Cupid's Crooked Bow | COMPLETE

Chapter | 30

Anything you're saying to me right now
You probably have the right to say
Any crazy thing you're feeling for me tonight
You can get it on out the way
Cause I ain't been the best that I could've been
I ain't do the shit that I should've did
But every time I come crawling on my knees, you're there
And you just keep on taking me back
And I don't know why you do
Cause I'm no good to you
And you just keep on taking me back
In your open arms
Baby I belong

Keep On- Kehlani

~ § ~

Tonaya winced as she got helped off the bed with her father's help. Mariah waited by the door (with loads of balloons and some flowers) while Madison filled out Tonaya's hospital paperwork. The day she got to leave the hospital had finally come and Tonaya was thrilled.

With the help of her father and a crutch, Tonaya took her time limping to the door. Her body felt better than it had before and she was happy with that, despite the fact that she still had to take some pain meds and she probably looked battered.

"Take it easy," George spoke softly to his youngest daughter.

Tonaya didn't mind her father's presence. After the shooting, she didn't feel so upset with him anymore.

"I just wanna lay down," Tonaya grumbled as she followed her sister down the corridor. "In my own bed," she added.

"In a moment, sweetheart," George smiled small.

Tonaya smiled to herself about how quickly one event was changing how she saw life. As she stared at the floating balloons above Mariah's head she thought back to all the visits she'd gotten from her loved ones: Willow was a regular, and if the nurses let her, Tonaya would accompany Willow to August's section for visits too. Chris was at the hospital almost every day and George had proven to be a good man through this time in Tonaya's life.

She felt happy. Happy to be alive and happy to have the people she had in her life.

Once they stepped out of the hospital building, the family stood in the parking lot to talk arrangements.

"I've booked a flight for Tonaya to come home with me," Madison put her sunglasses over her eyes as she spoke. "She needs lots of attention and I work from home so..."

"She can't fly in this condition, Madison," George argued. "She can barely walk short distances by herself."

"She can always come back to my place?" Mariah offered.

"You work a lot, sweetie," Madison looked at Mariah.

"I'll be o--"

"How about a nurse?" George suggested, cutting Tonaya off.

Her body didn't feel the same after being bed-bound for so long. All Tonaya wanted to do was sit or lay down but she knew that this would take a while.

"I can go back inside and inquire?" Mariah agreed with George.

"I don't like the idea of a stranger taking care of Tonaya," Madison shook her head in disagreement. "We can't trust anybody nowadays."

"Why don't you stay with Mariah then?" George suggested to Madison. "When she's at work, you can take care of Tonaya."

"Sounds just about alright but--"

"I'll be okay!" Tonaya cut her mother off. "I wanna go back to my own place. I'll be fine."

"Tonaya, you need help around the house. You cannot be alone," Madison said.