Chapter 10
“How are you feeling today?” Nurse Abbey asks while removing the blood pressure cuff from my arm.
“I’m fine.” I know she’s just doing her job, but I’m getting tired of having to answer this question every freaking day.
“Good. I’ll come back in two hours. Just hit the button if you need anything before then.” She smiles and walks out the door.
I rest my head against the pillow and shut my eyes. Finally, Some peace. Before I drift to sleep, my eyes spring open when I hear loud intrusive voices in the hall.
I can’t help but smile when I see the whole gang walk in like they own the place.
“We come bearing gifts!” Tiny raises a grocery bag in the air.
A small chuckle pops out of me.
Tiny bounces on the side of the bed and pulls out the bag’s contents. Dominos, Uno cards, a pack of Tootsie pops, fuzzy socks, a portable DVD player, an iPod, and adult coloring books.
“Thank you.” My voice cracks. Tears have started to form in my eyes, but I hold them back.
“You know what you need?” I glance up to see a mischievous grin on Tiny’s face.
Before I can respond, she throws herself at me, knocking the air out of my lungs. Suddenly, the rest of the girl’s pile on, forcing a heartwarming laugh out of me. The sound feels foreign, as if I haven’t laughed for years.
“I got food.” Max strolls in with two large pizza boxes.
“Yo, watch it! You’re going to hurt her jumping up on her like that.” Gio scolds trying to wedge himself between the girls to get to me.
“Are you for real?” Tiny asks glaring at Gio.
“Yeah, I’m for real. She just survived a fucking accident.” He argues.
“Would you two shut the hell up.” Lupe nudges me with her hand and slides into the bed beside me.
“Girl, I swear you look uglier every time I see you.”
I turned my head to Lupe. “You’re such a bitch.” I shake my head and laugh.
“Never claimed to be anything less.” She shrugs.
“I still want my hug,” Gio whines.
I can’t help but laugh and hold out my arms to him, “Come here you big baby.”
He grins proudly as he strolls toward me, but Tiny jumps on his back before approaching me.
The whole room erupts into laughter as we watch Gio try to pull her off, but the girl holds him for dear life, laughing like a hyena.
I turn to face Seb, who gives me a warm smile. This is what they do. Mi Familia will do anything to put a smile on my face. I could never ask for better friends. They came into my life when I needed them the most.
We played a few games of Dominos and Uno. The guys turn the TV to the boxing match while we eat the pizza from Francisco’s. I look around the room, and my heart fills with warmth and love as my friends surround me, allowing me to breathe, even if it is just for a few hours.
Gio sits on my left side with his feet on the bed, Lupe lays on the end of the bed by my feet, Telle is snuggled on my left with Tia onthe right, and Tiny spreads over my legs. Max sits on my right, mirroring Gio’s position. I smile, loving every moment spent with my family.
Seb walks back in, carrying a water pitcher, and sets it on my table. He looks at our crazy friends surrounding my bed and grins wide showing.
“All right let’s go. Visiting hours are up, and La Reina needs to sleep,” Seb announces.
There are moans and grunts from everyone, including myself. I pout at Seb, but he smiles and shakes his head as if he’s saying, “tough shit.”
“We love you, girl.” Tia kisses my cheek, followed by the rest of the girls.
“I love you too. Thank you…for being here.” I hold back a sob that’s trying to force its way out.
“You don’t need to thank us. We’re familia, and we will always be there for you.” Lupe says, giving me one last hug.
“Love you, Reina,” Max says, kissing my cheek, nose, forehead, and the top of my head. I laugh, pushing him away, but he catches my wrist and says with a severe tone, “Whatever you need, it’s yours. You got it?”
I nod and smile.
Max winks and walks toward the door. Gio pulls me into a hug and whispers, “I love you. You are not alone. You fucking got this.”
His voice breaks. He kisses my cheek and pulls back. Tears glisten in his eyes. I tilt my head and give him a small, sad smile.
“I love you too.”
The rest of the gang leaves, except for Seb, who stays behind.
“You coming, bro?” Gio pops his head back in.
“Yeah, I’ll be there in a bit.”
Gio nods and leaves the room, closing the door behind him.
Seb stands at the end of the bed, his hands in his pockets, staring at the door.
“What’s going on?”
He sighs heavily, lifting his head to stare at me. “I don’t know how to say this.”
“Say what?”
He pauses, staring at me with a weariness that puts me more on edge.
Just spit it out, Seb.” I sit up straighter, waiting for him to respond.
“He strides to the side of the bed and sits on the edge. He reaches for my hands, rubbing his thumb over my fingers.
“Your brother’s missing. We can’t find him.”
“Wh-what?” I manage to find my words. I stare at Seb, and he stares back at me.
“We looked for him everywhere, but no one has seen him. He shut his phone off, so we can’t track him.”
I don’t say a word.
“Reina, did you hear me?”
I want to speak, but the words won’t come out.
“There’s more,” he whispers.
More? How much worse can it get? My brother is missing.
Seb swallows a gulp. “He left his meds behind.”
My mind races as his words settle in. He’s alone, with no money or meds to help manage his disorder. He’s a bomb ready to explode at any given moment.
My emotions are running high, and I can’t control them. The tears spill the dam holding them back has broken.
Seb immediately crawls into bed, and I sink into his warmth. I cry against his chest, unable to contain the anguish of not knowing where Josiah is. My head feels like it is splitting in half, bringing on a headache. My mind is engulfed with negative thoughts and worst-case scenarios.
I can’t lose him.
“Shh, it’s ok, Reina,” Seb says in a soothing tone as he tightens his hold on me.
No, it’s not ok.