by Lady Lissa
“I’m not sure ma’am. If you have a seat in the waiting room, I will see if I can get a doctor to come out and talk to you,” she says.
“I’ll wait here until you get back, thank you.”
“Of course,” the nurse says and gets up from her seat behind the desk.
Ms. Nina spots me in the waiting room and makes a beeline for me, Maggie and J.T. trailing behind her. From the look on her face, I can tell it isn’t going to be a good confrontation. As she makes her way over to me, my parents burst in the emergency room doors and also head my way. I breathe a sigh of relief because at least I won’t have to face Starr’s mom alone.
“What happened to my baby, Onyx?” she asks me.
“I don’t know,” I answer.
“What the hell do you mean you don’t know? Weren’t the two of you together?” she asks.
“Yes but when we left the hotel and were walking to my car, I got called back because I forgot something inside. When I came back out, Starr was lying on the ground and someone said she had been hit by a car,” I explain.
“Oh my God! Starr was hit by a car! Is she going to be alright?” my mom asks as she wraps her arms around me. This is the first time I feel comfortable enough to share my feelings. Tears immediately spring to my eyes and next thing I know, I’m crying a river on my mom’s shoulder.
“I-I-I-don’t know mom. They rushed her to the back,” I tell them, as my mom wipes away my tears the way she used to when I was a little kid.
“Who the hell would hit my baby and just drive off?” Mrs. Nina asks.
“I don’t know,” I answer.
“I bet it was that bitch Mandy! She did this, didn’t she Onyx?” Maggie asks.
“I don’t know. I didn’t see it happen,” I say.
“I bet she did. She hated Starr because the two of you are together,” Maggie says.
“Is Starr going to be alright?” J.T. asks me.
“I hope so man,” I say.
The police walk in through the emergency room doors and head towards us.
“Good evening folks. I’m Officer Curtis and this is Officer Mayfield. We are looking for the parent or parents of Starr Landry,” one of the cops says.
“I’m Starr’s mother. Did you find the son of a bitch who did this to my daughter?” Starr’s mom asks.
“Not yet ma’am, but we were able to speak with three witnesses who saw what happened. They were able to give us a description of the vehicle, which is why we’re here. We just wanted to check with you to find out if you may know someone who tries a tan Honda Civic with tinted windows? We’ve issued an all-points bulletin in hopes of finding the car.”
“Tan Honda Civic!” Mrs. Nina exclaims.
“Yes ma’am. Does that vehicle sound familiar to you?” the other officer asks.
“It sounds familiar to me,” I respond.
“And me. I told y’all that bitch did it!” Maggie yells.
“Calm down ma’am and tell us who you are referring to,” Officer Curtis tells Maggie.
That vehicle matches the description of Mandy’s car, but she couldn’t have done this. How would she have even known where we were? She could not have been this evil to do something like this to Starr, could she?
“His stupid ex-girlfriend, Mandy has a car like that,” Maggie says.
“So, your ex-girlfriend drives a vehicle that fits this description, young man?” the cops asks.
“Yes sir. Mandy has a car like that,” I say.
“You don’t think that Mandy is responsible for this, do you Onyx?” my mom asks as she places her hand over her mouth.
“I don’t know mom. She hasn’t really been herself lately. It’s like she’s gon’ crazy or something and the scene she caused at graduation last night. Anything is possible with her and I wouldn’t put this incident past her either,” I say.
“What is her last name and do you know where we can find this girl Mandy?”
I tell them her last name is Brooks and I rattle off Mandy’s address. The police asks, “How is your daughter ma’am? Is she going to be alright?”
“I don’t know. I’m still waiting for the doctors to come and tell me how she’s doing,” she says.
“Please excuse me. I need to make a phone call,” I say as I step out.
I exit the emergency room waiting room because I need to find out where the fuck Mandy is. I pull my phone out my pocket and swipe the screen to unlock it. I dial Mandy’s number and wait for her to respond. She doesn’t answer on the first or second ring. After the third ring, she picks up.
