Sons of Liberty University | Hamilton College AU

Chapter 17 - Usnavi's Nightmares

(In The Heights fans are gonna SOB at this chapter lol)

Usnavi

I opened my eyes.

I was laying back at home. It was early in the morning, and I could faintly hear the sound of cars outside.

I yawned and headed downstairs.

I screamed at what I found.

Mama and Papa were laying on the floor, dead. Their hands were intertwined.

I ran towards Mama and checked for a pulse. I couldn't find one on either Mama or Papa.

"P-please," I sobbed, feeling like I was 12 years old again at the hospital on the day they had died. "Mama--"

"Usnavi," Mama said suddenly, her eyes snapping open. They were cold and dead, not the warm brown eyes that had raised me. "Usnavi, honey, go check on Abuela Claudia for me."

"Mama--"

"Please."

I nodded, not being able to see through the tears in my eyes, and ran towards Abuela's house.

I unlocked the door using my key and ran inside, looking for her.

"Hey, Usnavi!" I heard Benny yell for me. "Where you goin'? We're only gettin' started!"

I ignored him and looked around the apartment.

There was only one place left after a few minutes.

The bedroom.

I slowly opened the bedroom door.

Abuela was laying in bed, asleep. I sighed in relief and walked towards her bedside.

"Abuela," I said softly. "C'mon, it's time to wake up. It's noon."

No answer. She didn't even stir.

"Abuela," I said, more urgently this time. A feeling of panic was rising in my chest. "A-Abuela, please, wake up!"

She was so cold to the touch, even though it was almost 100° outside.

"N-no," I said, my voice cracking. Tears blurred my vision. "Abuela, please, get up! I-I can't lose you!"

She wasn't breathing.

She wasn't breathing.

She wasn't breathing.

"VANESSA! BENNY! NINA! SONNY!" I screamed out the window. "SOMEONE CALL 911! ABUELA ISN'T BREATHING!"

I turned my attention back to the body of the wonderful woman who had practically raised me since my parents died and choked out a sob when I saw her medicine bottle on her nightstand.

The plastic seal was still on the lid, unbroken.

~.~

"Usnavi! 'NAVI, BABY, WAKE UP!"

My eyes snapped open to see Vanessa crouched over me. Her eyes were red and puffy.

"V-Vanessa? What're you--" I was cut off by my girlfriend hugging me close to her.

"You were screaming," she sobbed softly. "Benny didn't know what to do, so he called me. I came as soon as I heard. I'm here now. I love you so much, Usnavi."

"I-I love you too, Vanessa," I whispered. "Please, never leave me."

"I promise I won't."