Keep You In Mind

B O N U S | three

       

White ceilings, machines beeping, rolling wheels, and hushed conversations.

That's all I hear when I come to.

My head hurts and my throat feels dry. It's like I've been unconscious for weeks, years maybe.

Blinking my eyes, I force my myself up and support my weight with my forearms.

"Oh thank God." I look over to see Fatima sitting on a sofa with her hair pulled up on top of her head and black streaks on her face.

Ruined mascara.

"Wh-" I start to speak when it all comes back to me.

"Where's Ledicia?" I hop up and swing my legs over the side of the bed, but freeze when a wave of dizziness comes over me.

"Whoa." Fatima comes to my side to help me stand up. "Not too fast. They gave you some Valium to help calm you. Must still be in your system."

"Valium?"

She pauses. "You were pretty emotional."

"Rightfully so." I pull my arm from her. "Now where is my daughter?" A beat. "Where's Isaac?"

Again, she says nothing.

Now I'm getting pissed.

I slide off the bed and force myself to remain as calm as possible. Looking around, I realize that I'm in some type of private waiting room.

Waiting rooms are never a good sign.

I make my way over to the door, rip it open and look from side to side to see nurses and other medical professionals going to and from.

"I don't give a fu*k about your go*amn policies!" My ears perk up. I know that voice. I'd know it anywhere. "I want to see my daughter!"

I start to head in the direction from where his loud and angry voice is the clearest.

"Sir," the nurse, a girl who's no older than twenty-something, looks up with a bored expression as if she's about to repeat herself for the tenth time. "As soon as the doctors provide us with an update, we will shar-"

"You've been back there how many times now?" It's not a real question. "You mean to tell me that he hasn't told you sh!t about my child?"

"Sir, if you're going to continue to yell-"

"Excuse me," I interrupt causing Isaac turns around and look at me. My stomach drop. He truly looks awful. But I can't allow my concern for his appearance to distract me, us, from the most important issue at hand. Dici. "What's your name?"

She looks me up and down. I'm sure I don't look much better. I can literally feel the crust in my eyes and my mouth is still dry as can be, but all discomfort is nothing compared to the concern I have for my baby. "Cecily."

"Cecily." I smile sweetly and take a step closer. "Could you do me a favor?"

"Possibly."

"You tell the doctor, the nurse practitioner, and whoever else is treating my daughter that he or she has ten minutes to come out here and give us an update on our child or we will sue this hospital and everyone that stepped foot in or near her room. Starting with the surgeon all the way down to the lowly nurse who serves as the messenger." She's visibly disturbed. Good. "And whether I have a case or not won't make a difference because your reputation will be trashed and you, bitch, will be first in line at the unemployment office." A beat. "Are we on the same page?" I turn around to look at Isaac and extend my hand out. "Give me your phone." He does so without obligation so I quickly pull up the clock and set a timer for ten minutes before turning back around to show her the phone. "If I were you, I'd get a move on it."