Omniscient POV

Flashback to June 15, 2005

"RyRy, what should I wear out tonight? Should I wear this long black dress that with the ruffles? Orrr this tight red dress that hugs all my curves?" Nicole asked an eight-year-old Camry who was laying across her momma's bed.

Camry looked between the two dresses as if she was debating. "Mommy, I think the red compliments you better."

"Thank you, my favorite daughter," Nicole said squeezing Camry's cheeks as she slid the red dress on.

"Mommy, I'm your only daughter silly."

"And that's why you're my favorite daughter. My favorite person and my first love. I will always love you no matta what happens to me. You know that?" Nicole said on the verge of tears.

"Mommy, stop talking like you're gonna die or something. It'll be just you and me, together forever." Camry said standing up walking to her mom.

But before Camry could get to her, her momma faded away. "No momma, come back. I wanna go with you."

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Flashback to May 26, 2009

"But RyRy, you can't go. You're four months pregnant. You can't be flying across the world." Nicole looked at her daughter as she began to cry.

"Mommaaa, I wanna go to Cali to visit Anisha," Camry whined.

"Camry, I'm not the one that told you to go out and get pregnant at thirteen." Nicole was disappointed at her daughter. She was only 13 years and had a baby on the way.

"And I didn't ask you to have a hunnid different niggas in this house every day, either. Did I?"

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Flashback to April 10, 2012

"No, you didn't! You did not go and get pregnant again Tink. TeTe Nicole gonna knock you into next week." DeAndre semi-yelled.

"Dre, she can't stay mad at me for too long. I'm her only child." Camry bragged.

"That's not the point Tink. You're fifteen and three months pregnant with your second child. You ain't grown. Stop tryna act like it. You know you my fav and always gonna be my fav. I'm only telling you this because YOU are my fav." DeAndre wiped away Camry's tears with his thumb. "It's okay Tink. You know I'm not letting her hit you. I'll go to war with yo momma over you girl."

Camry let out a light chuckle as she sniffed snot back into her nose. "Come on fav. I'll go down here with you to tell her. You know I love you.", DeAndre said grabbing Camry into a side hug.

"I love you too but I can't," Camry whined.

"You can do it."

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Flashback to December 12, 2013

"You can do it, Chelsea," Camry yelled as Chelsea tried to take her first steps on her first birthday.

"Go, mamas. Go!" DeAndre yelled out as he held his arms out for Chelsea to walk towards him. She took four steps and fell down. "Get up mamas," DeAndre said as Che got back up and stepped towards him. This time she made it to him without falling.

Camry sat on her knees as she shed tears at the beautiful milestone. Camry looked up to see her favorite cousin, DeAndre, holding her youngest daughter, Chelsea, as he hugged her momma, Nicole. The three of them walked out of the front door. "Wait, come back. Chelsea didn't blow the candles out." Camry cried out.

"We can't come to you, my favorite daughter."

"Naa Fav. It's not time for you Tink."

"Momma, we love you."
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*Nov.5th, 2015*

Juwan's POV

I sat next to Camry's bed while she remained in the coma. She's been here for the past week and a half and I haven't left her side unless it was to go home and take a shower. I had my sister, Deniyah, take over my donut shop for the time being.

There was a knock at the door and the door opened. I glanced up to see an older woman walk in with a younger boy. "How's she doing?", the woman asked me. She looked over at Camry and shook her head. The young boy walked over to Mariyah who was sitting in the recliner watching tv.

"Well, the doctors are saying she could wake up at any moment and the swelling in her chest went down." I looked up at Camry and gave her hand a squeeze as I been doing for the past three days.

None of her family have been up here. Jaylin sent Mariyah up here yesterday but he didn't come in. He should be ashamed to have been trying to scam his kid's mother. Everybody that claimed to have been on her side, turned against her.

Some girls named Daijah and Bakerah came up here. I had Camry's phone and Daijah had been blowing her phone up. So I had answered it and told her everything and that's when they came. But other than that, nobody.