“Hello,” she answers, sounding nervous as fuck.
“Mandy, where the hell are you?” I ask.
“Onyx? What you coming at me like that for?”
“Tell me where you are,” I demand.
“Why? I thought you were with your little bitch and didn’t have time for me,” she says.
“Look, Starr was hit tonight and the description of the car that was given is the same as yours. So tell me where you are,” I say again.
“Why do you need to know where I am? You already made your choice,” she says.
“Didn’t you hear what I just said? Starr was hit by a car tonight and the police think that it was your car,” I say.
“Yea, I heard you. I don’t give a shit about that girl and if all you’re calling me about has to do with her, we can end this call right now,” she says.
“Mandy, if I find out that you had anything to do with Starr getting hit. If I find out that you were driving that car that hit her, I will find you and I will kill you,” I say.
“Wow! You will kill me. Humph, those are certainly big words and threats coming from you, Onyx. You know you ain’t about that life. Don’t say shit you don’t mean,” she says.
“Let me find out you were driving and you will find out if I’m about that life,” I tell her.
“Boy bye! Ain’t nobody afraid of yo ass Onyx,” she says.
“Aight. Then I guess I’ll have to make a believer out of you. Tell me where you are,” I say.
“Look, I got shit to do. Save me an obituary from your bitch’s funeral,” she says and hangs up the phone.
That shit pisses me off and if I didn’t need my phone so bad, I’d throw it across the parking lot. I bet Lucy knows where the fuck she is. I scroll through my phone because I think I have her number. I haven’t used it in a long time, but I’m sure it’s here. I’ve had to call her phone a couple of times when Mandy and I were dating. I finally find the number and hit the send button.
It’s almost as if she was waiting on my call because she answers on the first ring.
“Hello,” she says, sounding uncertain as to who is on the other end of the phone.
“Luciana, it’s Onyx. I need to talk to you for a minute if you have the time,” I say.
“Onyx? Sure, what’s up?” she asks.
“Do you know where Mandy was last night?”
“No, why?” she asks.
“Starr was involved in a hit and run and the description of the car that was given matches Mandy’s. Have you seen or spoken to her at all since last night?”
“No, but I can try to track her down for you if you want me to,” she offers.
“Okay, please do that and let me know if you find her. If you happen to see her and she has any damage to the front end of her car, please let me know,” I say.
“No problem. How is Starr doing?” she asks.
“I’m not sure. She’s in the back with the doctors right now,” I say.
“Okay. Well I hope she pulls through and if you need anything, please don’t hesitate to call me,” she says.
“Aight, thanks.”
I end the call with her and head back to the waiting room.
“Any word from the doctor yet?” I ask.
As if on cue, a doctor enters the waiting room, removing his latex gloves.
“I am looking for the family of Starr Landry,” he says.
We all rus
h to his side, including the police. I’m sure they need to know how Starr is doing so that when they find Mandy, if she did do this, they can arrest her accordingly.
“I’m her mother,” Mrs. Nina says.
“I’m Doctor Links, your daughter is going to be fine. She has a broken arm, a mild concussion, and a fractured pelvis. We also had to repair two broken ribs and a punctured lung,” the doctor explains.
“Oh my God! How is she doctor?” Starr’s mom asks.
“She is going to need plenty of rest but she is expected to make a full recovery. I understand she was hit by a hit and run driver,” the doctor says.
“Yes doctor. Are you sure my baby is going to be alright?” Starr’s mother asks.
“Yes ma’am, it’ll take her a few weeks to make a full recovery, but she’ll be fine,” he says.
“Oh thank God. I’m gonna kill that bitch!” Maggie says.
“Can I see her?” Ms. Nina asks as she pats Maggie’s arm in an effort to calm her down.
