Stripping Asjiah II (8 page)

I didn‟t like the fact that my mother never made it to the hospital. Doctors were never given the opportunity to save her. By the time they arrived at the scene it was too late. All that expensive equipment, all the time spent at medical school, the days and nights spent trying to save lives, none of that meant shit. It was all useless.

I wondered if they would‟ve been able to save her; if they would‟ve been able to close all the holes caused by the knife that punctured her body over and over and over again.

Maybe…maybe then I would‟ve had the chance to bring her get well cards, balloons, and teddy bears instead of going to the cemetery to lay down flowers that would never grow or get watered. No matter how pretty they were, they would eventually end up withered and dead, just like my childhood.

Had she made it to the hospital I would still be able to hear her voice, to touch her, to tell her I love her. But he didn‟t give her a chance. He made sure she would die; outside, in the cold, alone.

Maybe if the p erson who saw her would‟ve called the police instead of closing their curtains and ignoring her, they would‟ve gotten to her in time. Whoever it was, they were lucky I didn‟t know them because I would‟ve tracked them down myself and killed them for doing nothing, for allowing her to die.

How could someone be that heartless? I heard that she actually managed to crawl to someone‟s doorstep, why didn‟t anyone bother to help her?

The red emergency sign sent images through my mind of the blood that we saw the next morning as a friend of my parents took Angel and I outside to see where it happened. Thinking about it now I wonder what they were trying to accomplish by doing that. Showing us the spot where my mother lay dying, fighting for her life, staring up into the heavens, why would you want to engrave an image like that into a child‟s mind?

Funny how the Bible teaches us that we are all God‟s children; that He will always be there for us yet he had abandoned her.

My eyes watered making them appear as if the ocean was about to overflow.
“Get it together,” Mumbling to myself I killed the engine, got out the car and walked towards the hospital.

“E xcuse me.”
“Yes?”
“I‟m looking for a Keyshia Livingston.” I nervously

tapped my nails on the counter as I waited for the nurse to look up her information. I hadn‟t seen nor talked to Keyshia since her episode with Mike. Word around the way was she had a habit; and that she would do just about anything, with anybody, to maintain it. I hoped it was all lies but her being in the hospital made me believe it wasn‟t too far from the truth.

“She‟s in the ICU, room 3a. I need you to sign in and clip this to your shirt before you go see her.”
I scribbled my name on the clip board and took the visitors badge before sprinting down the hallway.

B eep…Beep…Beep.
Danielle sat balled up in a chair as she looked from the heart rate monitor and then back to Keyshia. Although she had changed her shirt and freshened up as much as the hospital restrooms allowed; she still felt dirty; tainted with trepidation that antibacterial soap or antiseptic hand wipes couldn‟t cleanse.

She was afraid to close her eyes, apprehensive to allow herself to fall asleep out of sheer horror that the man she had bumped into in the hotel would be standing over her when she awoke. She had seen his face; he had seen hers; what if he came back for her?

“How is she doing?”
Startled, Danielle jumped and looked my way. “Sorry, I didn‟t mean to scare you.”
“You must be Asjiah.” Danielle finger combed her

hair and tried to make herself look presentable.
“And you are?”
“Danielle.”
I took a step back and watched her as she stood up.

She was around 5‟6” with wavy auburn hair that was swept up into a messy ponytail and big brown eyes; eyes that had seen better days. She reminded me of a young Rosie Perez.