"I'm your only daughter ma... Fav I miss you. Chelsea, I will always love you." We were all quiet while watching Camry stir in her bed. Her eyes fluttered opened and she just stared at us.

"Cam, can you hear me?" the teenage boy asked waving his hands in front of Camry's face. He plastered a goofy smile on his face.

"You never stop playing, do you, James?" Camry chuckled weakly trying to sit up.

Mariyah ran over to Camry but stopped once she got to the hospital bed. "Can I get up there with her now Wun?" she asked with tears in her eyes.

Just as I was about to speak, the doctors came into the room. There were two new nurses that I haven't met yet. "Ms. Robinson how are you feeling?" one of the nurses asked.

"I'm thirsty."

The short nurse walked out, I'm guessing to get her something to drink. The taller nurse was checking her vitals. James and the lady whose name I didn't know, stood by the window. The doctor continued to talk to Camry as Mariyah leaned on my leg.

"Is she gonna be okay? Can she come home yet?" Mariyah asked me with tears coming down her face. The doctor must have heard her because he walked over to where we were sitting.

"Your momma is doing a lot better. She might have to stay in the hospital until tomorrow so we can check on her breathing overnight. Is that okay with you Ms. Lady?"

"Yes, sir. I just want her to get better. She's all I have left. Other than my daddy." I flinched as her words pissed me off more.

Ever since he brought her up here yesterday, he's all she's been talking about. How could you betray your daughter like that? That nigga was basically stealing from her and Cam. I was waiting on Cam to heal so that I could leave and find them motherfuckers. I wanted them to bleed. To hurt as much as Cam was hurting. To cry out like Mariyah did when she saw her momma laid up in this hospital bed unconscious.

I must've been in my head for too long because Camry threw the water bottle top at me. "Now why you do that?" I asked, standing up walking towards her bed. Mariyah was up there with her now and the doctor and nurses were gone. I can't believe I missed all that.

"Again, Aunt Christy, this is Jawun and Jawun this is my Aunt Christy and my lil cousin James." Camry introduced up. I gave her auntie a hug and dapped James up.

"So Jawun? Be honest with me. The tall nurse told me you never left my side. So who's been up here to see me." Everybody in the room turned and looked at me. I felt like this was a trick question.

I licked my lips and let out a heavy sigh. "Well as far as I know just Daijah and Bakerah. They came on day three. And they," I pointed to Christy and James, "came today."

"For real? Nobody came to see me." Camry looked sad. "I could've died and only six people came to see me. What took y'all so long to come visit me? And where the fuck is Auntie Jay?"

"Jay is at Depaul. Deona had the baby early. Somebody broke into their house and roughed her up pretty bad before kicking her down the steps. They left ha there for dead. Good thing Jay got off work early and found her in time. It wasn't looking too good." Christy explained.

"Wait. what? When did this happen?" Camry asked looking around for her phone. I reached in my pocket and gave her the fully charge iPhone 5.

"The same day you got shot," Christy replied as I sat in the chair next to Camry's bed.

"Cuzzo, you straight got shot, G. Like you got a story to tell motherfu.. people," James said before getting slapped in the back of the head.

Mariyah was finally asleep. She hadn't slept since she got here. I haven't either but sleep was the last thing on my mind. I know Cam and I only been talking for a mere 2 weeks, but I've known her a long time. She has always been my friend, so I feel the need to protect her by any means.

Christy and James left out just as I looked up from the stain on the floor, that I had been focusing on. Camry stared into her phone like she was dedicated to doing something. She looked so beautiful, besides the hospital gown, she even made that look good.

"Jawun, you can go home. Get you some rest." Camry said making eye contact with me.

"Naw ma, I'm comfortable here. I'm not leaving here without you. Plus I want you and Ri to come stay a few nights with me." I hesitated knowing she was gonna say no.

"Okay," was all she said before her phone rang.

I whispered to her that I was about to head home for a bit and she nodded. I made my way out of the hospital and headed home. My house was normally clean but I wanted to straighten up some more before Camry came over.

