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“Well, I was hoping I could introduce you before the show began.”

“Saint,” I whined, “You’re some kind of special.”

“Two minutes.”

“All I need is one.”

“Okay. One minute.”

He rushed toward the door. I took the time to twist my hair into a bun and secure it with two brown scrunchies.

Perfect . I concluded just as his mother and sister stepped inside. Nadia was gorgeous. I wasn’t sure if I recalled her being so flawless. She was stunning in olive. The tailored blazer and pants to match made her look inches taller and like she meant business.

“Rome, my mother, Jada. My sister, Nadia.”

His mother was something fresh out of a magazine. Beige was her color. It suited her well.

“Nice to meet you both, again.”

“Same to you,” his mother said, pulling me in for a hug.

Her warmth was welcoming. She squeezed tightly, letting me know she wasn’t afraid to get physical at all. I imagined her children felt safe in her arms in their youth. It was likely she allowed their vulnerability and emotional outpours. Just like Rhea.

Nadia followed. Though quick, I didn’t miss the sigh against me. Relief, for one reason or another, wiped her slate clean.

She’s been waiting for him .

“He’s in good hands,” I assured Nadia, “There’s no need to worry anymore. He’s home.”

Drawing her neck back, his mother peered at me.

“Home, huh?”

“Yes, ma’am.” I doubled down.

“I like that.”

“Me, too,” I admitted. “Me, too.”

“She needs to finish up in here. I’ll meet you two at our seats. Alright?”

“Yeah, son. Sure thing.”

“I hope to see you again, Rome.”

“You will.”

There wasn’t a question of if. The only question was when. Because, we’d meet again. And again. And again. And again.

Saint’s eyes never left mine. Alone again, we stood in the middle of my dressing room. Chests rising and falling. Limbs unmoving. Hearts mingling. Heads racing. Emotions in disarray.

“I was thinking that uh– if you go out there and nail that performance, a nice, nice set of wheels will be waiting for you.”

“A nice set of wheels, huh?” I kissed the skin of my teeth.

“I’m talking nice, nice, Mellow.”

“You think I’m ready for wheels?”

“I think you’re ready for anything you set your mind to. And, you haven’t hit any cones in a while. You’re ready enough.”

He was right. The last three times we’d had lessons, every cone was standing by the time our lesson ended.

“Thank you.”

“All bullshit aside, baby. You’re going to crush it. This is just the beginning for you. You’ll be great out there.”

“Thank you, Saint. That means a lot coming from you.”

“How are you feeling?”

“I don’t know,” I admitted. “So many things at once.”

“What’s the matter, Mellow?”

I shook my head, “I don’t know. I have this feeling– you know– lik–”

“Like what?”

I shrugged. “I don’t even know what I’m saying.”

I couldn’t explain it. I hardly ever could. But, I knew the feeling.

“Shhhhhh. Tell me about it after the show. I’m going to go grab my seat so I can be front row when those curtains raise and my baby does her thing. I’m trying to fill the camera roll tonight. Fuck up the storage. All of that.”

Snickering, I replied, “I’m holding you to that.”

“Might as well give me your phone, too, cause I’m going to need all the storage Apple will allow.”

“Bye, Saint.”

“Not bye… Later, baby. See you out there.” He pecked my lips.

“See you out there.”

I took a final swig of water and stepped on stage. Everyone was running around, trying to find their places in the midst of chaos. Quietly, I took mine.

“Places everyone.”

“Places.”

“Excuse me.”

“Pardon me.”

“Where’s my mark?”

“Is everyone ready?”

“We’ve got this you guys.”

“Good luck out there, Rome.”

Voices near and far rang out. Overwhelmingly. At once. One after the other. Together. Apart.

Please , I begged.

My stomach knotted and flipped twelve times in a single minute.

Pull yourself together Rome .

Heat consumed me.

Breathe.

Sweat beads formed on my forehead.

Rome!

I struggled to gain my composure.

“Curtains up in five. Four. Three.”

My God.

“Two.”

What’s happening?

I weakened, unable to support my body’s weight.

“One. And we’re on.”

Blinding lights left me struggling to see. To breathe. To hear. To feel. Anything. Anyone.

First position…

Second posit...

Th…

Blackness surrounded me.

“Baby!” Chemistry’s voice was the very last thing I heard as my body collided with the wooden planks beneath me.

In .

Nonstop movement unsealed my eyelids. Bright lights resealed them.

“A fucking doctor!” Saint’s voice rang out.

He was near.

“You, my nigga,” Chemistry barked.

The familiar sound of a gun cocking startled me.

“I will shoot everybody in this bitch if somebody doesn’t stop what the fuck they’re doing and see about my baby,” he promised, calmly.

“Starting with you, ma’am. With the big wig,” Rugger breathed out slowly. “Up. Now.”

