"Okay. Are you going home soon?"
I looked back towards the room. I had been at Gianna's side for the past two days. Only going home to shower and change. Of course my son wanted me home. "Tell you what, give Daddy a few more hours with GG and I'll be home tonight."
"Yay! Okay. Mee-Mee wants to talk to you."
"Alright, buddy."
Seconds later Mama's soft voice slid on the phone. "You take the time you need, son," she said. "Melo's fine. We're going to dinner tonight."
I exhaled slowly. "Thanks, Ma. I should take him home at least for the night. Her parents just came anyway."
"Oh—how are they?"
"Sad. Seeing their daughter like this. But kind."
"If possible, we would love to meet them," Mama said.
"I'll see what I can do." I placed my hand in my pocket. "I'll give you a call if anything changes."
"Okay, baby."
We ended the call. I leaned back against the wall exhaling slowly. I just needed her to wake up. I couldn't even think straight until that happened.
Night had settled over the hospital quietly.
Gianna's parents had left to check into their hotel and shower after refusing to leave her bedside for hours. Ronnie had stepped out to grab food insisting I needed to eat too even though the thought of food made me sick.
So now it was just me and her. I sat beside her bed in the reclining chair, one leg stretched out while my fingers absentmindedly rubbed slow circles across the back of her hand.
Two days.
I looked exhausted. Felt exhausted. My beard needed trimming. My eyes burned from lack of sleep and crying more in forty-eight hours than I had in years. I stared at her face quietly. The swelling had gone down some. Her color was slowly returning too. Every now and then her brows would twitch faintly like she was fighting her way through whatever place she had drifted off to.
"You been stressing me out, beautiful," I murmured softly. I brought her hand to my lips kissing her knuckles gently before settling back in the chair. Melo's rainbow marble still sat beside her hand on the blanket. My chest tightened at the sight of it. "He asks about you every hour," I said quietly with a tired smile. "Talking about some,'Daddy when GG coming home?'" I chuckled softly to myself. "Lil' man got it bad for you."
The monitor continued its soft steady beeping.
I leaned my head back against the chair closing my eyes. "Everybody loves you already," I said. "My mama. Angel. Pops. Hell—even Melo's teacher asked about you." I smiled softly atthe thought of the impact she had made on our lives. "You really came in and turned our whole world upside down, huh?"
Silence settled again.
Then—movement. Her fingers twitched slightly against mine. The twitch was so small I almost thought I imagined it. My eyes immediately snapped opened. I froze. "Gianna?" I leaned forward instantly.
Another small movement. Then the faintest crease formed between her brows. Her lips parted slightly as she took a deeper breath.
My heart started pounding violently. "Baby?" My voice shook as I stood up fast moving closer to the bed.
Her eyes slowly opened, moved sluggishly around the room unfocused, dazed, and confused.
"Hey, beautiful."
The breathing tube shifted slightly, and panic flashed across her face.
"Shhh—" I soothed quickly reaching for her hand. "Don't fight it. You're in the hospital. You're okay."
Her breathing picked up anyway. I could see the fear building instantly.
"Look at me." I cupped the side of her face gently forcing her eyes toward mine. "It's me. It's Remy."