“She’s being moved to a private room right now, so let’s give the nurses a few more minutes. If you want to spend the night with her, that’s fine, but the rest of the visitors will have to see her tomorrow because visiting hours are over for the evening,” Doctor Links says.
“Okay,” Starr’s mom says.
Once the doctor has retreated back behind the double doors, my mom puts her arms around Starr’s mom.
“Thank God she’s going to be okay,” my mom tells her.
“Yea, thank God. I don’t know what I would have done if something had happened to my baby,” Starr’s mom says.
“Is Thomas on his way?” my dad asks.
“Yes, he was out of town on business but I called and told him what happened. He should be here in a couple of hours,” Ms. Nina says.
“Good. We will wait with you guys until he gets here,” my mom says.
“No, you don’t have to do that. You heard what the doctor said; visiting hours are over for the night. Y’all go on home and get some rest and just come back up here tomorrow if y’all can.”
If we can? What the hell does she mean if we can? I’m staying right here until I can go in and see Starr. Last I checked she can have two overnight guests and even though I know her dad is on his way, I can wait with her mom until he gets here.
“Onyx honey, are you okay to drive? Do you want me to drive your car back home for you? I’m sure you’re tired so while I’m driving, you can just get some sleep,” my mom offers.
“I’m not leaving,” I say.
Starr’s mom and siblings look at me as if I said something crazy, but they don’t say anything. I’m sure there’s a lot Starr’s mom would like to say but don’t want my mom and dad putting her in her place. I don’t care though. Whatever she has to say to me, she can wait until they’re gone. I don’t need my parents fighting my battles for me. Sure, I was a little nervous when this incident first happened. Who wouldn’t be?
But now that I know Starr is going to be alright, if her mom wants to lash out, then so be it. She doesn’t scare me. She never did. I’m a grown ass man, but I guess she forgets that sometimes because she saw me grow up. She better look again and see me for who I really am.
“Onyx honey, you heard what the doctor said. You won’t be able to see her until tomorrow so you might as well come home with me and your father,” my mom says.
“I’m not leaving this hospital until I see for myself that Starr is alright,” I say.
“Do you think the doctors are lying or something son? They know what they are doing so Starr is in very good and capable hands. C’mon home and me and your mother will come back to the hospital with you tomorrow,” my dad says, trying to reason with me and reassure me that Starr will be safe until we return.
“No dad. I want to be here when she comes out of recovery,” I say.
“But my husband is coming to meet me and the kids. Only two people are allowed to stay with her overnight anyway,” Starr’s mom says.
“That doesn’t matter to me, Ms. Nina. I can stay with you guys until your husband gets here and then I’ll wait in the waiting room,” I tell her.
“Onyx, they said that visiting hours are over. That means only two people can go into Starr’s room tonight. I have my other two kids here also and they want to see their sister too. Why don’t you go home with your parents and come back in the morning?” her mom asks.
“Because I want Starr to know that I’m here. I’m not going to leave until I see that she’s alright,” I say.
What the hell is wrong with Starr’s mom and her damn attitude? It’s almost like she doesn’t want me around. Does she blame me for this accident? I mean, I know Mandy drives a car like that but so do hundreds of other people in this city. Just because Mandy has a car matching the description of the one people saw hit Starr, doesn’t mean it was her and it doesn’t mean that I’m to blame for this. This incident could have very well been just an accident.
“Onyx, it makes no…” my mom begins.
“I’m staying mom, please. I’m eighteen years old so if I want to stay and make sure my girl is okay, I should be able to do that. Now you two can go home. I’ll be fine,” I say.
They keep treating me like some damn kid. I’m not a little kid anymore and I don’t need them to stick around and hold my hand. I am not leaving here until I make sure that Starr is okay and that’s all there is to it.
“Okay honey, we’ll leave but we will be back in the morning,” my mom says, giving me a hug and a kiss on my cheek.
