Choose Wisely

by Michele V. Mitchell

  “Does this have to do with what we discussed earlier because you don’t have to worry, I took care of everything!”

  I had almost forgotten I told him about Jason’s situation.

  “No sir it’s not that at all. Someone was supposed to be here and they’re not. I’m just a little concerned that’s all,”

  “Well maybe you should go. Go check on your friend. If you need me just give me a call.”

  I thanked my captain and raced to my car. I forgot Melissa had my purse. I ran back inside the building frantically looking for my sister.

  When I reached her I was out of breath and could barely speak.

  “I need my keys!” I gasped.

  She handed me my purse, while pulling on my coat sleeve.

  “What’s the matter with you?”

  “I have a feeling something is wrong with Dontae. He would have never missed this. Something is wrong! I need to find him!”

  “Okay calm down. You’re in no condition to drive. Let me get Tyrone and will all go,”

  I impatiently waited with the feeling of dread coming over me.

  “Lord please let him be all right,” I prayed quietly.

  I dashed for the exit when I saw Melissa and Tyrone running towards me. We hurried to his truck and sped out of the parking lot. My instincts told me to check Dontae’s house first. I sat back as Melissa directed Tyrone to Dontae’s house.

  We pulled in front of Dontae’s house. I jumped out before Tyrone could park. I noticed his car was parked across the street from his house. I ran up the steps jumping two and three steps at a time. When I reached the last step I paused, I was having trouble breathing and my stomach was in knots.

  I jumped, feeling someone’s hand touch my back. I turned to find my sister and Tyrone right behind me.

  “Are you going in?” She asked.

  I looked at the screen door, which was closed. What made me uneasy was the front door was wide open. Dontae never would leave his door wide open in the middle of winter. Melissa took my hand and we walked in together. I wasn’t prepared for what I saw next.

  Dropping my sister’s hand I rushed to Dontae. He was lying on the floor in a puddle of blood not moving. I felt his vitals they were weak. He was still alive but for how long? I thought.

  “Oh my God baby who did this to you?” I screamed.

  I knelt down beside him rubbing his back. The tears fell down my face like rain.

  “Don’t move him,” Tyrone yelled.

  He tried to pull me away from him but I wouldn’t move.

  “Call 911!” Someone yelled.

  I stayed by his side until the paramedics came. They asked me questions but I was too distraught. I just stood there crying. I was thankful my sister was there. She did all the talking she even rode with me in the ambulance.

  “Sandy you have to be strong for him. He needs you to pull yourself together,”

  I knew she was right. I wiped eyes and held his hand. I knew we were about to be in the fight of our lives.

  Dontae

  It was cold. Was I dead? I didn’t think so I heard voices and people crying.

  “Don’t go! Stay with us! We’re going to get you to a hospital.”

  I felt weak. I couldn’t open my eyes. All I wanted to do was follow the beautiful light. But the voices they were so loud. The voices kept my focus off the bright light.

  Someone cried out, “Can you hear me?”

  I wanted to answer but the words wouldn’t come out. I needed to sleep, just for a little while. My mind started wondering. Was I having flashbacks? I remembered I was seven years old. I was sitting on the school bus.

  “Can I sit here?”

  “I don’t care,” I stated.

  That’s when we first met. We got off the bus.

  “Do you know how to get to room thirty-two?”

  “Is that your homeroom?” I asked.

  “Yes,”

  “That’s mine too follow me,”

  I remembered thinking as we walked down the hall. We were going to get married one day. Things were so simple back then. My mind raced to when we were older.

  “You can’t leave me I love you!”

  “You don’t love me. If you loved me you would’ve never cheated on me,”

  “What did you expect when you’re never around?”

  “Oh so it’s my fault you couldn’t keep your pants on?”