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Camry's POV

I didn't even feel like I got shot a week ago. I felt dizzy and lightheaded every time it was time for my medicine. The doctor explained to me that I got shot on the right side of my chest and because I put my tiny, metal heart in my bra that day, the bullet didn't go all the way in. I only slipped into a coma because I lost so much blood.

It was so much going on in my head, that I didn't even know what to think about first. I want to kill Anisha but that's my cousin. I'll just cut her off and make her feel my wrath.

As far as Jaylin, I have nothing to do with him. I'm glad I didn't pursue another relationship with him because I probably would've felt worse. But I do hate that my daughter had grown a bond with him. Maybe if I didn't give in to letting him keep my daughters, Chelsea would still be alive.

Deona had her baby a month early, which isn't bad but the way that it happened makes me wonder. Why would anyone do this? Who would've wanted to hurt her or the baby? That's when a lightbulb went off in my head. Jaylin!

I looked over to Mariyah, who's been sleeping since I came out of my coma. I grabbed my phone and called the hospital Deona and Aunt Jay was at.

"Hello how can I help you." the operator asked.

"Yes, can you transfer me to Deona Smith's room?"

"Oh yes. Hold please."

I listened to the classical music that played as I waited. "Who could be calling your room? Oh hello?" Aunt Jay came onto the phone.

"Tete, it's me. Is Deona and the baby okay?"

"Ohh Camry, how are you? Im so glad to hear your voice. I'm sorry I didn't come to visit but you see I have my hands tied. But I have called up there every day at least four times a day." Aunt Jay rambled.

"I know tete. That's so sad. How are they? I'm okay. I get to leave tomar'. I might come see y'all before I head to a hotel." I lied only because I didn't want her to know where I would be.

Anisha is her daughter, there's no telling where her loyalty lies. I wonder if she even knew what happened. Then again, nobody should know because Jawun told me that he didn't tell anybody.

"Well, the baby is doing fine. She weighed eight pounds and four ounces. Deona bled a lot and they had to give her an emergency surgery. Then today, her stitches from the emergency c-section popped out and she bled worse and had to go get that fixed. That's where she is now."

"Karma," I thought.

"I don't know wea' the fuck Anisha ass at. She haven't been answering my calls or anything."

"Her snake ass." I thought as Aunt Jay spoke.

I didn't wanna tell her what happened over the phone. I'll tell her when I see her. I didn't know what her reaction would be but at this point, I didn't care. I wanted to fight Anisha bad and when I do, ima still have to give her an explanation. How could both of my favorite auntie kids, betray me?

"Cam, you there?" I heard Aunt Jay sigh.

"Yea I'm here Tete. I haven't seen her. And she ain't been up here. She running with a different crowd." I said beating around the bush.

"What crowd Cam? She didn't talk to anybody but you, that Avion boy and Jordan."

"When I come tomorrow, I'll fill you in." We said our goodbyes and hung up.

I got up to use the bathroom just as there was a knock on the door. "Come in," I called out looking towards the door. My legs were so stiff that I didn't feel like walking over there. I only had one mission: to pee.

Daijah, Bakerah, and Jordy walked in looking sad. They all looked around the room until their eyes landed on mine.

"Oh girl lemme help you," Jordy said running over and grabbing my hand. He finished walking me to the toilet and closed the door behind him.

"I hope they're real friends," I said to myself. Jordy wasn't even my friend. He was a friend through association. I hope his plans ain't to be my friend to get any money out of me, too. That is Anisha's best friend.

I finished my business in the bathroom. I turned the light off and walked out, closing the door. I guess that's a habit of being at home. I slowly started walking towards the bed before Jordy jumped up and guided me.

"Jordy, thanks but I gotta do it on my own." I sighed.

"I'm sorry Miss Thang. Just tryna be a good friend," he said snapping his finger and sitting down crossing his leg over the other.

"Speaking of friends... Why are y'all my friends?" I didn't mean to offend anybody but I had to get this out of the way.

"C'mon, Camry. We've been best friends for two years. I was there for Chelsea's birth. You even gave her one of my middle names. I know I been gone a while but I'm back now. I couldn't live with myself knowing you needed my love and support here." Daijah confessed shaking her head.

