True Identity

Chapter 2

Weeks later, Karyn was still sick, and only getting worse. On the third day she hadn't gone to work, Nia decided to make her breakfast so she didn't have to get up and do it. She got up early and made their usual breakfast, eggs and toast, before bringing it in to her mother. When Nia went to wake her though, she didn't respond. She was pale and barely breathing. Nia panics. She rushes to the phone and calls 911. About ten minutes later, an ambulance arrives. Nia sobs as her mother is loaded up and taken away. One of the police officers that had responded takes Nia to the hospital. The officer brings her upstairs to a family waiting area and sits with her. The kind female officer gives her tissues until she calms, then reassures the young teen that her mother will be alright. Soon, a doctor comes out and says the same. Nia starts to cry again with relief.

After a few hours, Nia is allowed to see her mother. "Umama?" Nia asks as she enters the room.

Karyn looks over and smiles weakly. "Hey, baby," she says.

Nia rushes over and hugs her, sobbing her heart out.

"Did they take care of you?" Karyn asks softly.

Nia nods, still not letting go of her mother.

The doctor comes in a bit later. "I have news," he says, looking serious.

Karyn falls quiet, as does Nia.

"I regret to inform you, ma'am, but you have stage four breast cancer. It... has traveled to your lungs and..." he pauses, looking at the young girl also sitting on the bed.

"I don't have much longer to live, do I?" Karyn asks.

"No, ma'am," the doctor says.

Both sit there, Nia in more shock than her mother.

"We'd like to keep you here for treatment..." the doctor says.

Karyn shakes her head. "We have no money. All we have is what I make daily, and I have not even worked the past few days."

Nia's lower lip trembles, then she stands, marching up to the doctor. "No! No, you're wrong! My Umama is the strongest person I know! She can't have cancer!"

"Nia," her mother warns. But Nia doesn't hear.

"You should be ashamed of yourself, causing people emotional harm just to get money! It's sick!"

"Leanne!" Karyn calls, trying to calm her daughter, but Nia starts to yell all the more at the doctor. The officer reaches for her gun as the doctor backs away from the angry 15-year-old.

"Nezhno!" Karyn yells, and Nia stops. Her mother never used her Wakandan name. Nia breaks down, starting to sob, clinging to Karyn again. The doctor and officer relax, then both leave to give the two time.

October 10th, 2009

Two weeks later, Nia wakes to chaos in her mom's hospital room. Buzzers buzzing, beepers beeping and nurses and doctors everywhere. She jumps up from her chair but she gets pushed back. Then her mother says something to the main doctor and the medical personnel all step back. Nia goes up to the bed. She has a dreadful feeling that she knows what's happening.

Karyn takes Nia's hand. "Umntwana... I love you, my daughter. Wakanda can help you now."

Nia shakes her head. "No, Umama, you can't die."

"You will see me again, Nez," Karyn says softly, using Nia's Wakandan nickname. "I am going to the ancestral plains, where Bast and the other gods of Wakanda will welcome me with open arms."

"Please don't go," Nia whispers. "I want you to stay here." She hugs her mother, starting to cry.

"I love you my daughter," Karyn whispers, before exhaling for the last time.