  I remembered that night like it was yesterday. Wait! Where were all the voices? I didn’t hear voices! I need to calm down. I decided to focus on the light. It was so beautiful. I wanted to see where it went. I was tired of all the lies and drama. There had to something better. I just couldn’t keep my eyes off there light. I saw someone coming towards me. I couldn’t tell who it was. They reached for my hand. I followed the stranger towards the light. For the first time in months I felt a sense of peace. My mind was made up; I was going to follow this stranger into the light. There was no looking back now.

  As I followed the stranger, she let go of my hand and turned to me. She wasn’t a stranger she was my mother!

  “Mom!” I cried out.

  “Hello son,” she said calmly.

  “Is this heaven?”

  “No son you’re at a crossroad. You have a choice to come with me. Or go back and make things right with the people you love,”

  I hugged her tightly. I didn’t want to let go.

  “I don’t want to go back. I want to enter the gates with you,”

  “Son you will see me again. But now isn’t your time. I raised you to face your problems head on. Not run away from them,”

  I released her and looked at her beautiful face. She had a glow about her and I could see she was in peace.

  “Mom I will go back. I will make things right with everyone I hurt. I love you mom!”

  “I love you too son. Go back and enjoy the rest of your life and one more thing kiss my granddaughter for me,” she beamed.

  “Wait what?” Before she could respond she was gone.

  Melissa

  I hit the end button on my cell phone and looked around the waiting area. The room was filled with familiar faces. Half of our church was there as well as Dontae’s family. I hoped he would be okay. My sister loved him with all her being. I saw an empty seat next to Tyrone and sat down.

  “Did you talk to your dad?”

  “Yes, he said he’ll keep an eye on David until I pick him up,”

  “I was thinking about that. Why don’t I pick him up? That way you can stay here with your sister. And if your father wants to join you, he has that option,”

  I gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.

  “You are so thoughtful. I’m lucky to have you,”

  What had happened earlier was a distant memory. I provoked him. My thought was interrupted when I heard Tyrone say hello. I turned to see who was speaking to. I looked over to find Darius’s mother standing in front of us.

  “Hi Mrs. Jackson,” I said nervously.

  “How are you?” I stuttered……. She rubbed my hand, touching her heart.

  “I’m hanging in there, with Darius in jail and now my nephew in the hospital. Only the Lord knows how much more I can take. Have you spoken to my son lately?”

  “No ma’am I haven’t. Oh and by the way this is my boyfriend Tyrone. Tyrone this is Mrs. Jackson, Darius’s mom,” I stated rubbing his arm.

  “Forgive me. Where are my manners?” She said extending her hand to him.

  I guess she could feel I was uncomfortable because she told him it was pleasure meeting him, and then she darted off. I prayed he wasn’t angry about her asking me about Darius. He needed to realize that I was with him and I wasn’t going to let anyone or anything come between us.

  Tyrone stayed with me for about an hour. He left after my father called asking how Dontae was. Everyone in the waiting room was on pins and needles. The doctor’s hadn’t released any information since he went back into the emergency room.

  ‘I’ve got
to find my sister.’ I thought. She’d left the waiting room a little while ago. And in her state, I didn’t want her being alone. Everyone was praying for Dontae. But I was also praying for my sister. She had only loved one man her entire life. And if anything happened to him, she might lose it.

  Sandy

  I had just finished talking to one of Donte’s doctors. They said that he had swelling and bleeding inside his brain. The trauma to his head was serious. He made it through surgery and was stable. But he was also in a coma. The doctor’s had no idea if or when he would recover. They said all we could do now was wait.

  The doctor’s said they would speak to the rest of his family. I had to get some air. How could someone do this to him? He was far from perfect but he didn’t deserve this. I wrung my hands together thinking; whoever did this was going to pay.

  I made my way back inside. My sister was crying, running in my direction.

  “Are you okay? I’ve been looking all over for you,”

  “I’m sorry I just needed to get some air,”

  “Did you hear what the doctor’s had to say?” She asked.

