amani's POV

I woke up later to Amara laughing at a Kevin Hart movie on the TV in my hospital room. After Essence left, I was a little bored. So I figured, why not sleep?

Yawning I said, "Didn't I tell you to take your ass home?" She was sitting on the floor Indian style with her hair in a messy bun wearing a tank top and basketball shorts.

"Aww come on bro bro you know you want me here!" She smiled plopping down on the bed next to me. She was getting the Milwaukee lingo down pack.

I gave her the "nigga please" look and rolled my eyes playfully.

"So it's like that?" She exclaimed showing mock hurt. Right after, she started wiggling her fingers as if she was going to tickle me. Now I wasn't gonna lie I was a big dude with a rock hard body. But a major softy for being tickled. With that being said, torture was on tonights menu. She went to work tickling my abdomen.

"Damn you Mara!" I laughed so hard my sides hurt.

She laughed too . "Bet you'll think think twice next time before messing with a girl's heart my dear brother!"

She stood and grabbed the chair in the corner again giggling at the TV.

Speaking of girl's hearts... What in the world is up with me and Essence? It's like every time I'm around her I can't control myself. I mean yeah she's a big girl but I'm from the south that's all I know! She's more than a pretty face and thick thighs... I think I wanna get to know her better...

"Amani... boy I know you hear me!" Amara hollered snapping me out of my thoughts.

"Huh?" I asked confused.

"I been trying to get your attention for the longest!"

"Oh mybad Mara. I was in my own little world."

"What's on your mind brother?" She turned to face me.

"It's nothing Mara." I lied.

"Amani I am your sister. Worst of all your twin sister. If there's something on your mind, I'll know. Now spit it out." She stated matter-of-factly.

"Quit trying to figure me out girl. I'm a man." I said now flipping through the channels before settling back where it was.

"Puleeeze! You're slow self can't even spell man." She remarked rolling her eyes to the ceiling.

I just laughed at her. This was nothing new for us. Our playful banter was what made us us.

"Coming from the girl with the hormone problems." I cracked making my voice slide up and down in range.

"Shup up you ig'nant negro." She replied with an angry smirk throwing the nearest item at my head. I dodged it with my good hand still chuckling at my own joke. But how could she not laugh at that one? Amara really did sound like somebody's daddy in the morning. Just Saying. This went on for awhile until I had to threaten her to leave, again. She had school in the morning and I was not about to let her blame me for being tired. No sir'ee not me.

With that being said, I got another dose of pain meds and I was out like a light!.....