What Brought Us Together

The Flame that Burns

Waking up in a hospital bed, Tareek looks around the room and sees three people. Tarryn, Tareek's mother and Shelly. Once he got adjusted to his surroundings, he came to the realization that he's not dead but in the hospital. While looking around, he immediately thought about Virtue.

"Ms. Stratton," He croaked out. His throat was dry and it hurts. He clenched his eyes shut but now he kept thinking about her.

Tarryn picked up on what he said and says, "She's fine." Attitude seeped through her voice as she leaves the room. She was very upset that her best friend—her sister—almost died because of a careless little boy.

A viral video in Instagram was surfacing and she kept seeing it but she never watched it until she finally watched and recognized the woman in the video was Virtue. How she found out was because of the man who pulled her off Tareek by her hair. The person recorded it caught her face clearly and that alone sent her into a frenzy. She recognized the area in the video and figured that the ambulance took her to the nearest hospital. Her heart is just broken for Virtue because even through all of this, she's still going to feel empathetic for Tareek and for those around her.

Shelly on the other hand felt absolutely terrible even know he knew that this was going to happen sooner or later. He knew that if Virtue ever found Tareek, it was going to be problems. He knew that if she got involved that ut was going to be bad. It hurts worse for him because it was Virtue. She didn't deserve all what happened to her when he saw the video but she put herself in that predicament.

It's like she can never catch a break. That morning it was Milan and his opioid bullshit and then it was Tareek and his big boy gone bad bullshit. On top of that, her feelings for Milan that was still there, caring for people who don't give a shit and her mental health. She's just completely drained and emotionally done.

Over the years, people have warned her about being nice and being careful who you smiled at and talked to. Virtue is hurt. She's being hurt by the flame. All of this that was going on in her life right now is the flame and she finally got burned. Usually she would use self empowering words to build herself up but the way she was feeling, no word or scripture nor prayer would make her feel better.

Shelly left behind Tareek and Tareek's mom to have some private time and he followed in the direction of Virtue's room which was a floor below Tareek's. The both of them got on the elevator to head to Virtue's room. They rode in silence until Shelly heard sniffing. He looked over at Tarryn who's head was in her hands. He didn't know whether if he wanted to console her or not. He did as what he felt was best.

He attempted to console Tarryn and once she seen what he was doing, she quickly jerked back and rolled her eyes. "I'm okay." She wipes her tears and moves further away from Shelly. She wasn't trying to seem rude but she just didn't want to be bothered at the moment.

This was all too much for her. First the Demarcus Cambridge case, Camden Houser and his smart remarks, Ephraim and marriage counseling and now her best friend is laying in a hospital bed. This week was not her week and she just wanted everything to be over.

She walked out of the elevator with Shelly on her tail. She walked down the hallway and came to an abrupt halt when she seen Ephraim in front of Virtue's door. She didn't want to see Ephraim right now due to what she learned in marriage counseling.

She had planned to ignore him until he walked up to her and she found herself walking backwards and Ephraim walked forward; leading her by the grasp of her arm. Shelly watched the scene unfold as Ephraim pulled her into an empty room.