-two days later
Mariah

Omniscient

"Come on Smitty" Dorian weakly pleaded "You said I was like family. You'd kill family?"

"Of course. You know ain't no love in this game." Smitty stood with a blade ready to puncture Dorian's skin

"Fine then, kill me nigga!" He grew irritated with trying to negotiate "Stop being a bitch and do it."

Dorian only hoped that God would have mercy on his soul and that his family, especially Mariah, wouldn't hurt so bad after hearing he was dead.
After all, he knew this would happen one day. He just didn't expect it to happen so soon.

Without another word, Smitty drew back and rammed the knife into Dorian's chest. Dorian's body was so weak he couldn't even fully react to the pain. He sharply inhaled and winced, feeling the his breathing become forced.

Tim and Mariah had found their way into the building where Dorian was held, and just as Dorian's eyes fluttered shut, a gun went off. Tim had shot Smitty in the back of the head.

"Dorian, baby." Mariah rushed over to him, checking for a pulse "I can't- He's not breathing!"

Mariah

"You want me to call his mom and brother? Or are you ok to do it?" Tim asked

"No-I...I'll call them I just need a second." I sighed, looking at Dorian's blood on my hands

When I think about how much blood was pouring out of Dorian, how lifeless his body was, the scars and bruises that were scattered on his skin.
I get chills.
My nerves just won't get right now matter how hard I try. I keep telling myself to get it together so I can call his mama and Rio, but my mind just loses its train of thought whenever I'm about to call.

"M-Maybe you should call." I fiddled with my thumbs and my right leg anxiously shook

"I got you. Maybe you should clean yourself up." He referred to the blood on my hands

"Oh, yeah" I don't want Skylar seeing all this blood on me

I went to the restroom and washed my hands. I scrubbed hard as I could but the blood that was under my nails wouldn't budge.
When I looked at myself in the mirror I saw I had blood on my face from pressing my ear against his chest.
All I kept thinking about was how last year this time we were in the same waiting area with Kendra and Omari didn't make it. Now I'm doing the same exact thing.

"Alright..." I sighed after cleaning myself up and going back into the waiting room

"They said they one the way" Tim said as I sat back down

"Ok." I nodded

*

"Relax Ry." Rio said as I paced the floor

We've been waiting for two hours and haven't heard anything yet. Rio, Kendra, Joyce, and Skylar came. I felt a little better knowing I have their support and seeing Skylar always lightens my mood, but what if Dorian doesn't make it?
I have to find a way to explain to our little girl that she won't see her daddy anymore. That's a lot.

"What's taking them so long?" I rhetorically asked "I'm gonna' go ask the receptionist."

"This the fifth time you done been up there. Look just sit down." Kendra was breastfeeding Hunter

I ignored her "Something must be wrong. It shouldn't be taking this long."

"Sweetie, you're overthinking and that isn't going to make it better. Here, sit down and hold Skylar." Joyce lead me to a chair and placed a half sleep Skylar in my lap.

I took a few deep breaths, rocking her back into a full sleep.

"Family of Dorian Johnson." The doctor finally came out

"Here" I quickly stood up and walked over to him, everyone else followed

He sighed "Ma'am we did all we could"

My heart sank into my stomach and I sat down in the nearest chair. I silently cried, holding Skylar close.

"It's not all bad." The doctor continued "He's on the ventilator, but we're not expecting him to make it to the morning."

"Oh God" I heard Joyce say "Can we see him?"

"Yes he's in room 507" he said

My heart felt like it was shattered into a million pieces. I closed my eyes and started praying hard as I could for a miracle.

"Mariah don't you want to go see him?" Rio asked

I kept my eyes closed "I can't." Was all I muttered as tears ran down my face

I don't want to see him hooked up to all those tubes.
My heart can't take that. I don't want to remember him like that.

-Carlisha ❤️