After giving her a quick once over I turned my attention back to Keyshia.
“So what happened to her?”
“I…I don‟t know. We were staying in the same hotel and…”
“So you know her?”
“No…I was there with my boyfriend and I left my room to get some ice. I bumped into this guy in the hall and he had blood all over his shirt.”
“What guy? Do you remember what he looked like?”
“No.”
Danielle didn‟t want to say too much, she wanted justice for Keyshia but at the same time she was worried about her own safety. If she gave away too many details then that might prompt a police investigation and she was sure whoever the man was would get wind of it and come after her for ratting him out.
“I didn‟t see him. The storm knocked the power out before I could get a good look at him.”
She closed her eyes for a minute in an attempt to block out the pictures in her mind.
“He didn‟t shut the door to their room all the way so I went in. I thought someone might have been in there; I caught her justas she was falling out of the shower.”
I walked over to the bed so I could get a better look at Keyshia. If I hadn‟t read the chart on the door, and the nurse wouldn‟t have told me what room she was in, I wouldn‟t have known it was her.
She was unrecognizable. Someone had beaten her face to a pulp. Gauze was underneath her swollen eyes, tape and one of those metal splints covered her nose which had clearly been broken and a sling supported her left arm. I lifted the blanket to find that her ribs were tightly bandaged as well.
“Shit.” I touched her hand in hopes that she would know that I was there.
“Who would do this to her?” Danielle stood at the foot of the bed gently tucking the covers around Keyshia‟s feet. “I don‟t know.”
“She could barely tell me her name when I found her; she was terrified, her body was in shock.”
“It‟s a good thing you got there when you did.”
“I wish I could‟ve gotten to her sooner.” Danielle‟s voice trailed off as she looked down at Keyshia.
“Then what; you would be in the bed next to her? You shouldn‟t blame yourself, there‟s nothing you could‟ve done.” I patted the fragile girl on the back and handed her a box of tissues.
“What kind of bullshit did you get my daughter into this time?”
The sound of her voice made my ears hurt. It was like hearing someone‟s nails scratch a chalkboard. I turned around to find Ms. Livingston standing in the doorway.
Keyshia and her mother looked just alike; they had the same peanut butter complexion and hour glass shape except Ms. Livingston was a little taller and her hour glass was beginning to resemble a lumpy water bottle. Her good looks were fleeting memories, a plot to a story that would tell of her glory days.
In some ways I couldn‟t fault Keyshia for her behavior because ironically her mother taught her everything she knew. The motto in their house was “use what you got, to get what you want” and that‟s exactly what her mother did.
Ms. Livingston changed boyfriends like I changed panties and with each man that left, he would leave some type of expensive gift behind.
I don‟t remember her ever working. She had assigned bills for each dude; or as I liked to call them; her sponsors. One paid her mortgage, the other paid utilities, one took her shopping and another was responsible for keeping money in her Gucci wallet at all times. I know where you think this is going but her tricks never harmed Keyshia. If anything they bought her presents as well; porcelain baby dolls, clothes, jewelry, and anything else she asked for.
Still none of the material things amounted to the valuable life lessons that are imperative with raising a little girl. Instead of helping her with her homework and teaching her normal shit that a mother should educate their daughter‟s about like how to cross your legs if you‟re wearing a dress or skirt, or about menstruation; she allowed Keyshia to hide in the closet and watch as she gave some guy head.
She let her come to toy and lingerie parties instead of allowing her to be around normal girls at sleepovers. Instead of teaching her how to ride a bike, she bought her a dildo and taught her how to ride a dick. By the time Keyshia reached middle school she could‟ve taught our sex education class better than the teacher we were assigned.
“Excuse me?” Was she seriously standing here accusing me of being responsible for Keyshia‟s condition?
“Every time some shit goes down and my daughter is involved, I know you aren‟t too far behind. So what was it this time Asjiah?” Ms. Livingston adjusted her gold bangles, crossed her arms and glared at me with hate in her eyes.
