Chapter 6 #3
The entire family was taking it hard. Kannon was struggling to cope, and had been involved in numerous altercations with his guys.
His anger was getting the best of him, which caused him to have to take a step back.
Meanwhile, Kaliyah poured all her anxieties into her work, dedicating day and night to finding a solution to the virus.
Sage and Salem had been avoiding seeing KJ in his condition.
If they didn’t see him, it couldn’t be real, and it had been easier to do so with their new obligations to the Washington business.
However, they knew they needed to see him despite their own feelings.
Sage and Salem entered the double doors of the hospital approaching the front desk.
“Good Morning, Liyah,” Salem said, greeting the front desk clerk. “We’re here to see KJ.”
“Good Morning,” Liyah said. “Before we head back, we’ll need to have you both put into hazmat suits to protect you from any exposure.
She led them to a room where they slipped into white hazmat suits and were provided with face masks before heading down the hall.
“Right this way,” Liyah said as she led them towards the Recovery Wing, where KJ was staying.
As they approached the doorway to KJ’s room, Sage felt her chest tighten with rapid heartbeats. She placed her hand over her heart, reminding herself to breathe in and out. Focusing on her breathing, she tried to calm herself, feeling as though her heart might leap out of her chest at any moment.
She looked at Salem and he grabbed her hand and squeezed it with reassurance. Instantly, her anxiety subsided.
“Let us know if you need anything,” Liyah said, as she motioned for them to enter the room.
They could hear the loud heart monitor beeping before they fully entered the room. Taking a deep breath, they prepared themselves for what awaited them.
As they stepped into the room, Sage clung to Salem’s arm until KJ came into view. He lay motionless inside an incubator, with a breathing tube and IVs connected to his arm. Sage observed the steady rise and fall of his chest, his comatose state serving as a poignant reminder of his condition.
This was all too much. The last time Sage had been to the hospital was twenty years ago, witnessing her mother take her last breath.
She walked over to the incubator and placed her hands on the glass to get a closer look.
As reality set in, tears welled in her eyes, she felt her knees wanting to buckle underneath her.
“This isn’t right,” Sage said softly, shaking her head with a lump forming in her throat.
Salem placed his hand on her back, rubbing circles to soothe her. “I know Sage. It’s fucked up,” he said as he looked at KJ.
“Hey babies,” Kaliyah’s soft voice came in from behind them as she entered the room. She embraced both her babies into her arms, feeling the warmth of their love. Everything felt alright as long as they were together.
Sage looked at Kaliyah with tears in her eyes, and she grabbed her hand.
“He’s going to be just fine,” Kaliyah said through tears of her own. “He’s in the right hands.”
“Is he making any progress?” Salem asked.
“Slowly but surely,” Kaliyah nodded with a smile. “Our KJ is a trooper. You know he’s not going down without a fight.”
All three of them shared a laugh.
“That’s good to hear,” Sage murmured, her words tinged with pain.
"Come sit," Kaliyah said gently, guiding them with her hands towards the sofa opposite where KJ rested.
It had been a few weeks since KJ’s diagnosis and Kaliyah had been working side-by-side with Health Haven Solutions and the Eastbourne Hills Hospital Research Team to create a vaccination for the virus.
“However, it has to run its course in order to exit the bloodstream,” Kaliyah said. “Although it’s a tough virus, with the right vitals and medication, KJ will be back healthy in no time.”
Salem and Sage reached for Kaliyah’s hands, squeezing them gently to offer comfort. They could see the work she was doing was taking its toll. Her eyes were red, and bags were forming underneath them. Her frame appeared frail, as if she hadn’t eaten in days. She needed to get some rest.
“Ma,” Sage said. “When’s the last time you got some sleep? I know you’ve been up here for days on end, but you have to get some rest.”
“I’ll come over here and lay down every few hours,” Kaliyah said, pointing to the cot across the room.
“No, like actual sleep. Going home. Resting your body and your mind,” Salem said. “This is a lot. You need to take a break. The staff can handle this.”
“I hear you.” Kaliyah closed her eyes and nodded. “You two sound just like your father. He’s been trying to get me to come home, but I just don’t want to leave KJ alone.”
“He’s gonna be okay Ma,” Sage reassured her. “You said it yourself. He’s a trooper. KJ got this. Get you some rest. The staff will take care of him. He’s in good hands.”
Kaliyah gazed over at her sweet boy, observing him from across the room. Nothing pained her more than seeing him in this state. She longed to relieve all his suffering, yet she wondered at what cost—her own health, too?
Kaliyah looked at them both, sensing the concern and worry in their eyes. "Okay," she whispered, nodding slightly.