As She Sat [August Alsina]

Chp. 4

Loud cries feel the apartment in wee hours of the morning. Yas jumped out bed with so much sleep in her eyes. She allowed herself a small time to stretch her muscle before going to see about Jameson.

He was standing up on the side on his crib just crying with fear. "What's wrong Mommy's boy?" As soon as she grabbed him, Junebug stopped crying. The digital clock in his room said that it was 4:18 am. Jameson always slept through the night no problem unless he was running a fever but this night was different. She checked his temperature but nothing. After running bathwater for him, she wash him up and put him in a new diaper.

"Momma gone make you some milk, rock you to sleep, and you are going to be just fine." She cooed in baby talk while toting him on her hip to the kitchen. Yas tried her best to pour his milk without spilling then warmed it up a bit.

Just when she finished making the bottle, Jameson's head lifted up like he knew it was done. They walked back to his room and sat in his rocking chair. "See I'm here. I'll always be here when you need me." Their eyes both got heavy but Yas forced hers open as she waited until Junebug was sleep for a little minute. Soon she eased the bottle out his mouth while still rocking him so he stay sleep. Then follow him in the most uncomfortable position.

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The semi-loud volume and vibrations of a phone forced Yasmin out her sleep. Her baby boy was still sleep on her chest. Yasmin was never a light sleeper but becoming a mother caused her to be more attentive and aware. Even in her sleep.

She eased her way out of the chair to lay him down. Walking out the room and making it to her phone, there was a few texts and a missed call from her father's sister.

Her heart dropped. Automatically thinking the worst, her eyes watered over.

The relationship she had with her father wasn't as close as her relationship with her mother. Nevertheless, they still have a semi-close relationship and she loves her father.

Just before redialing the number she took a deep breathe.

"Hello?" She asked after the phone picked up.

"Yasmin." Her aunt answered back almost surprised she called back.

"What's going on? Did something happen to my daddy?"

"Oh no. No. No. It's about momma." There was a small silence. "She had a stroke."

No one on her father side of the family spoke to her or her family besides her father. But that didn't mean Yas stopped caring; completely at least.

"What? When? Is she okay?"

"Last night. She is stable now but they are going to keep her for a few days to monitor her. I told your dad already but I figured...you should know." The awkward pause in her voice told Yas that her father forced her to call. He did it in hopes that she would talk and reconnected with that side of the family.

"Yeah. Thanks for letting me know. Can you call me with updates on her condition?"

"Of course." After saying their goodbyes, the phone disconnected.

There was a sigh of relief for her father being okay and her grandmother as well. That side of the family was distant and impossible to deal with. Always so judgmental and didn't have their ducks in a row.

She placed her phone down before going to check on Jameson. He was still sleeping with his mouth wide open. Softly leaving the room she headed to the bathroom to shower.

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"Come on baby. Slide down." Jameson was scared of slides. He tiny hands held onto Yasmin's two fingers as tight as he could. She gave him a light nudge on his bottom to get him started. "Weeeeeee!"