Chapter 4 #2
One of the doctors came back in later, explainin’ some shit that barely stuck in my head.
He said both chest shots missed my heart by inches, and one grazed a lung but didn’t collapse it ‘cause the bullet passed through clean. The ones in my arms missed major arteries, and the one in my leg hit muscle, not bone. He said they worked fast to pull the bullets out and patch me up before I bled out. I had tubes, drains, and stitches holdin’ me together, but he told me I could move a lil’, but not much, just enough to stretch my arms or turn my head if I felt strong enough.
He kept stressin’ that I needed to rest, but I already knew I wasn’t built to lay around.
As long as I was alive, I was gon’ move and make shit shake.
Every sound around me felt sharp, from the machines beepin’ low, and the soft shuffle of nurses’ shoes on tile. I ain’t even know how long I had been here. It could’ve been hours, or even days. Everything blurred together.
Then I looked to the side. Prestyn was laid out in the clear crib beside me, wrapped in a cream blanket with gold trim.
He looked peaceful, with his mouth halfway open, and nose shaped just like mine.
Every time his tiny fingers twitched or he made one of them baby sounds, my chest tightened.
I almost ain’t make it to be in his life.
That thought alone had tears sittin’ in the corners of my eyes.
The door cracked open and I heard my mama’s voice before I even saw her. “You need something baby?”
She walked in with that slow stride, one hand holdin’ her Birkin, and the other brushin’ her hair back like she was tryna hold it together. Her face looked tired, but her eyes was sharp. Pops followed right behind her. He was standin’ tall but I could see his pain showin’ through his silence.
Kay’Lo and Renza had been in earlier. Both them niggas looked rough. Kay’Lo had his hood pulled low, his eyes bloodshot. Renza looked like he hadn’t left the hospital since I got shot. They ain’t say much, but just stood by the bed and said, “We got you, Cuz.”
Now it was just my mama, my pops, and my son.
Pops finally broke the silence. “I need to know who did this to you.”
The words hit me hard. It was like somebody turned the lights on in my head, and all I saw was Kashmere’s face.
It all came back fast—her eyes filled with rage, that gun shakin’ in her hand, and me starin’ right at her, thinkin’ she would never do this shit to me… But she did.
I felt my heart race under the bandages. That was a pain no doctor could fix.
I looked away, tryna calm myself. “I’on even know what to say, Pops.”
Mama’s voice cut in, soft but heavy. “You know something. Was it her?”
I looked at her. She ain’t even have to say no name. We all knew who she meant. Her eyes was steady on me, waitin’.
I couldn’t even look her in the face. I turned my eyes back toward Prestyn. “I just need time,” I said low. “Let me think.”
Pops stepped forward, his voice raisin’ just a lil’. “Time? Son, somebody put five bullets in you. You almost died. We don’t need time— we need answers.”
My mama reached for his arm, rubbin’ his back to calm him down. “Let him talk when he’s ready.” She looked at me again. “But you’re going to tell us, Pressure.”
Her words hung in the room. I knew exactly what she meant. Once she found out who pulled that trigger, it was over.
I tried to change the subject. “Where Pluto at?”
“I made the doctor give her something to help her relax and stay off her feet. She’s resting, like you need to do,” My mama said.
I nodded slow, still starin’ at my baby. His little chest was movin’ up and down like nothin’ in the world was wrong. I reached my hand out, even though my arms was covered in tape and IV lines. I needed to touch him. I brushed my thumb across his blanket and whispered, “Daddy’s here.”
My mama got quiet. She walked over, lifted Prestyn out his crib, and held him against her chest. He made this soft sound like he knew he was safe. She smiled down at him, kissin’ his forehead.
“Get some rest, son,” she said softly, lookin’ back at me. “I’ll take him with me for a little while. I’ll bring him back after you’ve slept.”
I ain’t even argue. I just nodded, watchin’ her hold my son.
Before she left, Pops stopped by the door. His voice was low but sharp. “We need to find out who did this, son. Don’t make us guess.”
Then they walked out…
The room got quiet again. All I could hear was the beeps and my own thoughts beatin’ inside my head.
I laid there starin’ up at the ceilin’, my chest heavin’ slow. I knew my mama. She wasn’t gon’ rest until she got the truth, and once she had it, Kash was as good as gone. There wasn’t gon’ be no talkin’, no mercy, no forgiveness. My mama moved with power, and she moved quick too.
To be honest, I ain’t even know how I felt about this shit. Kash broke my heart and my body at the same time, but I couldn’t hate her. I mean… not fully.
I thought I was doin’ the right thing, by standin’ at that altar.
I thought maybe if I loved her hard enough, I could force somethin’ real outta what was already broken.
But Pluto was the piece I could never put down, no matter how far I ran.
She was the peace that always called me back.
Even when I had Kash in front of me, it was Pluto who stayed on my mind.
Now I’m laid up, half alive, lookin’ at the mess I made of all of this shit. Kash got her revenge in the worst way, and I couldn’t even act surprised. I played both sides, tryna keep a love that wasn’t mine while losin’ the one that was.
Even with all that happened, I just ain’t think Kash’s crazy ass would take it this far.
But she did…
I thought about the shit every second. I couldn’t stop thinkin’ about the way the world went black. But somewhere in that darkness, I seen Kamir, and that’s why I’m still here.
I was meant to hold Prestyn, and be here for him and Pluto.
I looked at the spot where my son had been a few minutes ago, wishin’ I could still feel his weight on my chest. I sighed, lettin’ the pain roll through my body.
I shifted a lil’, feelin’ the stitches pull, and the heat build in my chest. I closed my eyes and took a breath.
I wasn’t dyin’ for nobody.
But I knew one fuckin’ thing—my mama wasn’t gon’ let this shit slide. Once she found out the truth, there wasn’t gon’ be no stoppin’ her.
Kashmere started some shit she wasn’t gon’ be able to finish.