Chapter 31 - Blossom
“Baby, you know you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do, right? There’s not a soul on this earth that’s going to check you about it either.”
Staring up at the building, I gave JJ’s hand a firm squeeze. Today, my parents and I decided to visit Rowan at Stillwater Rehabilitation Institute. With the physical and mental anguish he had endured, my father felt as if it were best to provide him with the best care for his condition.
“I need to do this,” I assured JJ, peering up at him with a small smile. “The next chapter can’t begin if the previous one hasn’t properly ended.”
“This is our story, and we can write it however the fuck we want.” He mugged me, holding the door open that led to the front lobby. “Who’s going to tell us any different?”
The giggle that slipped through my lips at his brashness left the moment I set foot inside the institution.
The smell of antiseptic made my stomach turn, and it was hard not to gag.
Contrary to the brightness of the afternoon sky, the inside of this place felt so gloomy and heavy.
As I looked around at the white walls and residents who moved like zombies, there was a moment of hesitation mixed with realization.
I’ll never come here again.
“Come on and let’s get this shit over with,” JJ mumbled, pulling me into his side as he kissed my temple. “I’ll check us in.”
Giving him a quick nod, I held his hand for dear life as I followed him to the receptionist’s desk.
I held on to him as if I were afraid someone would take me away.
In each corner, an armed guard stood like a statue as they kept a sharp eye on the patients.
Some of the patients were speaking incoherently, while others babbled on about the spaceship that carried the aliens who came to them in their sleep.
The mass majority sat alone, eyes quiet from being heavily medicated, rocking back and forth to the voices trapped in their own mind.
The sliding doors opened with a soft hiss as the sound of my heels clacked into the next room.
Round tables and bolted-down chairs were scattered about inside the visitation room.
The walls were ridiculously white without a window in sight.
Having to live here long-term felt more like a prison sentence than a health institution.
The soft chatter of the families visiting their loved ones filled the air, but many of the patients receiving the visits said nothing, their body language showing their frozen state.
As I continued through the large room, a figure came into view on the far end, in the corner.
Rowan.
“Rowan, what are you looking at?” my father asked him, placing his hand on his knee. Glancing over his shoulder, my father’s eyes lit up at the sight of me. “Blossom, you came!”
Giving my father a soft smile, I shifted my eyes back to my brother’s. The fear was evident in his orbs and his aura. I didn’t know if his panic was from seeing me, being institutionalized, or from my guest of the evening.
“Good morning, Dad” JJ hesitantly released my hand so I could hug him, as well as my mother. “How are you guys feeling this morning?”
“We’re fine, dear.” My mother gave me a small smile, placing her hand on my cheek before dragging her eyes to JJ. “Hello. Who is this, Blossom?”
Stepping back to my man’s side, I couldn’t help the happiness and pride that I felt. It had been three days since we decided to make it official, and I had been on cloud nine ever since. This was the happiest I’d ever been in my entire life.
“JJ, these are my parents, Clarence and Clarise Reid.” I beamed up at him, blushing as he winked at me. “Mom and Dad, this is my man—”
“Dr. McKnight!” My father extended his hand to shake JJ’s.
“You’re a medical examiner here in the city, alongside Dr. Massey.
Your colleagues have been singing your praises through our offices.
The work you’ve been doing, not just for the city, but for the state, is impeccable. It’s nice to officially meet you.”
“Thank you, Governor.” JJ gave my father a curt nod before addressing my mother. “It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Reid.”
“Oh my, you’re handsome,” my mother cooed as she shook his hand. “You did well, daughter.”
Rolling my eyes playfully at her, I took a deep breath and stepped toward my brother.
His eyes bounced back and forth between JJ and me, and I could see the questions in them.
As I assessed him, my heart broke. I wasn’t sorry he was here, but I was sad because I knew this was the end of the road for us.
I would always have love for my brother, but I had already wiped my hands clean of him.
My sole reason for showing up today was to support my parents.
I also wanted him to know that my life will go on.
