A couple of days had went by and Ma hadn't made any improvements. Fatima did not leave her bedside. No matter how hard Zac and Tyhia tried to get her to leave she was adamant she wasn't leaving until Ma woke up.
Once Fatima found out that Ma was in the hospital everything else stopped nothing else mattered. She just continued to pray over her mom
Zac tried to be there for Fatima as much as he could since he couldn't stay at the hospital. He made sure he stopped by and checked on Fatima before he got his day started. He could tell Fatima was really hurting behind her mother being in the hospital. On top of the fact that she wasn't really eating or sleeping herself.
When he got to the hospital Fatima was curled up in the chair sleeping peacefully. He caressed her arm waking her up
Fatima yawning and stretching
Fatima: Good Morning babe
Zac: Good morning glad to see you actually sleeping even though I know this chair isn't comfortable
Fatima: It's not but I don't want to leave her side
Zac: I know but you also have to take care of yourself too because when Ma pulls through you are going to have to be there to help.
Fatima: I know I am going to leave today in a few so I can go take a hot shower I feel sticky using the hospital shower.
Zac: Do you need me to take you home
Fatima: No I can drive Tyhia dropped my car off the other day
Zac: Okay can we eat something fulfilling while your out
Fatima: Yes I promise
Zac: Thank you giving Fatima a kiss I will not be at work or the center all day I want to be able to come back and sit with you. I miss you
Fatima: I miss you more sorry I haven't been present
Zac: Don't apologize I know Ma comes first I wouldn't expect nothing less
As they were kissing Tyhia walked in the room
Tyhia: Yuck get a room all this love making in front of Ma
Fatima: Oh hush just loving on my man
Tyhia: You know I'm just playing now if it was someone else I would talk shit but since it's Zac y'all get a pass
Zac: I can't imagine what you use to deal with before but Tyhia put it like I'm the best you ever had
Tyhia yelled out AND IS!
Fatima: Yeah we ain't gone talk about what came before you because it was crazy
Zac: Well hey I had some crazy ones too as you seen
Tyhia: Yeah speaking of that crazy bitch did they ever find her
Zac: No they actually called me the other day and said she's on the run
Fatima: Wow that's some crazy shit
Tyhia: So her ass could be lurking in the damn bushes ready to jump out on y'all ass. Y'all better be careful and carry a strap at all times. Her ass is unhinged
Zac: Yeah a switch must have switched on in her head because she was not crazy like this unless her ass was masking it
Tyhia: Naw once a crazy person always a crazy person
There was this one chick named Karen in college that was messing with this one man. He broke up with her and her ass went bat shit crazy. She didn't not take no for an answer, they had to put her ass in a crazy house. Her ass probably still in there til this day bipolar ass
Once I see the first sign that you crazy peace out
Fatima: She better keep her ass away because the way I am feeling she gone catch a bullet fucking with me on any day
Zac: Not my baby being a gangster
Well Tyhia now that you are here I am going to head out Fatima promised she would head home and get something to eat can you hold her to it
Tyhia: Hell yeah
I love Ma but Fatima know I don't like hospital they make me want to throw up it's the smell. It just reminds me of rotten old people
Fatima: Fool it ain't all old people in the hospitals you referring to nursing homes
Tyhia: That's even worse I don't like none of them
But I will make sure she leave we about to leave now and I will drive so she don't try to drive off on me
Fatima: Really it ain't even that deep
Tyhia: I'm just saying
And I hope you ain't stinking you been here for 3 days
Fatima: Don't play me for a dirty bitch, now you know that's one thing I don't play about is my hygiene. I took a bath every day while I was here and not a hoe bath
Zac: Y'all are a mess bye babe call me if you need me love you
Fatima: Love you too
Tyhia: I really crack myself up
Fatima:Yeah you in the wrong line of work because you stay cracking jokes
Tyhia: Gotta make light of the situation I like seeing people smile and making them laugh
Fatima: Okay lets hurry up and leave so we can get back to Ma
Tyhia: And are we going to Zac's place first
Fatima: Yeah I so need a hot shower
They pulled up to Zac's about 15 minutes later Fatima hurried up and got in the shower. Tyhia was packing Fatima an over night bag for the hospital
Tyhia: They got this shit all in these drawers all organized. Both they ass got OCD real bad
I wish my ass was this organized
Fatima hopped out the shower
Fatima: That shower was everything and the water pressure was on point
Tyhia: Ain't nothing like a hot shower. I packed all your essentials
Fatima: Thanks
Tyhia: I need you to come and help and organize cause I got shit everywhere
Fatima: You know I like organizing I got you
They went and grabbed something to eat then ran a couple errands
Zac
Zac stopped by the office just to see how things were going now that he had the community center too he couldn't be in two places at once. He was able to promote Jay to a manager position and he even promoted Brian to Area Lead. Both of them were stepping up and made sure things were in order and ran how Zac would do it. So he wasn't worried when he had to step away
He poked his head in to grab some papers then headed to the community center
When he got to the center it was packed with kids playing in the gym and some kids in the video game room.
