𝐋𝐎𝐘𝐀𝐋𝐓𝐘.

14 ☼

    Moni sat in a chair that was placed next to Shawn's hospital bed. She couldn't believe how weak and fragile he looked while laying there. It was like looking at someone who was diagnosed with a deadly disease and been bed ridden for months.

She was truly grateful that the same lady who saved Shawn and took him to the hospital, called her phone to let her know what went down. If Shawn didn't tell the woman to call, she most likely wouldn't have known where he was.

Moni caressed her finger up and down his exposed arm and bit down on her lip, trying to stop the tears that were forming in her eyes.

    She knew that the game was getting to him and was going to be a hazard to his life. Moni knew that this would probably steer him away from the streets, but she would preferred if something more light had happened. The thought of Shawn laying there, possibly with severe and permanent damage ate at her.

    So deep in her thoughts, Moni didn't notice Shawn shifting in the bed lightly.

    Startled, she looked at him in amazement and complete disbelief as he slowly opened his eyes.

    "Bae?" He questioned hoarsely as he swallowed hard. He squinted his eyes at her until they fully focused.

    Moni took Shawn's hand in hers and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Yes baby?"

    "You know why I'm here right?" He asked again, now sitting up. He winced in pain, forgetting what had happened hours ago. The event then briefly replayed in his head.

    She nodded her head up and down, biting down on her bottom lip. "Yeah, some lady told me about the situation."

    Shawn lowered his head, thinking deeply.
He then remembered his babygirl. Snapping his head up, he turned to Moni.

    "Where's Harmony?"

    Moni pointed to the pink and gray car seat that was seated in front of her on the ground. Harmony was sleeping peacefully in it, with no care in the world. Her hands were incased in light pink booties and tucked under her head. As she slept, she sucked on the turquoise pacifier that was in her mouth.

Shawn sighed in relief and looked down at his babygirl. Shaking his head, he spoke to himself softly. "I'm not only doing this shit for you baby girl, but for your mom too. I will never let y'all go broke or struggle."

Moni heard him murmur to himself and whipped her head in his direction. "What you said?"

"Nothing."

Shrugging her shoulders, she let out a huge sigh. "You see-"

Shawn waved her off, interrupting what she was about to say. He knew exactly what was going to come out of her mouth, he just didn't want to hear it. "I know what you're going to say but it ain't even my fault bruh."

Moni folded her arms under her chest and looked at him, raising a brow. "I'm listening."

"Me and Rick was supposed to do a trade, or whatever and the nigga ain't never showed up. I blew his phone up, I even called his ass and he ain't never reply. I was getting nervous cause' I ain't know if his ass was okay or not, and I was by myself."

"Go on."

"As soon as I was about to clear it, I seen like 5 niggas and they ambushed me. If Rick had came like he was supposed to, this shit wouldn't have happened to me."

"So you blaming it on Rick?"

Shawn looked at her in confusion. "He ain't show up, fuck you trynna say?"

"It's your fault," Moni spat, annoyed. "You shouldn't have been out doing no type of trade of anything. This game is going to be the death of you. When are you going to stop?"

He sat up in his hospital bed, leaning head against his hand. "I don't know. But, I don't like how you trynna put it on me cause' you don't want me to be in the game."

She rolled her eyes at him. "Yes, he was wrong for ditching you but you shouldn't have been doing it in the first place. If you wasn't doing that, hell, if you wasn't still involved in the game, it wouldn't have happened to you."

"I'm still gonna be involved, no matter what. We not finna be out in the streets starving, or looking for a quick way to make a buck when I'm doing it. So stop bitching and let me do what I gotta do, damn."

Moni put her hands up in a surrender and exhaled loudly. She wasn't about to have a heated argument with Shawn, especially in the hospital while he's on bed rest with their child in front of them.

"I'm done speaking," she told him. "Do what you got to do."

Shawn sucked his teeth as he laid back in the hospital bed, pulling the blankets up so that they covered up his whole body.

Running her hands roughly down her face, Moni sighed loudly. She shook her head in disbelief, shocked that she was once again and forever will be a side bitch to the streets.

~~

Shawn slowly opened his eyes as they adjusted to the brightly lit room. He looked around until his eyes landed on Moni, who was fast asleep in her chair with Harmony laying on her chest.

    He smiled to himself then looked down at the lower half of his body, shaking his head. Remembering the discussion they had the night before caused guilt to take over him. He didn't want to snap on Moni and could've said what he had to say in a much polite manner, but it happened. He couldn't go back in time.

    Shawn's thoughts were soon interrupted with his sudden urge to pee. Despite being in a lot of pain, he tried to get up from the bed to use the bathroom.

The sounds of shuffling and his grunts caused Moni to stir in her sleep and wake up. As her eyes opened, she waited until they focused to see Shawn struggling to get out of his bed.

Instinctively, Moni gently picked up Harmony off her chest and placed her in her car seat. She then rushed over to Shawn's side to assist him.

    "Baby, put your arm over my shoulder," she instructed as she pulled him off of the bed carefully. Shawn did as he was told and walked with Moni as she guided him to the bathroom.

Once Shawn was safely inside the bathroom, he turned to face Moni before closing the door. "Thank you."

She nodded her head, smiling weakly. After a few minutes, she heard the toilet flush, indicating that he was finished. Moni quickly got back up and assisted Shawn back into his bed.

    A few minutes later, a nurse arrived in the room, carrying a clipboard which was filled with paperwork.

    "Shawn?" She questioned before continuing to speak. "You have a visitor."

    Shawn scrunched his brows up in confusion. He had his girl and child by his side and wasn't expecting any more company, so who could it be?

    Rick emerged a few seconds later, looking around the room nervously before his eyes landed on Shawn. He began to sweat and his palms began to get clammy.

    Shawn's eyes met Rick's and instantly glowered in anger. Shit was about to hit the fan.