“I didn‟t have anything to do with this. This is the first time I‟ve seen Keyshia in at least a month or so.”
“Why don‟t I believe that?”
“I really don‟t give a shit what you believe, when is the last time
you
saw your daughter? Maybe if you wiped the cum out your eyes you could pay more attention to her.”
“You know I never liked you.”
“The feeling‟s mutual.”
“You think you‟re so innocent. You always thought you were so much better than my Keyshia. I‟ve seen the way you look down at her. Maybe you‟re just jealous, maybe your envy for what my daughter has finally got out of control and you set her up.”
“Jealous? I‟m jealous?” I smiled, giggling a little at her insinuations.
“You‟re right, I am jealous. You have to excuse me because I‟m a little bitter since I don‟t get as much dick as Keyshia does.” I scratched my head causing my hair to frizz up a little giving me a disoriented appearance.
“Maybe I‟m a little on edge because I have yet to take it in the ass; I‟m not sure. Then again, maybe I‟m angry cause I didn‟t get the starring role in last summers blockbuster; „Let‟s bang the Crackhead‟. I should write all this down so I can remember to ask her if she can teach me how to be a hoe when she wakes up. Danielle, you gotta pen?”
“I…I..,” Danielle looked back at me puzzled not knowing how to respond.
“Your daughter don‟t have shit but a worn out pussy, broken ribs, a couple of stitches and a mother who never gave a fuck about her. I‟m not loose like that and I think I‟ll pass on the assault and battery. And Oh, I‟m pretty sure I got it covered as far as dysfunctional family goes.”
Ms. Livingston walked further into the room until she was standing directly in front of me. “Listen here you little bitch…”
I slapped her hooker red finger nail out of the way and looked dead in her eyes.
“No you listen, I‟ve had a very,
very
long day and I was trying to be respectful but I don‟t have the energy for yo‟ bullshit. She called me, not you so she obviously doesn‟t want you here; so why don‟t you go back to the dick you crawled off of and get the fuck outta my face.”
This day had taken too much out of me and my patience was beginning to run out. She looked as if she wanted to hit me and I was ready in case she did. I had had enough of just about everybody so if she wanted to fight; fuck it, let‟s do it.
“Is everything okay in here?” Ashley; the nurse from earlier tapped on the door commanding our attention.
Ms. Livingston glanced at Keyshia, then, back at me before responding. “Yeah everything is fine.”
“Well visiting hours are over, I‟m afraid everyone‟s going to have to leave and allow our patient to get some rest.” She walked over to the IV bag and began checking Keyshia‟s fluids.
Ms. Livingston knelt down besides her and whispered in herear, “I thought I taught you better than this.” She kissed her on the cheek, zipped her leather jacket and disappeared into the hallway.
Danielle waited until the chime to the elevator sounded before she spoke.
“So that‟s Keyshia‟s mom huh?”
“Yeah that‟s her, in all her sluttastic glory.”
“Do we really have to leave?” Danielle watched as the nurse continued to check Keyshia‟s vitals.
“No, you two can stay. I could hear you arguing from down the hall and it seemed like things were getting pretty heated in here so I stepped in.” Ashley looked at the monitor, wrote some things down on the chart then turned back to us.
“If you two need anything just let me know, there‟s some blankets in the closet if you get cold.”
“Okay, thank you.”
I was beginning to feelnauseous, I hadn‟t eaten since yesterday and aside from a few sips of water nothing had touched my stomach. I got up and barely made it to the bathroom as I began to cough up the lining of my intestines.
“Are you okay?”
I started to dry heave as my insides convulsed in an effort to regurgitate anything it could. I had to remember that I was no longer eating for just myself anymore.
“Yeah…I‟m fine.”
Danielle held my hair behind my head and rubbed my back. “Are you hungry? Would you like me to run and getyou something?”
I lifted my head, wiped my mouth and leaned against the wall. “You look like you need some food too.”
As if on cue her stomach began to growl. “Yeah I guess I do.”
“I could use some fresh air why don‟t we go to the Chicago Deli over on Euclid.”
“Sounds good,”
“Where‟d you park?” I grabbed my navy Polo jacket off the chair and waited for her to get her things.
“I didn‟t drive. I rode in the ambulance with Keyshia.” The sliding doors opened, prompting her to rub her arms vigorously.
“Here.” I handed her my jacket, zipped my sweatshirt and placed my hood over my head.
“Thanks.”
“Don‟t worry about it.”