  “Yes. They explained everything. I was on my too see him. He’s only allowed to have immediate family see him right now. This is crazy. I can’t imagine who would want to hurt him,”

  Melissa placed her arm around my shoulder, while handing me a tissue.

  “Don’t worry about that right now. Just focus on him and his recovery. Do you want me to go with you to his room?”

  I never answered her. I just hugged her tight. Letting her know her presence was welcome.

  I followed my sister to the intensive care unit. We waited outside his room until we got the okay from the doctor’s to go in. Tears fell down my face like a rain forest as soon as I saw him lying in bed looking so helpless. His head was covered with bandages, and his eyes were closed. The entire situation was unbelievable too me. We were finally in a good place now this. ‘What else could go wrong?’ I thought.

  Melissa and I held hands praying for healing and Gods favor. It wasn’t Dontae’s time to leave us. I knew God had a plan for him. He had lost his way. But God was a forgiving God, and I prayed for his mercy. It was getting late and my sister had called Tyrone to pick her up. As she was leaving out, she was almost rundown by Lexi, who was racing through the door.

  “What are you doing here? You’re not immediate family!” I yelled.

  “Well this baby in my stomach make me more family than you,” She smirked.

  That was it. I had about all I was going to take from her.

  “You’re a liar! You’re not pregnant!” I hissed lunging at her, ready for attack.

  Melissa grabbed me and yanked me outside the door.

  “Calm down! You can’t jump on her!”

  “But she’s lying! She would say anything to try to keep him! Lawd forgive me, because I hate her!”

  “Come take a walk with me. Stop letting her know she gets to you,” she whispered.

  I walked with my sister down the hallway to the elevators. I sat in the lobby with her until her ride came.

  “Are you going to behave yourself?”

  I rolled my eyes and waved for her to go.

  “I’m grown. I’ll be just fine. I’ll call you later. Thanks for being here for me,”

  “You’re my sister. I will always have your back. I love you!”

  “I love you too!”

  I watched as her and Tyrone drive away from the window. I closed my eyes and said one last prayer before I headed back upstairs. Lexi was the last person I wanted to see. Her announcing that she was pregnant was ludicrous.

  I stood outside the doorway of Dontae’s room. Lexi was holding his hand crying. I didn’t move. I wanted to hear what she had to say. I never trusted her from day one. She was hiding something. She would slip up soon. And when she did I would be waiting for her.

  “I can’t believe you’re laying here. You hurt me! Why did you have to hurt me? All I ever wanted to do was make you happy. I’m carrying your baby. You have to pull through this, so we can be a family. I know you love me. I feel it every time we make love,”

  I refused to listen to anymore. It was time for her to go. I marched back in the room and demanded she go. I was relieved when one of the nurses came in. They advised both of us, that there could only be one visitor at a time. I guess Lexi knew I wasn’t going anywhere. I watched as she snatched her purse off the chair sitting in the corner.

  “I’ll be back,” she said with an attitude.

  I ignored her and took a seat next to his bed. I sat for hours just staring at him. The doctor explained to talk to him like I normally would. But I didn’t know what to say. Lexi announcing that she was pregnant threw me for a loop. How was supposed to get pass that? To be honest I wasn’t sure I wanted to.

  I took his hand and laid my head on his chest. I suddenly burst into tears. I wasn’t sure if I was crying because he was lying helpless in a hospital bed. Or because the man I loved maybe having a baby with another woman. I inhaled and released out a long sigh. I looked at him, knowing that things were never going to be the same again.

  Dontae

  I gradually opened my eyes to a bright light. I was groggy and I had no idea where I was. I slowly scanned the room and saw my angel sitting in a chair sound asleep. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to realize I was in a hospital, but why? I had no clue why I was here or what happened to me. I lifted my arm feeling the bandage wrapped around my head.

