Chapter 32
Tasha sat quietly on the hard, uncomfortable medical table, reading on her Kindle Colorsoft.
Every minute stretched longer than it should as she waited for the doctor to come in.
Kenji sat patiently beside her; his presence alone was enough for her during this time.
He hated for her to go through this alone, so he insisted he come with her.
She was a nervous wreck, her heart pounding with a mix of anticipation and fear.
It was as if the walls were closing in on her, and just as they were about to slam against her, in came Dr. Madison.
“Tasha,” he began, his voice was so calm and professional. “I have some wonderful news for you.” Tasha’s breath hitched, and she squeezed Kenji’s hand harder than intended.
“The latest test results show that you are indeed in remission. The cancer is no longer detectable.”
For a second, time seemed to stop. Tasha’s vision blurred as tears welled up in her eyes, spilling over and tracing paths down her cheeks.
Every bit of emotion there crashed over her in waves.
Kenji pulled her into a tight hug, his own eyes almost glistening with tears of happiness and relief.
He thought about the moment his mother, Mrs. Riggs, got the news that she was also in remission.
After all the long nights he stayed up praying for a better outcome, the doctor told her she had won the fight.
“That’s great news, Tasha,” Kenji whispered, stroking her hair. “You did it.”
Dr. Madison gave them a moment, offering tissues and a comforting presence. Tasha pulled back, wiping her tears, and looked at Kenji with a mixture of disbelief and gratitude. “I can’t believe it,” she confessed.
Kenji smiled, cupping her face. “Believe it! You did it, Tasha.”
The doctor went on to outline the next steps for Tasha, emphasizing the importance of returning for regular check-ups and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Dr. Madison went on to reassure her that even with only having one ovary, she could still conceive and that it was just a matter of God’s timing.
So much damn happiness flowed through Tasha.
Once her visit with Dr. Madison was over, Tasha and Kenji walked out hand in hand, her heart more at ease now that the weight was lifted.
They stopped by a nearby café to celebrate, ordering coffee and pastries.
Tasha looked at Kenji, her eyes shining with love and appreciation.
“Thank you for being here with me. I dunno what I would have done without you.” She got on her tiptoes and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
Kenji's brow furrowed as he smiled. “Oh, shucks now. I get a kiss.” He wrapped her closer into his chest. “My day has just been made.”
Tasha laughed as she pushed him in a playful manner.
They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, enjoying the moment.
Kenji broke the silence, “You know, it’s this art show coming up soon, and I would like it if you could accompany me to this event.
Just to get you out of the house for a little bit. ”
Tasha felt all giddy, pressing her hands to her cheeks. “I would like that. Shit, after all the madness I been through, I could use a different kind of vibe. So yeah, I will accompany you.”
As they finished their coffee and pastries, Tasha leaned her head against his arm as they walked out the exit.
She felt safe and at ease, but somewhere in the back of her mind, a jagged piece of her heart was still back with Juelz.
The elevator doors chimed, and Tasha stepped out first, smiling as if it came easy these days.
They rounded the corner toward the exit, and she froze.
Sintonio, Mar, and Kane were chilling near the ER entrance, while waiting on the update about Juelz.
Sintonio was pacing, his shirt still bearing the faint, brownish stains of Juelz’s blood.
Mar was slumped in the metal chair, and Kane was staring at the floor.
Tasha’s heart stuttered. Her feet stopped moving.
She gripped Kenji’s arm so hard she left a mark on it.
“Hey…hey. Tasha? You okay?” Kenji asked, feeling her go rigid.
The three men looked up at the same time when they heard her name. The air in the lobby turned electric. Their eyes met with Tasha’s, then flickered to Kenji with a look of pure venom.
“Whaddup, Tasha?” Kane asked, staring Kenji up and down.
Tasha hesitated at first, head spinning, wondering where Juelz was. “Hey, what’s up, Kane… Sin.” She exhaled loudly, looking up at Kenji. “You probably remember Mar, from the restaurant. But these are Juelz’s friends.”
Mar stepped up with an extended hand. “Aye, whaddup li’l man?”
Kenji looked startled. He stepped in front of Tasha, his feet sliding into a wide, balanced stance, dropping his center of gravity, as his hands came up in a sharp, disciplined Taekwondo guard.
“The fuck wrong with this nigga?” Kane said, pointing to Kenji, his eyes never leaving Tasha’s.
“Whoa, whoa!” Tasha gasped, grabbing the back of Kenji’s jacket. “Kenji, relax! Seriously! It’s okay.”
Mar let out a dry, mocking laugh. “Tasha went and got herself a Bruce Leeroy muthafucka. Look at this nigga. Ole Onegaishimasu ass nigga.”
“What y’all doin’ here?” Tasha asked, ignoring Mar's comment. “Is Niyah okay? Oh God…”
Sintonio took a deep breath, stepping forward toward Tasha. “No…no. It’s Jue. He in the back. Hit his head and just gotta get stitched up.”
Sintonio knew he wasn’t being completely honest. There was no way he was telling her how close Juelz had come to ending it.
That truth would remain with the brothers.
He damn sure wasn’t about to tell her Juelz wasn’t just getting patched up, but he was also being admitted on suicide watch.
Hell no. That would go against the bro code.
To reveal that Juelz has been at his lowest since she left in front of another man. He wasn’t about to do that. Ever.
Tasha shifted on her feet, looking around the emergency room. “I sure hate that about him,” she said, sarcastically.
Sintonio’s eyes darkened, his jaw tightening as he looked at Tasha. “Really, Tash—”
“Hey,” Kenji interrupted, his voice firm but laced with a heavy layer of concern.
He grabbed her by the waist, pulling her back against his side before she could take another step.
“We need to go, Tasha.” His eyes searched the three men.
“Nice meeting you all, but… umm yeah, we got to go. Now, Tasha.”
Tasha looked at the double doors leading to the ER.
At first, her heart felt as if it was being pulled in two directions.
She could almost feel Juelz’s presence through the walls, calling out to her from a place of brokenness she knew all too well.
But the way her own body was whispering, reminding her she had nothing left to give.
Tasha wrapped her arms around Kenji, turning her back to the lobby, the brothers, and the ghost of the man she once loved. To hell with him.