Dressed in all white, he sat in a wheelchair, unable to make a sound. The burns all over his face and hands must have been pretty bad because the dead skin looked disgusting. He was completely blind in one eye, and there was a very distinct smell that exuded from him.
He’s rotting on earth in preparation for eternity.
“I won’t be here long,” I said in a gentle tone, taking a seat in front of him.
I held my head high as I kept eye contact with the man I called my brother for the last twenty-six years.
“Rowan, I didn’t come here to belittle you, forgive you, or ensure that you get the karma you deserve for all you’ve done.
I came here to let you know that I release you… ”
The silence in the room was louder than the hums of the cooling systems. His chest heaved steadily as he stared at me in silence for the first time since I could remember.
I could see the internal battle he was having, not being able to speak his mind and demand to know who JJ was.
He no longer had the upper hand—no longer had the excuses of his mental illnesses and childhood trauma to coat his poor behaviors.
Clearing my throat, I gathered myself and continued, not letting his eyes halt my final words to him.
“I always loved and admired you, Rowan. You were so strong to me, and I was proud to call you my big brother. I just hate that you never felt the same about me.” Flashbacks of our childhood came to me but quickly faded as they were replaced with the moment he gave me away as if I were disposable.
I sighed heavily before standing, his eyes following my every move.
“I’ll always have love for you—that’s just how my heart is set up—but love doesn’t mean access.
It definitely doesn’t mean loyalty when loyalty almost cost me my life. ”
Stepping back, I scanned his eyes one final time hoping to see my brother, but all I saw was the eyes of a demon.
“I release you from the burden of being my brother, Rowan, and I’m releasing myself from the burden of being your sister.
When you sleep at night, I hope your dreams teach you something I couldn’t. ”
“Oh, trust me, they will.” JJ came behind me and wrapped me in his arms. Kissing my cheek, he smiled as he peered down at a visibly shaken Rowan. “What’s up, bro? How’s life treating you?”
Jabbing him in his side, I swatted JJ’s hand and took one last look at Rowan.
“I’m going to be happy, Rowan. I’m going to live a life with someone who loves me and the life we’ve created.
” I heard my mother gasp behind me as I placed my hand over my belly.
“I will make sure my kids grow up loving and protecting each other as siblings should because nothing is more important than that. Goodbye, Rowan. I hope in the next lifetime you’re a better brother than what you were in this one. ”
Grabbing JJ’s hand, I turned and left my parents alone with their son. With my head held high, I felt lighter. I felt empowered. I felt free. I would be starting my own family soon, and the heaviness from the last few months would not be part of it. With my man by my side, I knew I would be fine.
“Are you okay?” JJ asked as we stepped outside. The sun against my skin almost felt as good as being snuggled against him. “I’ll go back in there and push that nigga down some stairs if you want me to.”
“Boy, no!” I slapped his chest as my parents were exiting the building. The sorrow my father wore broke my heart. “I’m fine… I promise.”
“Sweetheart, do you have something you want to tell us?” my mother walked up and asked with tears in her eyes. “I don’t want to assume.”
“I’m pregnant, Mom.” I smiled through my own tears of happiness. “I didn’t want you and Dad to find out like this because we haven’t even told his family yet. We’re actually about to head out to lunch, and then a doctor’s appointment now.”
The night JJ broke into Stacy’s house, I pretended to be asleep as I heard everything he said.
He insinuated he killed TJ, and while I should’ve run for the hills, there was no point when I knew he would only chase me.
I loved Jaseon Jr., and nothing would change that.
With us creating a life together, I wanted to be with him more than ever.
I knew for a fact he would do everything in his power to protect our family and me. He had proven that to me over and over.
“At some point, I would like for us to have a more serious conversation.” My father gave JJ a knowing look, who in return wasn’t moved the least bit. “This is my baby girl, and I’m not playing with another little boy about her.”
“With all due respect, I’m a grown-ass man,” JJ replied coolly without hesitation.
“You’re her father, and I respect that, but I’m her man.
Blossom is in good hands and will be for the rest of her life.
To disrespect or hurt her is to hurt me.
I would say ask the last nigga that hurt her what happened, but he’s busy with the fishes right now. ”