𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐃𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭.

𝑽𝑰

"Amerie, are you able to hear and understand what I am saying to you sweetheart?" The voice and body of a nurse stood before her, capturing her attention quickly.

She shot her eyes over towards the woman, but she could only stare. She found her anxiety rising by the second from her nerves increasing, her lack of trust for anyone who said to be in a position to help her only becoming greater by the day. Her eyes gradually trailed over towards her mother who stood up to speak for her.

"She can hear and understand you fine, she's just a bit tapped out mentally right now. You can continue on speaking though." She spoke up, seeing as Amerie wouldn't be the one to do it.

Nodding, the nurse placed her eyes back down to her clipboard, before looking back to Amerie. "Okay great, so from what we've looked at you have both new injuries and old ones that have never been healed. As of right now, the most serious of which is bruising on your ribs." She informed her, waiting for some type of response or reaction that she still didn't get.

Amerie's dull brown eyes just stared, silently.

"Um, you also have bruising and injury to the face. Currently you suffer from a black eye, busted lip, and heavy swelling which will go down in the coming days. Thankfully, nothing is broken or fractured in the face and it isn't looking like you'll need surgery. All of your injuries can be healed with proper rest, care, and therapy." The nurse gave a tight-lipped smile to Amerie, who finally gave the smallest nod to show she understood.

She looked to the nurse for anything else, but was met with nothing once she turned on her heels to leave out. And the second she did, her mother immediately rushed up towards her with tears filled in her eyes as she embraced her daughter as gently as possible.

"Oh God, my baby!" She cried out as she raised her head from the hug to grasp Amerie's face in both her palms. "I'm so so so sorry I don't even- I know that doesn't even change anything but-."

"Please...don't apologize." The raspiness of her voice forced out a cough from her lack of anything to drink for 2 days. "I need water."

Veronica quickly raised up with a nod to grab the water she had in her purse. She didn't hesitate in screwing the cap off for Amerie, before placing the bottle along the bottom lip of her daughter who carefully tilted her head up. Her eyes squeezed shut in pain with every swallow, from the dryness that filled her throat.

She intook the entire bottle unknowingly, until pulling her head away. Her body sunk back into the bed she lay in, just intaking the feeling of her muscles on anything that wasn't the hardness of a cold cot or the ground.

"I brought you some breakfast because I know you're hungry. Kimora and some of the boys are on their way with Lani too." She informed her daughter while she maneuvered around the room until finding exactly what she was looking for.

At the mention of food, Amerie could feel her stomach rumbling just from the thought. And it only got louder once the plates of stuffed French toast, breakfast potatoes, bacon, and fruit was placed in front of her. She could tell it was freshly made from the warmth that still radiated off of it, making her appetite only increase.

"Momma I haven't eaten something actually cooked in so long." She breathed out, immediately digging straight into the plate.

Veronica only shook her head seeing how fast she ate, and taking the time to really recognize how much weight Amerie did lose. She didn't look sickly, but compared to the way she'd been shaped and built her entire life, the difference was very evident.

"It won't be today, but we're long overdue for a very serious conversation. About everything." Veronica raised an eyebrow, making Amerie's fast chewing immediately slow down almost on command.