ANDRE

"I told ya not ta bring this devil back ta ma' house!"My mama shouted.

I rolled ma' eyes. We do this shit er'ey week. I had counselin at da hospital Monday through Thursday. I'on got na' family 'round hea but ma mama. I can't take Marah with me. So I le've ha' ova ma mama house.

Er'ey fuckin' time she neglect Marah. This time she took it a lil to far. She left Marah out on da porch all day.

"Sir, I'm going to need to ask you some questions,"The police officer said.

The nosey ass neighbas decided ta dig all up in our bi'ness. They asses called da fuckin' police on my mama. Na' we havin a slight issua.

"It was all a mistake Officer. I'm the legal guardian. I made a mistake leaving her with this lady. If you wanna do anything, please question this woman,"I pointed towards ma' mama.

"Daddy why you talk like that?"Marah asked.

I kind of laughed. I had ta put on ma white people voice. These officers crazy, and I don't wanna be shot in front of ma child.

"I did not agree to letting this child stay with me!"My mother shouted.

I pulled out ma phone. She did this shit er'ey week. I already had knew what was finna go down. So I got ha' on recordin' sayin' she would watch Marah. This was while she was sober.

"Ma', can ya' watch Amarah Harper today, on January 31st, 2018?"

"Of course baby! Go on and go to counseling boy!"She shouted inta' da' phone.

I turned ma' phone off. Da' officer motioned fa' us ta' leave. I thanked him fa' his work. My mama was cussing da' officers out. I didn't really care. She wasn't really a parent anyway. If they send ha' to jail it won't really affect me. I'll just have ta skip out on counseling fa' awhile.

My car beeped as I hit da' keys. Marah opened ha' door and got in. I threw ha' stuff in the backseat. Da' car was already compacted with shit. All of our belongings was in hea'. We don't have a house. Ever since I lost ma' job, I haven't been able ta' get a new one. They hea' ma' accent and they can't hire me. I can hardly read. Life just wasn't easy fa' me.

"Daddy? Where we going now? I want something to eat!"Marah shouted.

"Chil' if ya' don't put on that seat belt. What I tell ya' about gettin' in da' car?"

She huffed, "Put on ya' seat belt," She mocked me.

I turned around and looked at ha'. This chil' has really been tryna get hit. I don't kna' what's gotten in ha' mind, but it betta get da' fuck out.

"Do it again Marah...Don't make me reach behind this seat. I'll beat ya ass in this car," I warned.

"Yes sir."

"Na' we going ta' Krystal's. Take a nap fa' we go ta' this hospital. I don't need ya' actin' up in thea'."

"Yes sir," She whispered.

"Amarah...I love you," I mumbled.

She just nodded. I guess she was mad at me. That's what chil'ren do though. I didn't really ca'e. At the end of the day I'm still ha' father. It ain't no disrespectin' me 'round hea'.

My little android phone rang. I picked it up.

"Helluh?"My nigga 'phrey said inta the phone.

"Aye what's goin' on?"I asked.

Humphrey was a family friend. We grew up ta'gether. He was like ma' brother. My annoying ass brotha'.

"We gotta package comin' in ta fucking night. Ya gon help us wit it or what?"

"Nah Phrey, ya' know Ion fuck with that shit any mo'. That shit dangerous and I got a chil'"I spoke softly.

I used ta' sell a little hea' and thea. It was just ta get me on ma' feet. I swear I'm done with that shit. I don't want na' problems with anybody.

"Dre, man, ya' livin' in ya' fuckin' car. Ya' and ya daughta got medical bills. Y'all can barely afford a meal. Come get this work. PJ can watch Marah,"He said.

I looked back at Marah. He was right. She didn't deserve these typa conditions.

"A'ight nigga. I'll be ova thea in a couple minutes,"I said.

"Bet."

KATHRYN

"Baby..."I heard a voice say.

I looked up and saw my husband Darnell. He had on his work clothes, but they were kind of wrinkled. Damn he couldn't iron while I was gone?

"Don't fucking call me that,"I mumbled.

My body ached. I had pain running all through my head. Darnell motioned for me to lay back down. In the corner of the room I heard that thing I was supposed to call my mother.

"I'm so glad you woke up. Our divorce finalized that afternoon of the shooting. I couldn't make any decisions about you. Your mother wanted you to take you off support. I told her that you would wake up. I don't kn-"

"Hush, where's the doctor?"I asked.

I was so confused as to why I was here. The last thing I remember doing was washing clothes. How did I end up in the hospital?

"Here I am. I see you're awake Mrs. Stevens,"The doctor said.

I looked up at him. He was a close friend. We went to high school together. Dr. Josh Warner was amazing. He has some of the best reviews.

"Josh, what's going on?"I asked.

"Ok, we're on a first name basis now? I did not k-"

"WHY IS EVERYONE TALKING SO DAMN MUCH? JUST GET TO THE POINT!"I shouted out.

I was getting a little frustrated with everyone. No one was trying to tell me what happened. It was like I was being hid from the situation.

My mother shot me a look. I rolled my eyes. I do not give a fuck about her. I don't even know why she is here. She don't like me, and vice versa.