"I'm just meeting you. I have no reasoning at all. You just seem cool." Bakerah spoke up.

"And me. I know a bad bitch when I see one. I met you through Anisha but we've grown a bond together without her", Jordy said shrugging his shoulders. "What's all this 'bout?"

"Well, Anisha a snake. If my assumptions are right, she helped set Deandre up, Jaylin's car accident that killed my daugh..." I was cut off by Jordy.

"Woaahh now boo. Don't you think she felt that pain too? Those were her cousins."

I shook my head no. "No, no. I don't believe she gave a damn. That bitch plotted on stealing my card with the settlement money on it. I straight caught her in the act, along with Jaylin, Kylen, Kaylah, and Kordell."

"Wait? Kordell? Ain't that who we found out was Dayshon nem' brotha?" I nodded my head. "But didn't Kylen kill Dayshon? I'm so lost." Jordy stressed as he ran his hands through his faux locs.

"Maybe that's what DaiDai was basically saying when they argued that day," a voice called out from the door. I snapped my neck towards the door so fast, you would've thought I had broken my neck.

"I found out Kordell, Kylen, Jaylin, and Kaylah got the same daddy. Kordell left the state and went to his auntie house." I studied Avion's face as he looked stressed. He walked in the room and closed the door. "Dayshon, DaiShaunna, and Kordell got the same momma. Kordell despises his mother for breaking up Kylen nem momma happy home. It's confusing." We all nodded. He had lost me a long time ago. But I wanted to hear what he had to say.

"I knew something was off with Anisha but I didn't know what it was. Then the night of your party at the club, she kept looking for your card. She claimed she was "making sure it was in there". I stared at Avion as he continued to explain. "And after that, I followed her around and saw her link up with Kordell and Jaylin."

"Boyyy how you know all this? Lil scrawny ass." Jordy semi-yelled snacking his lips. I looked over at Mariyah and she was still sleeping. Jordy followed my eyes and whispered a sorry.

"I didn't even see her over there," Daijah said pulling the cover off Ri's face. She gave her a kiss on the cheek and fixed the cover back.

"For your information, lil nigga, I asked DaiShaunna. She told me all that. She didn't know where Anisha came in at though. That's what made me go over Camry's house. And some dude told me you were here."

Jawun must've been at my house getting my clothes. He's so thoughtful. "Was it him?" I asked showing Avion a picture.

"Yea it was him but dude that I saw need some sleep or sum'." Avion chuckled.

Poor Jawun. He's been worried about me and hasn't even been sleeping. I made a mental note to thank him in a special way. We all sat around talking and laughing. It felt good to smile and have a good time. They actually seemed to be a genuine group of friends but so did Anisha. She was my damn cousin.

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*November 6th, 2015*

"It was a pleasure having you here Camry. But your stay here is over and we know how bad you wanna get outta hea'." My nurse Tanisha said laughing. She was an RN resident and we've bonded the last couple of hours. I don't need any more friends though.

"Thank you for helping me so much," I said as Jawun rolled me out of the hospital. The fresh air hit my face and even with it being early November, I was grateful for fresh air. Jawun helped me and Mariyah into his 2015 Ford F-150 Platinum.

"When did you get this?" I looked around the all black leather interior.

"I just got it off the lot. I found your card when I was at your house." I mugged him hella hard. "Too soon?" he asked laughing while pulling into traffic.

"Whateva'. Can you take me to Depaul? Deona had her baby and I wanna check on her."

"Yea." Jawun was spaced out and I wondered what was on his mind.

"You okay?" I rubbed his thigh softly.

"Yea I'm good."

"Momma, did you say Deona had the baby? That mean I have another sister. I'm so excited." I nodded my head before she squirmed around in her seat belt, doing a lil dance.

The rest of the ride to the other hospital was short and quiet. Jawun was being very quiet and that wasn't like him. Around me anyway. I felt him look my way while I was texting Auntie Jay for the room number. I looked up at him and smirked.