  I looked at Sandy and tried to call her name but nothing came out. I tried again. I knew what I wanted to say but for some reason my words weren’t coming together. Sandy must’ve of heard me struggling. She woke up and raced to my side.

  “Thank God you’re awake!”

  I tried once more to speak with no success. She could sense my frustration.

  “It’s okay baby. I’m going to get the doctor. Just relax I’ll be right back,”

  I watched as she left the room. Something was wrong I wasn’t able to speak. I didn’t want to admit it to myself, but I was scared.

  The doctor walked in with Sandy following close behind. He checked my vitals and said he was going to run an EEG test. He asked Sandy if he could talk to her out in the hall. I wondered what he had to say that he couldn’t say in front of me. I tried to move my legs but couldn’t. I saw a pitcher of water sitting on the table next to me. Out of anger I knocked it down. I wanted someone to tell me what was going on. ‘Why am I in this bed? Why can’t I speak? I couldn’t have done anything that bad to deserve this.’ I thought.

  Sandy entered the room and sat by my side. She looked like she had lost her best friend.

  “I’m so happy you’re awake. You were in a coma for a week. Squeeze my hand to let me know you understand,” I did as I was directed and listened to her carefully.

  “Someone attacked you last week. Do you have any idea who did this to you, if you know who did this squeeze my hand,” I didn’t move.

  I attempted to talk but of course I was unsuccessful.

  “Don’t try to speak. It’s okay the truth will come out eventually. Do you have any memory of what you were doing before you were attacked? Once again I didn’t move. I was overwhelmed. Who would want to hurt me? I was interrupted in mid thought, when I felt one of her tears touch my face. I felt helpless, like I was less than a man. My woman was hurting and there was nothing I could do about it.

  She stood wiping the tears from her eyes.

  “You look tired. The doctor told me not to wear you out,”

  I grabbed her wrist shaking my head no. I prayed to God to make her understand I didn’t want her to go. I needed to know what was wrong with me. I knew her to well she was trying to shield me from something. I stared into her beautiful brown eyes. Praying that she would detect what I wanted from her.

  After wiping the tear from my eye, she sat back down and explained to me what was going on. She told me the doctor said that sometimes after having a serious head
trauma, the patient may have trouble speaking and walking. She told me not to worrying she was going to be with me every step of the way.

  This was crazy. I knew what I wanted to say, it just wouldn’t come out. Wow was this how babies felt. We would listen to them trying to speak but never really understanding. I was going to have to learn to walk and talk all over again. How could this be? God why me?

  Sandy excused herself and exited the room. I closed my eyes hoping I would fall asleep. Maybe after I woke, I would realize that this was all a bad dream. Of course I knew that wasn’t going to happen.

  I heard the door as it cracked open. Sandy entered the room with Melissa behind her, holding a bouquet of flowers. She sat the flowers on the table, and then turned to face me. She quickly bent down and kissed my forehead.

  “Hey brother, I guess I can call you brother since you and Sandy will be getting married soon. I’m going to be praying for you. Her voice was cracking. She was getting emotional.

  “Listen I’m not going to stay long. I know you need your rest. You get better soon because you have to walk down the aisle and make my sister an honest woman,” she smiled.

  I grabbed her hand squeezing it tightly. I wanted her to know I understood every word. I was going to walk down the aisle and say the words; I do.

  Melissa

  I decided to take Sandy out to eat. She had been by Dontae’s side since the attack. She needed to get out the hospital at least for a few hours. I pulled up to Red Lobster, which was located on Route 22 in Harrisburg. We went inside and we’re seated right away. I was glad because normally there would be a long wait.

  We ordered our food and drinks all at once. Sandy didn’t want to leave Dontae alone to long.

  “So how are you?” I asked.

  “I’m just tired,” she stated looking around the restaurant.

  “Where is the waitress with our drinks? He just woke up a few hours ago. I shouldn’t even be here,”

  I noticed the situation was taking a toll on her. I reached across the table and held her hand.