Affinity

Chapter 47: As She Lay

How was I gonna tell Rah she was gone, what about Jay. It'd be the death of those two, certificates of such inked before the day was done. But there she lay sheathed in white cloth that the nurses had changed her into so that her parents didn't see the blood that'd stained her previous attire. She didn't look peaceful in death as much as people assured that's what all dearly departed looked like, she looked lost. As if she'd entered a realm where nothing and no one bore a familiar face; I wished I could join her if only to make the forlornness go away.

I held her hand, pulled from underneath the cloth with care; my finger stubbing over the ring Rah had placed there, a precursor to a marriage date she would never make.

" You spoke truth to a fault Ab, I don't know if I can ever forgive you for such a gift." She spoke her death to fruition, and I couldn't wipe those words from my memory for anything; I was bitter of her premonition of her own demise. It was true we had only met a couple years prior, but those years spun into lifetimes when around Abla. Most of my family had remained in Puerto Rico when I'd left all those years ago, and latching onto to Ab as a sibling had never been in the plans. But as we all know, it doesn't have to work out in our own minds as long as Abla sees fit.

The echo of Jaz's cries still rang in my ears as the room spun in dizzying effect of my senses delighting in playing foul and underhanded tricks on me. It was clear the sister had lost her best friend in Abla's demise; a bitter truth we could all cop to feel.

" Ay yo, Rick wake her up! The fuck she not moving for!" The time had come. Rah was now privy to his beloved's death and the hit of rage and anger on his face caught me off guard, I was now actively crying as well. Wells of tears were now running down our faces as he advanced towards Ab in haste, collapsing on her body in forfeit of his own life. I wasn't meant to be here, this was a moment for the lovers to mourn each other privately; one from beyond this world, while the other grudgingly wished to pull her back. I advanced to the door while stealing glances at Rah at each two-step combo interval. He threw words to my sulking frame as my hand lay upon the door handle in anticipation of opening it quietly.

" She was pregnant Rick." The words brought me to my knees, as the limbs knew no other reaction than to go weak.

" We found out this morning Rick. I begged her ass not to fucking go, and now here she lay dead. My babies are fucking gone!" We were now two grown men with knees on hospital floors, on opposite sides of the room, crying full tears as arguably the most important woman in our lives lay lifeless in front of us, while another life lay dormant in her womb.

" Ay yo, ion think I can handle this shit." I braced my back against the wall and blew out a breath as I contemplated what the fuck life was supposed to be like without Ab. We'd finally beaten that motherfucker, and what had it really gotten us?

" I'm already dead bruh, I'm just a shell." Rah rose to sit on the hospital bed, staring at his would be wife adoringly; real love if I ever saw it. There was no comfort I could lend him, no amount of word or good intention to soothe the pain radiating in his body, not when my own was incapacitating me to prostrate forms on linoleum floors. I couldn't face Jay knowing his twin had been taken away, nor Jaz or Trey, who would've given up whole lives for their sister every time. Man, this shit was too much.

I heard footsteps echoing beyond the closed door but didn't really care who was approaching, I was in mourning.

" Fuck yo, I'm coming!" After five knocks sounded on the door I struggled to stand to my feet and open the door.

" Pap, wake up bro I'm here!" And slumber released me to reveal miracles did exist....

The next chapter will be the last chapter of this book.