My dad also hugs me and tells me to call them if I need anything. Once the two of them have gone home, I can feel Starr’s mom’s eyes piercing a hole in my back. I turn to look at her and straighten out my shoulders. My mom always says to face whatever problems I have head on, no matter who it is and that’s exactly what I am about to do. As much respect as I have for Ms. Nina, I am not going to allow her to intimidate me. If she wants to hash shit out, let’s do it.
Before she can say anything, I decide to address her attitude towards me.
“Ms. Nina, I don’t know why you keep looking at me like that, but this is not my fault. I would have never done anything to put Starr in harm’s way. If I had known any of this was going to happen, I would have pushed her out of the way and allowed the car to strike me. That’s how much I love your daughter,” I say.
“I know you love her Onyx, but the thought that this whole thing might have been your crazy ex-girlfriend’s fault. Like, she may have done this,” she says.
“But I didn’t do that. I don’t know if Mandy was the one who did this, but I will find out and I promise you that she will pay for this shit,” I say.
“Thank God my little girl is okay. This could have gone a whole different way,” she says.
“Don’t think like that. We have to be grateful that God saved Starr,” I say.
“You know I’m grateful,” she says.
The four of us wait the rest of the time in silence until we are shown to Starr’s room. The nurse said I could come in for a couple of minutes, but that me and one other person would have to leave the room after that. Seeing my baby laying in that hospital bed, with all those tubes hanging out of her, has my insides all twisted and shit. She looks so frail and pale. I rush over to her bedside and hold on to her hand. I just want her to feel that I am here for her.
“I love you Starr and if it’s the last thing I do, I will find out who did this to you.”
CHAPTER TWO
Mandy
I can’t believe Onyx called asking me that shit. Like, how the hell did he already figure out I had something to do with his beloved Starr’s accident? I’m glad that bitch is dead. Once Onyx realizes that I’m the best one for him, he will be glad she’s gone too and he will be more respectful of me. The fact that he wanted to talk about her to me, really grinds my gears.
But if he’s calling me, that means it’s only a matter of time before the police come around looking for me. I have
got to get this windshield fixed before it’s too late. By the time I reach my cousin, Ernest’s house, it’s really late. Well not so late that everyone is in bed already, but late enough so the household will be peeping to see who is there.
I don’t want to alarm anyone and I probably should have rented a room, but with the shape the damn car is in, I can hardly do that. I park my car under the tree closest to the shed that Ernest works out of and get out the car, heading to the front door to knock. I know that my family is going to have a cow because it’s after nine o’clock in the evening.
I also haven’t seen them in over six months so I know they will definitely question why I’m here at this time. My Aunt Barbara is very obese so to keep her big ass out my business, I should have stopped for a couple of double cheeseburgers for her. As I’m waiting by the door for someone to open it, I can hear the squeaks of the house. I can also feel the porch jumping so I know it’s my fat Aunt Barbara coming to the door.
She yanks the door open and squint her eyes, probably to make sure it’s really me at her door this late at night.
“Mandy? Mandy what you doing here girl?” she asks.
“Hi Auntie Barbara, is Ernest here?” I asks.
“Ernest? Whatchu lookin’ for Ernest for?”
“I just need to talk to him about something, that’s all.”
“You come all the way over here at this time to talk to Ernest? You in some kinda trouble girl?” she asks.
“No ma’am. I just really need to talk to him,” I respond.
“You here by yourself?” she asks, peeking around me to see outside.
“Yes Auntie Barbara. Now where is Ernest?” I ask.
“I don’t know who you catching that fuckin’ smart mouth with, but you better watch that shit girl. You ain’t too old for me to tear dat ass up,” she threatens.
“Sorry Auntie Barbara, I didn’t mean anything by it,” I say.
“Sounds like you got some sass at the end of yo damn tongue and I am too old to be putting up with bullshit from you damn kids,” she says.
“Who’s that at the door mom?” my cousin asks as he comes from the back room.
“Ernest! Hey cuz! I was actually looking for you,” I inform him.