Between The Lines [Janet & Aja]

33

Janet
October 2nd

My feet moved cautiously towards the table where Aja's fiancé was sitting. Why we were meeting? Well your guess was as good as mines. As I sat down in front of her, she spoke. "Thanks for coming."

"No problem..." I replied cautiously as I took in her appearance. The woman looked pale and she looked weak but maybe she was having a bad day. Who knows? "Mind me asking why you asked me here?"

"You showed up. That's all that matters."

"Amelia, I could be anywhere else right now. I don't have time for the games."

"Look, what's this?" She pulled something out of her purse and sat it on the table. I looked it over and noticed it was Aja's promise ring that I had gotten her for Christmas that time.

"It's a ring." I answered matter of factly.

Amelia rolled her eyes. "Janet, can you answer the question how I need it to me answered."

"It's the ring I got Aja for Christmas. Next question."

"She lost it yesterday. Almost had a panic attack. Began turning the house upside down. She always told me somebody special got it for her but I didn't think it was you until I saw how devastated she was at the fact that she thought she'd lost it. Then it dawned on me that it had to have been you, and you have just confirmed my suspicions."

"Okay great. Is that all you needed?" I went to stand and she shook her head so I sat again. "Amirah, seriously, what is it that you need? Why did you call me here?"

"Actually I was wanting to talk about the fact that..." She stopped to put her hand on her chest as she began taking irregular breaths.

My face furrowed. "Are you okay?"

Amelia nodded. "I-I'm fine. For now. Look, I just asked you here to make me a promise."

"And what promise could I possibly make to you?"

"That you'll take care of Aja."

"Excuse me?"

"Janet... I'm sick. It's nothing I can do about the fact that I'm going to die. I thought I'd get to see her on the other side of that aisle before I did pass on, but it doesn't seem possible anymore. So when I go, whenever I do go, promise me that you'll take care of her."

"Amirah... Wait a—." She began coughing and held her hand up towards me for me to pause. I watched her cautiously.

When she finally finished, she took a drink of her water and spoke. "It wasn't a question. Just make it happen Janet, I can't leave this earth peacefully if I don't know weather my baby will be alright. We know Aja, you gotta be there for her. So just promise me."

"I promise." I replied honestly. I'd always be here for Aja. "Does she know?"

"No. She isn't aware as of now. I fly out to go back to New York in a few hours and she's flying out tonight."

"I think you should tell her."

"I'm going to tell her. When she gets home, I'll let her know."

"How long have you known?"

"Oh that my heart was weak? A while." Now I felt bad for arguing with the woman. "Still, that never affected my way of living. I have a weak heart. It was no out running my faith."

"Maybe we could do something... find you a heart or something."

"With my blood type, it's rare. I've been on the list for a while. Listen, I'm not here to get pity or make you feel bad or regretful. I'm just here to make sure my baby will be alright. You promised me that and that's all I need to know. You love her like she never left you because a piece of her never did. She loves you Janet. She loves both of us, but I can't be her forever. You can though. So... that's all I had to say."

"You cannot be serious right now..." I trailed because I was in utter disbelief.

She was dying and now she was basically putting the results of her death on me. She was making it my charge and I had no problem being there for Aja, but this would require a lot. Aja really did feel something for this woman and I knew this would hurt her more than the average. It was her soon to be wife.

"Did they give you a time frame? How long do you have?" I asked genuinely concerned.

She frowned slightly at my question. "They are saying a couple weeks. I'm just now really feeling the affects of it all but I'll be alright."

"You have a few weeks and you are just now choosing to inform your fiancé?"

"Oh I'm sorry, but do you not know who we're dealing with here? Aja Naomi King would have been pulling her weave out for the duration of this relationship. No. I didn't want to worry her with that so early on. So I'd appreciate if you didn't judge me right now."

I lifted my hands in surrender. "I'm not judging Amirah, really I'm not. I just— you're putting a lot on me right now. You just handed me a dinner portion and I was only here for a appetizer and a drink."

She nodded. "I get it. It's a lot. I'm sorry."

"No it's alright. It's nothing to apologize about."

Her phone went off and she looked down at it. "That's my cue. I have to go if I'm going to get to the airport in time. Thanks again for this Janet, it means a lot— you meeting up with me and everything. Seriously. It does. Don't break the promise. Catch her when she falls."

"I promise. I will." I replied in all seriousness.

She stood up as she placed money on the table. "Thank you." She walked off and away from the table and left me in my thoughts. Which were everywhere right now.

What was certain is that I had made a promise and I planned on sticking to it. I'd be there whenever Aja fell. I wouldn't even be okay being anywhere else knowing she wasn't okay. I was going to be there.