“You don’t have to do that, sir. Dr. West. What seems to be the problem?”

Out .

In .

There was stillness.

Coolness.

Silence.

And, family.

Every member of my family. I could feel them near. Eyes penetrating the soft mattress I was on top of.

“I want a full workup, Doc. No shortcuts. Eliminate nothing. I have my suspicions but I need to be certain. Run everything.”

“That’s going to cos– Uh– What insurance do you h–”

“This–” Rugger said.

“Rugs,” my mother chastised. “Put it away.”

“Does it look like money is an issue?” Chemistry asked.

“Do whatever needs to be done. Money is not a problem. And, don’t let your level of service reflect a man who doesn’t understand that now that it has been stated.

Treat her like your finest patient in this motherfucker.

Because, frankly, she is,” Saint expressed.

“Whatever needs to be done. You feel me?”

“Yes. Yes. Of course.”

Out .

In .

Quiet.

Like the dead of the night.

There was silence.

Out .

In .

Saint’s voice drew me in.

“Things have been wild. I haven’t gotten to formally introduce myself. Saint. Saint De Bacco.”

“I’m aware,” Chemistry responded. “As much as I’d love to shake your hand and welcome you to the family, Rome is my greatest concern right now. My only concern.”

Silence.

“Rome is going to be alright,” Saint assured Chem.

Silence.

Just– just leave it alone . I tried getting out, but no words would come from me. Chem was stubborn. And, grouchy. And, his heart was broken. I could hear it in his voice when he spoke.

For the first time in a very long time, he sounded defeated. He lacked the confidence that he wore like a badge of honor. He was in pain. One of the women he loved, admired, cherished, and raised was lying in the hospital bed.

“Yeah?”

I cried inwardly.

Wept.

Like a child.

The brokenness of his spirit was so fresh. So new. I didn’t recognize it. He was searching for answers from a mere stranger, hoping for the strength he seemingly didn’t possess for once.

I’m okay, Teddy . I struggled to make out. I’m going to be okay .

The buzzing of the machines surrounding me was breaking my heart with each passing second.

“She has to be. We’re just getting started in this lifetime. I just got in her mix. She’s waited this long– you think she’s about to let me slip through her fingers? Not a fucking chance.”

Chem’s chuckle healed things within me. Though frightened, he was still Teddy. My Teddy.

“She’s waited for years. Adamant that you weren’t just a figment of her imagination. I always knew you weren’t. I’ve turned her television on forty times in the last two years, hoping she’d leave it on for even a few minutes.”

Silence .

The revelation hit both Saint and I at once.

“You knew?”

Silence .

“Yeah. For twenty-six months. Twenty-six grueling months.”

“Wouldn’t it have been easier to just tell her?”

“Nothing is ever easy when it comes to love. And, we were getting ourselves out of a bit of a jam. Telling her would’ve been pointless. She couldn’t do shit about it.”

“How’d you–”

“She’s described you to a science in her sketchbook.

She’s never been an artist. But, somehow she managed to add a new detail to your sketch every time she dreamed of you.

It wasn’t until she left it open at my home and I ran across it that I realized I’d seen those leg tattoos before. There was never a face. Never a name.”

Silence .

“Rome is as much mine as she is Richie’s or Rhea’s. That’s–” Teddy coughed, masking his emotions, “That’s my entire fucking heart. I raised her. Bathed her. Fed her. Wiped her ass. Straightened her up when she wasn’t doing what she was supposed to. It wasn’t often.

“She’s the good one. The one that’s far away from the world my sisters and I live in. She is pure. She was pure, at least. Keep her that way. She thrives on love. She’s spoiled rotten. Never tell her no, because I will always tell her yes.

“And, if I have to do your job, I will terminate your position. That is not a threat. That is a promise. One I fully intend to keep. Don’t let her down. Don’t ever let her down. She’s too fragile. Too loyal. Too good to be lied to, cheated on, or disrespected.

“You have some large shoes to fill. Fill them motherfuckers. Don’t half-ass it. I won’t let you, and neither will those women that just filed out of here. For her, we ride. For her, we die . No questions asked. Marry her and give her whatever her heart desires.

“It won’t be much, because I have given her everything. Just maintain it. Maintain her. She’ll be happy with a garden and early morning runs. She’s easy to please. So, do that. Please her . Every day.”

“I fully intend to–all of that. Happily. Rome isn’t the only one who has been waiting, either.” Saint chuckled.

“I didn’t have the privilege of dreaming about a certain person in the world but I knew she was out there. Somewhere. And, I also knew that everything I bumped into prior to meeting Rome just wasn’t it.

“But, here she is. I have the rest of this lifetime and the next to love her gently. Slowly. Wholly. Tenderly. There’s no need to worry. You can rest your bones, Doc. She’s in the best of hands.”

Out .

In .