a work of art | trippie redd

3

A L I S E Y A H
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mila, my family and i sat anxiously in the waiting room. after my parents brought her here, she was immediately brought into a room to receive treatment to help cool down her fever. when she came in, her temperature was 105.3, and i was so so scared.

mila was grabbing onto my sweaty hands while i was bouncing my legs up and down. nobody was telling us anything, and that was the scariest part. i didn't know the state of my baby sister.

about 20 minutes later, a doctor came out through the double doors. "odell family?" she said, searching for us. we all immediately rose. she gave us a warm smile. "anaya is doing much better. we'd like to keep her here for a few days just for observation." as she said that, all of our faces dropped.

"we... we don't have the money to keep her here. we don't have insurance and we're both unemployed." my mother said in a hushed tone.

"we can see what discount rates are available for you. have you tried applying to medicaid?" the doctor inquired.

"we've been trying." my dad said.

"keep trying, i'll see what i can do about the billing. for now, you guys aren't able to see anaya as she still has a fever and i wouldn't want any of you guys to get sick. i'll keep you guys posted." she smiled warmly at us, before walking away and we all sat down on the hard chairs again.

"aliseyah, why don't you try doing another gofundme?" mila asked me.

"i don't have enough followers or friends to do that." i said sheepishly.

"i wish you would let me pay for her medical bills." mila sighed.

"i could never let you do that. it's just too much money."

"i know, i just wish i could do something." she hung her head.

"we'll figure it out." i said confidently, which surprised me, because mila is the one who's always trying to comfort me.

we waited there for what felt like hours before the doctor came out of the double doors again.

"anaya is ready for visitors. i take it you all want to see her together?" she asked, and we all nodded. she motioned for us to follow her. we reached anaya's room and opened the door, and i immediately smiled. i didn't know what she looked like before she was taken to the hospital, but i can only imagine she looks better now.

"hi bub!" i smiled at her.

"ali!" she said, lifting her arms up so i could pick her up.

"i would so pick you up right now bub but you've got some things in your hand." i said, pointing at the IV in her hand before sitting down at the foot of the bed.

"wanna go home." anaya pouted. i grabbed her hand.

"i know bubby, maybe tomorrow." i said unsurely.

we stayed at the hospital long after visiting hours were over, then we said goodbye to anaya and went home. my parents took their car and i rode with mila.

"i feel like you and trippie had this crazy connection." mila said suddenly, throwing me completely off guard.

"nah, i don't think so. i think he's just a natural flirt." ai shrugged.