did you hear about river?

chapter 4

I sit in the hospital bed as the doctor gives me the all clear.

"You will be prescribed new painkillers but your ADHD medicine will take a bit longer seeing as that batch hasn't come in to the hospital yet. you'd be better off getting it at your pharmacy. here's a note to say the reason why you're getting a new prescription, just in case we're later than they are. you should also have a talk with your brother and his friends about why what he did is dangerous. your friends medicine will also come the same day as your ADHD medicine so tell them to hang in there, we will compensate for anything that may happen to you guys without it. we are supposed to be ready for situations like these and this time we're not." he says as he receives the morphine from the nurse who has just entered the room.

"i don't think anything will happen doctor, i will help them. as much as i can." mia says.

"mia. glad to see you. there's a medicine that we can try with you to help your predicament." he says hopeful that mia will say yes.

"i'm not doing that right now. my friends are in a vulnerable state right now and they do not need the stress of somebody new to emotions, being emotional." she says she helps me down onto the wheelchair.

"thank you." I say, now relived of my pain.

"thank you doctor for everything you've done for us today. I appreciate it." mia says.

"good use of the phrases, or maybe you meant it?" the doctor says hopefully.

"I don't know at this point but i've nailed frustration on the head." she says.

"that's unfortunate yet helpful." the doctor says before sending us off.

we pay at the reception when we see a familiar face.

she's crying at the entrance while she holds her child.

"ma?" I say looking at elijah's mother holding her youngest son, ezra.

"oh river, mia it's so nice to see you. oh who am I kidding, I can't get treatment for ezra." she says as she sobs more into his chest.

"yes you can." I say as I take ezra for her.

"river dear don't worry yourself over this." but mia puts one finger up as if to say stop.

"who denied you the service mama?" she says looking around.

"the lady at the front desk." she says through tears. "mia love don't do anything rash."

mia and I walk up to the front desk and I comfort ezra who is eased at the sight of mia and I.

"so you denied a lady service? why did you do that?" mia asks, trying to seem angry.

"because she had no stable finance and was trying to get service and who are you to argue with that mia?" she says, getting too big for her boots.

"well first of all, remi. you're fired. i own this place and if you checked you know that we pay for her bills. we do everything in our power to keep you and your sister in a job but every place you go to, you cause trouble. look after your child. how could you deny another mother services without even checking what she could do first? disgusting. out with you." she says as security grabs remi and escorts her out.

"now ez let's go get you better." mia says as she takes him from me and takes him to the doctor.

I broke down when he was getting treated learning that an irresponsible driver had hit him.

"ezzy i'm so sorry you had to go through all that." I say as I hold his hand.

"why you crying? you- you weren't there!" he says sadly.