"You like what you see?" I questioned him.

"I think I love what I see." My heart fluttered. Did he say he loved me? "I said I think Camry. No need to say it back if you don't want to, aight? I'm just really feeling you."

I fought the urge to smile because I knew he was serious. I just looked at him and nodded my head. I looked out the window and saw that it was starting to rain. Damn, I don't even have an umbrella.

"Can you let us out at the entrance? I don't wanna get Mariyah sick in the weather." I looked back at her and she was starting to do another dance as she noticed the hospital.

"You ain't gonna be able to handle her when it comes to her sista'. She ain't stopped dancing yet." Jawun whispered to where only I could hear him. We both laughed as he pulled up to the entrance. "I'll park and wait out here. Might get me a lil nap in." He pressed the unlock button and shifted his eyes from me to Mariyah.

"You sure? You can just leave and come back. Or even come in with us?" I pouted.

"Na, I'm good. Just text me on y'all way down," he instructed as I got out this tall ass truck. Jawun chuckled as I struggled to get out.

I opened Mariyah's door and helped her out. We waved towards Jawun as we walked inside the hospital. It was people everywhere. I've never seen this many people in a hospital lobby. I looked around at all the different people and we made our way through the crowd.

Once we made it to Deona's room, we simply walked in. Jamia was sitting there crying and Auntie Jay gave me a small smile. "Hey, Cam," James said acknowledging my presence.

"Hey, what's going on? Why is everybody looking so depressed?" I asked pushing Mariyah in the room. Everybody just looked at me with teary eyes. I was tired of being ignored and was about to go talk to a doctor.

"Where's Deona and Jaylah?" Mariyah asked stopping me from walking out the door.

"D-Deona didn't make it out the last surgery. Sh-," Auntie Jay broke down in tears and Uncle Dalvin held her.

My throat was dry as I fumbled in my brain to find the words to say. My heart had so much to say but my mouth was stuck. All I could think about was how selfish I was. I wouldn't help plan her baby shower, I put her out when she needed me and I wouldn't let her name her child Chelsea. She had asked me that after Chelsea died and I shut her idea down.

I just stood there thinking about how I came up here with the goal to tell Deona and Auntie Jay, how Anisha betrayed me. Only to get hit with some bad news. I looked at James as he held Jamia, wiping away her tears. I turned around to look at my aunties; Christy, Jay, and Keisha and my Uncle Dalvin as he walked around consoling everybody.

"Umm, so what we do now? We can't stand here in this room and sulk in tears y'all. We done been through this so much this year. Let's go back to my house and make arrangements. I can't let y'all sit here and beat y'all selves up. I've been there and I don't wanna go back." I turned on my heels about to walk out until someone started to speak.

"We've only been waiting on you. Just being in this room, keep us crying. It's something I have to tell you. Sit down." Auntie Jay motioned for me to sit in the chair closest to her.

"Deona was asked to fill out a Maternal/Infant Will just in case the surgery took a turn for the worse." I looked around the room, not knowing where this was going. "Camry, she signed all her rights over to you." I took a deep breath registering what I was hearing.

"I, um.." I stuttered looking for the words to say. I was elated, to say the least. I couldn't believe Deona left me a child. She knew I would love this child with my last breath. "Why me? Why not Anisha?" I asked.

"Camry, the social worker needs to know your answer before we leave here. If you don't take her, there's nothing we could do. Unless Jaylin is her father, he can come to get custody." Auntie Keisha informed me. I would die before I give Jaylin anything related to me.

Just as I was about to speak again, two women came into the room. They were wearing a matching white, double-breasted blazer dress, that stopped at their knees. They carried the same gold, Michael Kors briefcase and even had on the same gold, Christian Louboutin red bottoms.

"Has Camry Robinson arrived yet?" I looked up to the woman and cleared my throat. It wasn't until then, that I noticed they were identical twins.

"Yes, I'm Camry." Mariyah stood in front of me as I held her shoulders. She had been crying over Deona's passing.

