Nate, Izzy and Kyle moved back to the crib. This morning I received a text from Asad. He said that they received a call from the hospital. Rayan had awakened from her coma. The doctors and nurses said that she was still unable to communicate but that it'll be good to receive company. I burst into JJ's room and told her the news. Sha, her and I drove to the hospital located on the East side of Naire and met up there with Izzy, the twins, Nate and Kyle. There was nothing we could do for her, besides wait.
That wait took over a month. Each day Jessie spent at least 3 hours with Rayan, progressively helping regain her linguistic ability.
"J.." mumbled Rayan, sitting up half awake. Jessie sat on a chair by her bed reading a book.
"Hmm ?" She replied as she closed the book and placed it on a table nearby.
Her eyes stared into space. "Keemo. Where is he ?"
"You don't remember, do you ?" sighed Jessie deeply. "He's gone..."
"No he's not." she turned her head in Jessie's direction.
"He's gone, I'm so sorry."
"But he was there... I know I saw him. He was with me." Her lips began to shake.
"Rayan !"
"We were supposed to get married, have kids." interrupted Rayan, speaking with a quicker pace. "Keemo wanted 4 kids... My father was so happy that I had found someone like him..."
"Rayan !"
" Oh please...Please let this be one horrible nightmare. Wake me up. Wake me up !" She weeped as she raised her head, looking up to the ceiling.
"We're both stuck in this nightmare ! There's no way out."
"No way at all ?"
She shook her head, in response. "I've been in there for months now."
"Did you get used to it ?"
"You can't. I'm living in regret and pain each day." she confessed.
"How can you continue living like that ?"
"I don't wanna die, Rayan. I don't want to and I can't abandon the kids. They've already lost so much. Who's gon' take care of them if I leave ?"
"You're the last one there ?"
"Yeah.."
"Everyone else left ?" Rayan asked as more tears began to build up in her eyelids.
"Yeah." she repeated.
"Jordan ? Denzel ? Skylar ? Diego ? Kelvin ?"
"Yes."
"Even Shigeru left ?"
"He...He left us as well." answered Jessie while sighing.
The build up tears in her eyelids overflew and streamed down her cheeks. "My poor girl... " She says, leaning in and wrapping her arms around her friend. "You stayed strong all alone. Your aunt and uncle are helping you ?"
"I don't live with them."
"They threw you out ?!"
"I wasn't always strong...They didn't want to see that."
Rayan cried. She placed her right hand on her shirt above her heart and JJ noticed excessive sweat on her forehead. Ray's grip became tighter as she held onto the fabric. Jess called the nurses. When they rushed into the room, she was told to leave the room immediately as Rayan breathing became excessive.
After many minutes of pacing back and forth in the hallway in front of the room, one of the nurses walked out the room. "What happened ?" asked Jessie, holding onto the arm of that nurse.
"That tattoo... " murmured the nurse as she saw the design on Jess' right shoulder. "You're also part of that gang.." she added, pulling away her arm.
"What... What does that have to do with anything ?"
"Because of you people we've been feeling unsafe. Do you know how scared people were to live in those neighborhoods ?! My son lives in that neighborhood !"
Hesitantly she replied in a small voice. "I'm sorry."
"I don't think you are. Whatever happened to your friend was well deserved. Let me do my job before I call the cops on you."
"I was just asking about her." defended Jessie.
"I will call the cops. They're dying to capture people like you." she added before exiting the hallway they were in. Jessie continued to pace back and forth, her heart beating out of her chest.
Three more nurses walked out the room. Two of them left the hallway, avoiding Jessie's eyes while the other stayed in front of the room door, head hanging low.
"We did the best we could." apologized the nurse. "All my condolences."
"What happened ?"
"Sudden cardiac death..."
"What...?"
"I know it's rare but it happens...There were most likely signals of conditions like shortness of breath... Have you noticed occurrences like that before ?"
" I- I can't remember..." confessed Jessie while her head slightly lowered. The nurses sighed deeply before pressing her lips firmly together.
"Again, I'm sorry for your loss." she gripped onto JJ's shoulder and gave her a sympathetic look before making her way.
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It was a sunny day. We all had become aware of the incident that occurred almost three weeks ago. Jessie, Tanisha and I were on our way to the cemetery. Asad drove Nate, Kyle, Izzy and Aneesa there and we met with the other gang members. The burial was led by the same priest as last time. Having no known family, the ceremony was held uniquely by the Silvers. After the burial we paid our respect.
Tanisha went in front of the small crowd. "Stand tall." she says. Steps were heard behind us. Each one of us turned around while Tanisha's eyes slightly widened. It was Tyrell. He advanced and stood straight by Nate.
"I told him about Rayan." said Nate.
Tanisha regained her poker face and took a profound breath before proceeding. "Respect." she says. She stayed indifferent. I couldn't tell if it was due to her brother's presence or due to professionalism. She turned around and we all bowed down in front of the graves of our fallen comrade.
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten..
Izzy fought to hold in her tears but eventually gave in. Her sobs were getting louder and she soon began to wail. Silent tears started falling down Aneesa's face.
Eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifthteen, sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, nineteen, twenty..
More sniffles were heard from Tyrell, Asad, Kyle, Nate and I. Jessie tried to hide it but her body was trembling.
Fifty, fifty-one, fifty-two, fifty-three, fifty-four, fifty-five, fifty-six, fifty-seven, fifty-eight, fifty-nine...
"Thank you all for coming..." began Tanisha. "Let's remember Rayan. She might've left us in the physical realm but not in our hearts" she concluded.
"Ty." I said as I neared Tyrell and Nate. "How are you ? You didn't come home last week."
"Yeah... I-I couldn't. Dad didn't want me to go."
That little phrase ticked me off. Even from afar he's still trying to break us apart. I gave him a sympathetic smile and nodded.
"Thank you Nate for telling him." said Tanisha, walking towards us. Nate gave her a quick nod before leaving to go talk with Izzy, the twins and Kyle who were standing a bit further.
"Why didn't you guys tell me ?" asked Tyrell.
"We- I didn't think you'd want to come." answered Tanisha.
"Bull-"
"Tyrell." I interrupted him from finishing his sentence.
"My fault, but don't lie like that. You said you didn't want me to be part of the gang's activities because I'm too young and shit but at least let me do this. I knew Rayan for as long as you did."
"I keep on messing up, don't I ?" chuckled sadly Tanisha.
"With me, yes. With the others, no."
Damn.
"I'm sorry... You forgive me ?"
"If you're not gonna do it again..." grumbled Tyrell.
"Don't worry, next time you'll be the first to know if anyone passes.
"Hopefully this is the last time." I add.
"Ye. I forgive you."
"Good. Are you coming home today?"
"Nah, not today. Next week." Tyrell answers. Tanisha looks at me and I roll my eyes regarding the situation. A while after, we parted ways. The twins, Nate, Kyle, Izzy go back to the crib and Jessie drops me there as well before driving Tyrell back home and taking Tanisha to her workplace.
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