nba imagines ⇢ completed

through sickness and in health | demarcus cousins

through sickness and in health

dedicated to: Woethere
non-explicit ☻

Kehlani laid in her hospital bed and stared at the ceiling blankly. It had been exactly four days since she was first placed in ICU, and to say things were drastically different from how they used to be would be an understatement. The sound of a door opening and closing was heard throughout her cold, lonely hospital room, causing Kehlani to avert her eyes from the ceiling to the door.

There he stood. The only man Kehlani could ever see herself being in love with. Demarcus. A smile slowly spread across Kehlani's face as she watched her lover inch closer to her, finally taking a seat in a chair across from her instead of the one beside her. This action alone caused her happiness to subside, her smile being replaced with a look of hurt.

"How are you feeling?" Demarcus asked blandly. Kehlani shook her head softly, "That doesn't really matter, Demarcus. What's going on with you? Ever since I've been here you've been nothing but cold to me.. What have I done to you?"

Demarcus kept his mouth shut as he stared at his partner with no emotion in his orbs. Kehlani felt tears threatening to leave her eyes, but she held them back, mustering up enough pride to not let him see her completely broken. Ever since Kehlani came down with the rare severity of hemoptysis, Demarcus had never been the same. The many phone calls during the day when he and Kehlani were apart as well as the affection he would show her slowly died down; Kehlani was lucky to even get a text or hug from him nowadays, and it bothered her to the utmost extent.

"Nothing's wrong with me. I'm just here to make sure you're okay," Demarcus shrugged. Kehlani let her eyes close and took a deep breath, exhaling it slowly; it took everything in her not to show her true emotions. "Whatever, Demarcus."

The sound of the door opening and closing once more brought Demarcus and Kehlani out of their intense moment, causing them to look towards the door, only to see Demarcus' mother, Monique, in the doorway. Once Monique walked in, she could feel the tension in the room, and she didn't like it one bit. She had also seen the change in her son's demeanor, and she would make sure that him and Kehlani had a very serious talk that night.

"How's my future daughter in law doing?" Monique spoke softly, walking over to Kehlani's bed and sitting in the chair beside it. "I'm doing fine physically," Kehlani nodded softly, letting Monique connect the dots to her statement. Nodding, Monique turned her attention to Demarcus who was sitting in his chair silently, observing his mother and partner engage in conversation.

Kehlani knew Monique would understand where she was coming from if she told her how she was feeling, and at this moment of time, she knew that was the best thing to do rather than bottling it all up inside, "Um, Monique, can I speak to you.. alone?"

"Yes, of course honey," Monique nodded, looking at Demarcus. He put his hands up in defense and got up from his chair, walking out of the hospital room. Once Demarcus' tall figure was out of eyesight, Kehlani burst into tears. Monique was shocked, for Kehlani was never one to show her sensitive side often; she knew she was hurting.. badly.

"I can't do it anymore, Monique. I love Demarcus so much, but it's like he's pushing me away— like he doesn't love me anymore. Ever since the specialist diagnosed me with this bullshit ass condition, he's been distant from me, as if he's disgusted with me. Our long conversations have turned short and less meaningful, and I don't know if I can take this much isolation from him anymore."

Monique frowned at the words Kehlani spoke. She had never seen her son so happy with a girl, and she'd be damned if she let her son ruin such a healthy relationship, "Honey, I don't think he's isolating himself because of you, but because of what's happening to you. I know my son, and when he loves someone, he loves hard. The last thing he wants to witness is you decay from your former self; you're so upbeat and happy all the time, and seeing you in a hospital bed looking helpless has taken a true toll on him. I think you both need to speak to each other and let everything out in the open." 

Outside of the hospital room, Demarcus had come back down the hall from the cafeteria with orange juice and a muffin in hand for Kehlani. Even though he wasn't allowed to, he always snuck something extra for Kehlani since the hospital food she was given wasn't as appetizing. As he inched closer to the door, he heard Kehlani's voice full of distraught. Leaning against the wall, he decided to take a listen to his mother and Kehlani's conversation.

Kehlani sighed and wiped her tears from her eyes, "I don't know, Monique. I've tried so hard to speak to him, and all he does is give me this blank, heartless stare, as though he's disappointed in me for something I can't control. I love him so much, and I don't want to lose him, but it's coming to the point where I can't live another day with the torment of him not speaking to me the way he used to— loving me the way he used to. If he can't accept what's going on and help me get through it like he should be doing, I need to let him go."

Demarcus' heart broke at the Kehlani's declaration. He never knew she was as hurt as she really was; he never wanted to be the source of her pain, and he really wanted to make it up to her. Demarcus put his hand on the doorknob and opened the hospital door, walking in and closing the door behind him. Monique and Kehlani's eyes reverted to him, and he kept his eyes on Kehlani. "Can I speak to Kehlani alone, mama?"

"Of course."

Monique stood up from her chair and exited the room, leaving Demarcus and Kehlani alone. "I heard what you told my mother," Demarcus started, walking over to the seat that was once occupied by his mother and sitting down, "I didn't know you felt that way, baby girl. I've just been having a hard time dealing with the fact that you're ill; I couldn't even picture you being sick. You're always so joyful and full of energy; you help me maintain a positive attitude daily, which is why my behavior on the court and off the court is so exceptional. I need you in order to survive, princess; you're my drive, and I can't lose you. I'm sorry for the way I've been acting towards you, I just didn't know how else to go about things because I've never been in a position where the person I want to spend the rest of my life with isn't able to do what she usually does on a daily. I'm gonna be here for you through thick and thin— through sickness and in health. I love you."

Kehlani couldn't help but smile, letting more tears fall upon her cheeks. This man truly made her happy, and to see that he finally understood how she was feeling and recognized what he needed to do to help her through her obstacle was like music to her ears. "I love you too, baby. Forever and always."

Demarcus held onto Kehlani's hand softly, lifting it up to his lips and giving it a peck. Monique stood outside the hospital room and looked through the small window to see the resolution take place between her son and future daughter in law.

"Now they'll be able to beat this.. together."

i hope you enjoyed it. ☻
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