“S irhave you been helped yet?” The nurse signed off on her charts and placed them in the appropriate bin before turning to face him, “Sir?”

“I‟m looking for a girl; brown skin, maybe around 5‟5”. I think she was brought to this hospital earlier.” His eyes darted nervously around the ER.

“Do you know her name?”
“Uh…,” He was uneasy, jittery. He was taking a huge risk being out in public but he needed to know if she was still alive.
“Her name Sir,”
“Just tell me what room she‟s in.”
“Due to patient safety, we can‟t let you any further than the lobby if you don‟t know her name.”
“But I‟m family.”
The nurse was beginning to get suspicious; his presence made her nervous. “All the more reason you should know her name.”
She managed to make eye contact with a passing security guard who seemed to sense her discomfort.
“Is there a problem here Ash?”
He turned around to face the young man who was standing behind him with his chest poked out tapping on his gun.
“No problem at all,” Glancing down at his badge he smirked. “Officer Bailey, I was just trying to see if my sister was here, but I guess she isn‟t.” He winked at the nurse before stepping away from the desk.
“If you want I can look at that scar for you.” He had forgotten that his wound was exposed as he ran his hand across his throat.
“I‟m good.” Brushing by the officer he disappeared out the exit before she could say anything else.
“What was that about?”
“I don‟t know, he was asking about a girl that he thought had been admitted here but he couldn‟t give me any information on her.”
“Yeah that‟s weird.”
“Weird isn‟t the word, he was down right creepy.”
We took our seats at the Chicago Deli and waited for the waitress to return as we looked over the menu.
“I‟m sorry I was such a bitch to you earlier. This hasn‟t really been the best day for me.” I placed my hands around the band of my sweatpants and rubbed my stomach.
“It‟s cool. Today hasn‟t really been my favorite day either.” Danielle sipped her tea and began to relax a little as the peach flavored liquid warmed her body.
“Are you doing okay? I know that had to be really scary walking in on something like that.”
“Yeah it was; I‟ve never seen so much blood before.”
“It was that bad huh?” The apple juice I ordered seemed to sit well with baby Jai. Every time I would stop drinking it, I would get kicked.
“Bad is an understatement. It was gruesome. The sheets were bloody, the walls; it scares me just to think of what he must‟ve done to her.”
“I told her to be careful.”
“What do you mean?”
“Keyshia is careless, too impulsive; she doesn‟t think things through.”
“Cobb salad with ranch dressing,” Danielle moved her hands so the waitress could sit her plate down, “And chicken tenders with a small fruit bowl.” After asking if we needed anything else, the petite blonde girl smiled and walked away.
“So did you see anyone leave the room?”
My question made her fumble and drop her fork.
“No…”
“And you said you don‟t remember what the guy looked like that you ran into?”
Danielle hesitated before continuing. “I couldn‟t really see his face…”
Before I could drill her any further, her phone rang.
“Hey baby, what‟s up?”
I picked all the cherries out of the fruit bowl as I waited for her to finish her call.
“I‟m fine, no; I‟ll be there later, I just wanted to make sure she was okay.” Danielle held her finger up, suggesting she would only be a few more minutes. “Alright, love you too.”
“Boyfriend?”
“Huh? Oh yeah, sorry about that. I left the hotel before I could tell him what happened, he just wanted to make sure I was straight.”
I was getting ready to hammer her with questions about this guy of hers but before I could get my words together, she changed the subject.
“So what high school did you go to?”
“Keyshia and I went to South, you?
“Warrensville, is her mother always like that?”
“For the most part, but I only come around when she isn‟t there because as you can tell she despises me.”
“It can‟t be that bad.”
“Trust me, you don‟t know the half.”
Danielle drizzled ranch dressing on her salad then continued.
“So how long have you two been friends?”
“Since elementary, she‟s like a sister to me.” “Then why haven‟t you seen her in a month?” “What?” I pushed my plate to the side and sat back.
“You told her mother you hadn‟t seen her in a month or so. Why is that?”
“So now you‟re interrogating me too?”
“No…I was just…”
“You were just what?” I rubbed my scalp, cocked my head to the side and sighed.
“A lot of drama went down last summer, Keyshia got involved in some shit that I wasn‟t cool with and we stopped speaking. End of story.”
“Sounds like, it‟s either your way, or no way.”
“No, it sounds like you need to mind your fucking business.” My leg began to twitch as I stared across the table at her. She was really beginning to irritate me. “Are you always this mean?”
“Are you always this nosy?”
“I‟m just saying; it seems like you would be a little nicer to the person who saved your best friends life.”
“So what do you want a cookie now?” I looked around the room for our waitress. “I can buy you a cookie if that would make you feel better.”
“Fuck you.” She tossed her napkin on the table and got up.
The other patrons in the restaurant turned and looked my way as Danielle stormed outside.
“Aww, did I upset you?” Laughing, I unlocked the doors to the Civic and allowed her to get into the car.
“Keyshia‟s mom was right, you are a bitch.”
“No, a bitch would be telling you to give me my jacket back and putting you out of my car.” I turned the key, and shifted the gear into drive.
“Listen, I don‟t know you, and you don‟t know me, but you seem like a smart girl so you should know that there‟s only so much advice you can give someone before you say fuck it and allow them to learn on their own. Keyshia thought she could fly so I allowed her to do so; now it seems like she‟s fallen flat on her face.”