Kelly: Good Afternoon Mr.Taylor
Zac: You don't have to be so formal just call me Zac
Kelly: It's a habit I'm sorry
Zac: I understand how is everything going
Kelly: Great I feel like we get new kids coming in everyday we gone need a bigger center before we know it
Zac: That's what I love to hear
Kelly: But I do have a little visitor in your office. This kid came in by himself no parents and he didn't want to talk to me. He doesn't look to good and I didn't want to just send him back on the street
Zac: Okay you did the right things lets see if I can talk to him
Kelly: Okay hopefully you can it broke my heart seeing what he had on
Zac: It's that bad
Kelly: Yes
When Zac walked into his office he didn't see the little boy at first until he turned the corner and seen the little boy balled up in the corner facing the wall
Zac turned on the light and the little boy started screaming
Zac: Sorry I will turn it back off
Hey little man can you talk to me I'm Zac
The little boy had on to small clothes with some beat up shoes on that were falling apart at the soles
He had patches in his head and smelled of urine
Zac stepped a little closer and his nose started burning for the urine smell
Zac: Hey how about this I have some chocolate
Do you like chocolate
The little boy peeked around to see if Zac really had some chocolate. When he made eye contact with Zac he hurried up and turned back around
Zac: It's okay I won't hurt you I am going to come closer and place the chocolate right beside you
Zac knew the boy maybe traumatized so he didn't want to trigger him by getting close to him
Zac placed the chocolate bar next to the little boy. He grabbed the chocolate so fast he started eating it with the wrapper on
Zac: Hold on little man let me help you with that you can't eat the wrapper
The little boy handed Zac the chocolate and looked up at Zac with his big brown teary eyes
In that moment Zac could see a younger him in the little boy
Hoping from house to house and not even having anything to eat because it was used as a form of punishment
Zac got teary eyed thinking of his own upbringing he had to walk out of the room to gather himself
Zac went to go look for Kelly
Zac: Hey you said he came in by himself
Kelly: Yeah I even rolled the cameras back to see if he was dropped off
He came wandering down the street all by himself and he's been here for about 4 hours
Zac: He was balled up in the corner when I went into my office I was able to get him to at least come out the corner by bribing him with chocolate
Kelly: Do you want me to have one of the social workers come up here
Zac: Yes if you could call them so we can just follow protocol
Kelly: Alright I'll do that now
When Zac went back to his office the little boy was looking through Zac's drawer for more chocolate. When he seen Zac he ran back to the corner
Zac: You don't have to go back to the corner
Can you tell me your name
The little boy whispered Trey
Zac: Where are your parents Trey
The little boy shrugged his shoulder
Zac: Do you know where you live
The little boy shook his head no
Zac: Are you hurt
The little boy shook his head yes and pointed to different parts on his body
Zac didn't want to expose him so he just pulled up the little boys sleeve and he had bruises and burn marks all over his arm
Zac mumbled what the fuck under his breath
By that time Kelly came walking in with the social worker
Tanisha: Kelly called me right when I was walking out of the office
Zac: Sorry thank you for coming so quickly look like he just wandered in off the street his name is Trey but he doesn't know where he lives
Tanisha: Hi Trey what's your last name
The little boy hide behind Zac's leg
Zac: It's okay she is here to help
The little boy whispered his name in Zac's ear
Zac: Trey Bruce
Tanisha opened her computer to see if she had anything in the system for Trey already and looks like she did
Tanisha: Kelly can you watch him while I talk to Zac
So looks like this isn't the first time this has happened he is already in foster care. I hate to say it, it's to late to try and find him a place to stay for the weekend and the placement houses are already full
Zac: I can keep him for the weekend if I am able to do that
Tanisha: You are approved already but are you sure
Zac: Yes I am sure
Tanisha: You are a guardian angel, I'll be here first thing Monday morning. Looks like I got some work to do this weekend
Thank you so much
Zac: Thank you
Zac: Say man you want to go get cleaned up would you like to hang with me for the weekend
The little boy smiled and nodded his head
Kelly: Let me go get him some fresh clothes and shoes and we can get him cleaned up
Zac: Thank you
This is one of the main reasons why Zac wanted to open the community center he wanted a save haven for all the kids that looked exactly like him when he was younger. He just didn't have this when he was younger
Kelly got Trey showered and dressed he looked totally different the barber from next door was able to come and get lil man a fresh cut. Once they were done the little boy looked in the mirror and probably smiled for the first time in a long time.
Zac had a big kool aid smile on his face
Zac: Looking good man give me high five
Fatima
Fatima and Tyhia were waiting in line at the store when her phone rung it was the hospital
Fatima: Is everything okay is my Mom okay
Doctor: Yes Ms. Wilson I was calling to tell you that your mom just woke up and asked for you
Fatima exhaled Thank you Jesus
I will be right there thank you so much for calling me
Fatima hung up the phone
Fatima: That was the hospital Ma just woke up
Tyhia: Thank you lord you had me scared for a minute
Hurry up we gotta go see our mother she just woke up from a coma
Everyone clapped and praised the Lord with them
The cashier got them checked out
Fatima was speeding trying to get back to the hospital
Tyhia: Do you want to be in the bed next to Ma
Fatima: No why
Tyhia: Then slow yo ass down before we get in an accident Ma ain't going no where
Fatima: Sorry I am just anxious to hug on her and see her
Tyhia: You and me both but I want to make it there in one piece
Fatima had texted Ma had woke up and she was headed back to the hospital
Zac texted her and said he was headed that way with a visitor