Chapter 9 #2
Raquel got up from her knees and reclaimed her seat, and Kross followed.
She reached over and cupped her hands around his handsome face.
He was a carbon copy of his father, Christian Hunter, from the rich chocolate skin and the dark tender lips to the full brown eyes that reflected every emotion he felt in his soul.
Raquel knew her son was broken. Most of his trauma stemmed from his early childhood when she used to put her wants and desires over his needs as her child.
It didn’t make it any better that he lost his father at a young age and grew up in the vicious streets of Miami that turned him cold.
Unlike her, he had yet to fully commit himself to the Lord and seek salvation.
“You don’t worry about that. Our God is a forgiving God, and He will give you all the grace you need.”
Her words were encouraging enough to wash away all his doubt.
For the hours they remained in the waiting room, Kross was full of faith that God would answer his prayers and see his baby boy through.
As the doors of the waiting room were pushed open, he sat up in full anticipation, only to see that it was Ezekiel coming in, followed by his father, Andres.
Kross smacked his lips at the sight of his brother wading toward him.
“Why you called him?” he turned to his mother and asked.
“Because Aniyis needs all the support he can get right now,” she said to him before rising from her seat to greet both Ezekiel and Andres with a hug.
Kross followed and stood up only to greet Andres.
The two men shared a hug, one that was needed on both parts.
Last time they saw each other was when Andres made a visit at the beginning of Kross’ sentence, and he had to break the harsh news to Kross about Raquel refusing to visit.
Before he went to jail, his and Raquel’s relationship was already strained due to him being so deep in the streets, but he was hoping his mother would have some sympathy for him and at least come visit.
Andres was always there to soften the blow whenever Raquel stood on her beliefs, and Kross appreciated that.
“I’m here if you need anything, son,” Andres assured him once they parted from the hug.
Kross thanked him before reclaiming his seat, which happened to be opposite of Ezekiel. “What happened with little man? He was just doing good.” Ezekiel shook his head while directing his question to his mother.
Raquel sighed deeply before responding. “His lung collapsed, but he’ll be fine by the grace of God.”
“Shit,” he stressed while holding his head in his hands. “This shit shouldn’t be happening to him. He just a kid, man.”
Kross cut his eyes at his baby brother before he released a scoff. “You told them how my son ended up here in the first place?”
Quickly, Ezekiel snapped his head up from his hands and shot daggers at Kross. “Nigga, you ain’t about to put this shit on me,” he spat while shaking his head.
“Them Chicago niggas was beefing with you, and now my lady in a casket and my son fighting for his life,” Kross gritted in a hushed tone to keep the conversation from being heard by the other families who were in the waiting room.
“We don’t even fucking know if it was really them niggas who spun on Cassie and Aniyis.”
“Who else would it fucking be, Zeek?!” Kross snarled. Ezekiel’s excuses about who was behind pulling the trigger on Cassie and Aniyis prompted him to lose his cool and forget where he was. His outburst attracted eyes from all over the waiting room.
“Hey,” Raquel shouted at both boys to create some order between them.
“What in the world has gotten into you two? This is neither the time nor the place for y’all to be bringing up street shit.
You guys are brothers and are as thick as thieves.
Now ain’t the time to be fighting each other.
If anything, this should be bringing y’all together. Y’all are family.”
Shooting lethal glares at each other, they both opted out of going back and forth in Raquel’s presence.
Together, they sat in support of Aniyis.
It was sad that these were the circumstances that brought them together after all these years.
Kross’ prison sentence, Ezekiel’s fast life and Raquel’s and Andres’ converted lives of religion just could never mix until now.
After hours of waiting, Nurse Moriah came through the double doors, prompting the family to all stand to their feet. “How is he? He pulled through, right?” Kross asked desperately.
“He’s stable. His lung collapsed due to the pressure of the ventilator he was on.
We were able to recover the lung and put in a chest tube to drain it of any fluid and assist with proper breathing.
Aniyis is guaranteed the strongest young man I have ever treated, and I am grateful to be a part of his medical team.
” She smiled lightly, bringing a sense of relief to the family.
A relieved breath aired out of Kross as he felt the weight of the world being lifted off his shoulders. Aniyis pulling through once again was proof that miracles actually did happen, and he was so grateful. “Thank you so much,” he expressed his gratitude. “When can I see him?”
“He’s being transferred to Recovery as we speak. I say in a couple more minutes, you’ll be able to see him.”
As promised, a few minutes later, Nurse Moriah returned and ushered Kross to Aniyis’ recovery room.
Seeing his baby boy caused his heart to swell.
Kross stood at his bedside, peering down at his son with so much adoration and love.
His hand stroked over his cinnamon brown dreads before he craned down and sat a kiss onto his forehead.
“Don’t ever scare me like that again, ‘Niyis,” was the first thing he said, prompting a light chuckle out of him to deflect the heavy feeling of impending tears that was washing over him. “It’s me and you forever, kid.”