"I'm Sevyn and this is my partner and, as you can see, my twin sister, Serenity. We have been waiting for you. Can you follow us to an empty room so we can ask you some questions?"

I looked around the room and saw my family pleading eyes. They all wanted to hear what was going to happen. I looked up at Sevyn and Serenity and down to Mariyah.

"No offense, but anything that can be said in the next room can be said right here," I said, giving a slight smile. I wasn't trying to come off as rude but I would have to repeat it all anyway.

"Well, that's against our rules an.." Sevyn was cut off by Serenity.

"Anddd, because y'all have just experienced a terrible loss, we'll bypass the rules. But we have to take you all into the office down the hall." Everyone got their belongings and followed the ladies down the hall. Once we made it to the office-like room, we all got settled at the roundtable.

"Again, my name is Serenity. Nice to be here with you all. I'm sorry for the loss of Deona Smith." We all nodded.

I sat in the end chair closest to the door and pulled my phone out. I hurriedly texted Jawun the room number and told him some emergency came up. Mariyah sat next to me and hugged my arm.

"Well, first and foremos.." Again Sevyn was cut off.

"Let's get to the point. Camry, your cousin, Deona Smith, left her motherly duties to you. She claimed on the form that you were her next to kin and only one she trusted with her child." There were gasps coming from all over the room. "Are you willing to take over this responsibility?" Serenity said being straight-forward. I liked her, straight to the point.

"All we need you to do is fill out the birth certificate. Then we inspect your home one time, to make sure the baby is going to be in a safe environment and that's pretty much it." Sevyn butted in.

"So Deona didn't get to sign her birth certificate?" I felt my eyes become blurry and for the first time since I found out the news, I started to cry.

"She was basically in surgery since she gave birth." Auntie Jay croaked out. Deona's been here a week and a half though. I was confused. Why didn't she leave the baby with her momma or sister?

"Okay I will do everything I have to do," I said looking up at my family for comfort, I guess.

"What do you want to name her?" Serenity asked.

I looked at Mariyah and she smiled. She was so young but our bond was so strong. Mariyah was in the room when Deona and I talked about her naming the baby Chelsea.

"Chelsea Isaya Smith" I felt a big weight lift off my shoulders. Auntie Jay stood beside me rubbing my back.

"Sign here, here and here. Oh and print your name here." Sevyn instructed handing me an ink pen.

After signing all the paperwork, Sevyn and Serenity walked out into the hallway. "I'll be back," I told my family. James went and sat next to Ri, playing pattycake while everyone else sat around and talked.

When I followed the social workers into the hallway, they were still by the door. "You can't always cut me off like that, Reni. This is our job, to go by the rules." Sevyn cried out.

"Sevyn, I only go by that shit when the family abuse and neglect the children. This family went through a tragedy, they didn't..." Sevyn stopped Serenity from talking as she noticed me standing there.

"Oh Hey, Camry, can we help you?" Serenity asked turning towards me.

"Yea the address that I gave y'all is my current address. I'm going house hunting tomorrow. Sooo what do I need to do?" I didn't want my family to know I was moving. I didn't even know I was moving but I knew I wanted to get out of that house. So many good and bad memories, but the bad is outweighing the good.

"We can't let you take Chelsea home witho.." Sevyn was interrupted by her phone ringing and she excused herself.

"Camry, I'll visit your house and confirm everything. I'll make sure Sevyn don't tag along." Serenity spits out as soon as Sevyn was out of ear range.

"I like you." I said laughing while hugging Serenity. I needed someone like her in my corner right now.

I returned back to the room and told the family I was going to get Chelsea from the nursery and we were heading out. Everybody followed us to the nursery and took turns holding baby Chelsea.  I would just have to tell the family about Anisha's betrayal another day.

The smiles on everyone's, tear-stained faces lit up my heart. We might have lost Deona today, but she left us a piece of her forever. Who would have known, I would walk out of this hospital with a newborn baby? Chelsea Isaya Thomas.

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I Gave Y'all 5,000 Words Only Because This Is The End Of Book 1 😔‼️

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Thank Y'all For Reading "A Cry For Help"