"Kathryn you fell into a coma after the shooting."

"What shooting? I got shot?"I asked.

"The shooting two months ago. A active shooter was in the hospital baby. You don't remember?"Darnell asked.

My mother cleared her throat, "You're a doctor Darnell. You know when you're in a coma you forget some things. I even know that. How did you become a doctor when you're so...clueless,"My mother spoke.

"Get the fuck out,"I mumbled.

She rolled her eyes. She picked up her purse. She had these damn sunglasses on her face in the building. There was no sun in here, and the lights were dimmed. She's just stupid. She pulled her shades over her nose and glared at me.

"Don't send me the bill."

She slammed the door behind her. I wanted to throw something at her. My hand was itching to kill her. Everything she did made me what to murder her, literally.

"You too,"I said.

Darnell pointed to himself. Why the fuck was he acting stupid? He think I'm gonna kick the doctor out. He can't tell me what's wrong with me, because he obviously don't know himself. I nodded my head with a attitude.

"Baby, I gotta be here for yo-"

"Josh can you call security? Preferably the big biker dude. What's his name? It starts with, a G-"

"Grant?"Josh asked.

"No, his name is GET THE FUCK OUT!"I shouted.

The door opened slowly. A nurse walked in and started to check my vitals. I shook my head. I could do this shit myself. I'm a RN.

"Ok baby. I'll be back later to feed you so-"

I cut my eyes at him. He kissed my forehead. He whispered something in Josh's ear. Before I could say something to him, he left. Thank God he was gone. We're no longer married so I don't have to worry about him.

"You measured that wrong. You must be a newbie,"I told the nurse.

She looked down at the chart. She had my BP in the 1,000. That didn't even make any sense. It only ranges to 190. I took the sphygmomanometer from her and began to take my own blood pressure. It was 128.

"That's how you do that sweetheart,"I mumbled writing down the number.

"I'm sorry. I'm just here to take your spot,"She responded.

"Bitch I'm alive now. So please find another facility,"I laughed.

She rolled her eyes and marched out of the room. I laughed, and Josh laughed a little.

"She hasn't been doing so well,"He added.

He began to check my monitors and make sure everything was going right. We had some small talk. I still didn't know what happened. I was curious as too the whole shooting thing.

My back was hurting a little. I sat up and stretched. While I popped my back, I saw some pictures on the back wall. They were hand drawn. I tore one off the wall to look at it. They were so pretty.

"The CHOA came to see me?"I asked.

Josh looked at the pictures. A small smile came out of his mouth. "No, a special little girl did this. Her name is Amarah. Every day she sat here and drew pictures for you. There's more, but we couldn't hang them all,"He said.

Amarah? Who is Amarah?

ANDRE

"Ma' nigga!" Phrey loud ass said as he walked out the house.

I motioned fa' him ta' be quiet. Marah was sleep and I didn't want ha' ta' wake up. It took ha fa'eva ta' get ta' sleep. PJ would never be able ta take ca'e of ha if she was awake.

"What?"He shouted even louder.

"Nigga! Shut up! Marah sleep!"I whispered.

"I can't hea' ya black ass from ova hea'."

"Ima slap 'em I swea',"I mumbled.

I picked Marah up. I grabbed all ha bags and started to walk ta'wards the house. Phrey was ova thea screamin and shit. I threw one of ha toys at him. He jumped back once it hit him.

"I told yo ass she sleep nigga. Shut up,"I whispered.

"Why tha hell you hit me with tha Barbie though? That shit hurt Dre,"He cried out.

That's what his ass get fa being loud. I told him ta shut up, but what he do, he kept screaming. Stupid ass got what he deserved.

"Is that my Marah?"PJ asked.

He was already waiting at tha door. I smiled, that's what I like bout PJ. He was nothin like Humphrey.

"Papi Johns!"Marah shouted.

She jumped out of ma arms and ran ta' PJ. All of that shit I did ta get Phrey ta shut up and she wanna wake up ta tha sound of PJ voice.

"Who tha hell is Papi Johns?"Phrey asked.

"Yo! Don't have ma daughta calling ya Papi Johns. Let Phrey call you that,"I joked.

"He alre-"

My phone began ta ring. I looked at it and it was a unknown numba. It was probably tha hospital callin, considerin tha numba wasn't saved. No one has my number 'cept a few people. I hate giving it out.

"Aye! I gotta take this. I'll be right back,"I announced.

They continued ta talk. I walked out tha door. It was cold as hell outside. It hadn't snowed all winta but it felt like it should've. I hate tha winta. It's just cold. I can't be comfo'able and wea what I wanna wea. I gotta wea pants.

"Helluh?"I answered tha phone.

My fingas itched. This could eitha be bad news or good news. I don't wanna find out what happened ta tha girl. She coulda died tryna take a bullet fa me. In all honesty, I would be way worse if she did. I would feel so bad, I wouldn't know what ta do with maself.

"Hello is this Mr. Harper?"I heard the nurse say.

"Yes this is he. What's going on?"I asked.

"Well she's awake-"

I dropped ma phone on tha ground. Thank fucking God.