HER AND I, HIM AND HER, HIM AND I

TRUCE

I did not say much as me and Twan entered the room. I tried to walk fast so he ended up behind me. I entered the room and saw that Sabrina was awake with tears in her eyes. She saw me and reached out her arms. Reluctantly I went over to her and gave her a hug. She held me tight and thanked me for coming to see her. She was still holding onto me when Twan began to clear his throat to let her know that he was also in the room. She quickly let me go and then reached out for him to come closer. I am not going to lie that kind of hurt to see that but I still stayed in the room. I watched as they talked and looked one another in the eyes. She used to look at me the same way and now I was standing in the corner all awkward and shit watching as they were being affectionate to one another. Sabrina was who I thought I had a strong bond with but I know that she was definitely not the one for me anymore. Twan went out the room to go to the vending machine. I decided to use this time to talk with Sabrina.

"Sabrina, I know you had gotten bad with your use but not this careless. What were you thinking? Do you know how much this would have hurt our son if you had not woke up."

"Lenny I know that! I know now that I need to actually go seek the help that everyone has been telling me that I needed."

"Can you really do it this time? Can you actually take the help that your family and I have been talking about?"

"Yes, I can this time. This time frightened me. I can remember going to the bathroom to sniff a line and then I could not stop myself. I started doing more and more. Next thing I know I woke up being wheeled through these hospital halls. I really realize how much I need the help."

"Sabrina this all sounds promising but it sounds the same as the last time you said you would seek help and the time before that. Can you really........"

"I hope you like salt and vinegar chips because they were out of BBQ", Twan said interrupting me.

"I am so hungry I can eat anything", she said smiling as Twan handed her the chips.

She began to eat like she had not eaten in days.

"What were you all talking about when I was gone?", Twan asked.

"None of your business!", I said.

"Listen you are damn lucky that I have respect for the other people in this hospital and that I have changed from how I used to be or I would have half your teeth on the floor. However, do not test my patience, I can switch it up real quick", he said.

I laughed and responded, "No you listen I am not one bit afraid of you. Just because you are slightly taller and a bit more built than I am does not mean that I will not reintroduce you to these hands."

"You and I should just head outside and....."

"I am going to need you all to keep it down", the doctor said entering the room and interrupting Twan.

"Doc whatever you have to say you can say in front of all of us", Sabrina said.

"Well Sabrina you are a very blessed woman. Some people who had done as much of the substance as you did tonight do not pull through. Your heartrate is a little elevated but your vitals are just about normal. We want to keep you here a few more hours for some tests and then you can go home but I want you to speak with the onsite counselor before you leave", the doctor said.

"That will be fine sir", she said.

The doctor then exited the room. I stood there and watched as Sabrina and Twan embraced each other and kissed. I was getting sick of seeing this so I told Sabrina that I would be heading out but I would check on her later.

I was walking down the hall when I heard Twan trying to talk to me.

"Lenny wait up I need to holla at you for a moment."

"What do you want?", I asked.

"Listen I know you and I are not cool and you are probably still upset about what you saw that night at your place. You are probably even more upset to see that me and Sabrina are dating. I want you to know that I do care for her and I want the help for her just like you and her family do. I feel as if you and I will have to put our feelings aside to be able to help her through this time."

I was surprised he was being mature and also more surprised that I was thinking how much he was right. Sabrina needed help and not drama surrounding her right now. For the sake of my son I know that I needed to help her through this time even if it meant being cordial to Twan.

"I will agree to be mature about this situation but I want you to know I still despise you", I said.

"The feeling is mutual nigga but chill out with that at least until we can get her some help. Deal?"

"Deal but please keep all the kissing and lovely dovey stuff to a minimum when I am around."

"Done", he said.

I continued to walk through the hallways and then out of the hospital. I got to my car and began to drive to pick up my son. I arrived at my mothers house got him out of bed and drove home. As I lay in bed all I could do was think about everything that was going on. The same man that was Sabrina was fucking around on me with was the same man I now had a truce with just for the sake of her. I began to wonder to myself if I would be so willing to help her if she were not the mother of my child. I know that the love I used to have for her was strong but seeing her with him diminished that feeling. I now had feelings of regret and anger but I still had enough compassion in me to want to help her. In a way her and Twan did seem to have better chemistry than her and I. Maybe they were soulmates and I had to find mines. I continued to let my mind wander for a few more minutes before I felt my eyes getting heavy.