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    Tales From Sha-Hair-Azad

    Drama!! Oh Drama!!

    By Najya Yasirah


    Chapter 23- Angelina (not Jolie)




    Reyjah’s phone woke her up. “Hello?” “Oh, you must be feeling better.” “Hey Ms. Holden.” “Are you going to the hospital, today?” “Did I kick Darlene’s ass last night?”  *Laughter *  “Ms. Holden thank you so much for taking an interest in Chi-Tek.” “Girl, with Internet access in my hotels, no one will ever want to leave.”  “How’s our other Chi-Tek prospect doing?” “It seems to be going well, Antoine will be so surprised.”


    Reyjah, wearing a blue tank top with orange stripes and matching drawstring pants, walked over to the ICU.  Antoine’s bed was empty. She panicked. “Ohhh no..” she gasped.  Seeing a nurse walking by, she tapped her on the shoulder. “Excuse, me, my husband was in the ICU in a coma, where is he…did he?” “Oh no, we had to move him, this lady was rushed in late last night.  She got beat up at a nightclub.  I hope those big boobies of hers didn’t leak.” Reyjah held in a snicker. That’s a damn shame…this is your health care professional. “She’s in police custody, though, something about Rohypnol.” Reyjah shook her head. “Damn,” that’s sad.”  “That good looking guy; they transferred him to the third floor.” “Thank you,” said Reyjah.  She headed for the elevator. These damn things take forever, she thought. Once inside, she stared at the flowers that she had carefully picked out for Antoine. “He’s the rose in my garden, and I’m the thorn in his side,” she said smiling.

    Antoine was still in a coma.  She set the flowers on a table along with many others from Ms. Holden, Sha-Hair-Azad, and Mr. Giovanni. Mr.Canady , the head suit of RockHard International Magazine, even sent a card signed by many body builders.  She watched Antoine’s heart rate  on the EKG. “Better stay that way,” she said as she sat down beside his bed.  “Hello, my sweetie,” she said, knowing that Antoine still could not sense her. She pushed hair away from his forehead. She kissed him there. She held his hand and squeezed it. “ I love you so much, Antoine Laconte,” she said. “ I don’t care what happens to you, you can’t get rid of me…no matter how much you’ll insist or tell me that I deserve better…it doesn’t matter.” She looked at the platinum ring on her finger. “Darlene wanted the ring so bad, so I gave it her, …in her forehead,” she laughed. He still was not responding. “Antoine, I know you can hear me…don’t be afraid of losing me…I won’t go away, my heart won’t let me. Hell, I won’t let me.” She laid her head on his shoulder and began to cry. She looked up at his handsome, olive face. She began stroking his beard. ”Maybe it’s intuition/but things you just don’t question/like in you eyes/I see my future in an instant/and there it goes/I think I’ve found my best friend/I know that it might sound more than a little crazy/but I believe ..” she sang softly. “I knew I loved you before I met you/I think I dreamed you into life/I knew I loved you before I met you/I have been waiting all my life..” His beard was growing back in. She caressed it, letting the softness tickle her hand. “Why did you stop singing?” said a voice behind her. She got up and peeped behind the screen. A little girl of about 10 was hooked up to an IV. She was a beautiful little girl. Her skin was the color of caramel and her hair was brownish-blonde. Her eyes were hazel colored. “What’s your name?” the little girl asked. “My name’s Reyjah,” she said. “My name’s Angelina,” said the little girl. “You believe in God, don’t you?” Angelina asked. “Yes, I do,” said Reyjah. “Even though I do some questionable things.” “You sing like an angel,” said Angelina. “Really?” asked Reyjah.  “That’s a sweet compliment, thank you.” “Is that your husband?” the little girl asked. “That’s hard to say. We were engaged, but something bad happened, and now, I don’t know if he’ll even want…me…back.” Reyjah began to cry. “I’m sorry for crying,” she said. “But I feel like such a fool..I should have trusted him.” “If you ask for forgiveness, things will come to pass,” said Angelina. “Friends and enemies, as well.” Reyjah looked at the little girl, thoughtfully. For some reason, Angelina’s face was glowing.

    Reyjah boldly walked into the ICU. She saw Darlene lying on her bed with many bandages on her body and tubes all over the place. “What the hell do you want?” asked Darlene with a face of hatred. “Darlene, don’t start with me,” said Reyjah calmly. “I’m gonna make it quick…I forgive you for the horror that you have caused me in my life, and I hope you can forgive me. You really, really need some help, Darlene. I don’t believe that you are as bad as you make yourself out to be.” Having said that, Reyjah turned to leave. “Wait,” said Darlene. Reyjah looked back. “Is Antoine okay?” “He’s in a coma, Darlene. You caused it, why don’t you tell me. And after that, tell me why…” Reyjah was drawn to tears. “Just because you can’t have him, doesn’t give you the right to humiliate him, and possibly impair him. That’s love, eh?”  Darlene sighed. “I can forgive you, Darlene,” said Reyjah. “But should he?” Reyjah left the room, never to look back again. Darlene covered her face and cried.

    Reyjah went back to see Antoine. She took her seat beside his bed. “I asked Darlene to forgive me, babe. It felt good in the beginning, kicking her ass and all; but that didn’t make me any better than she was.” She held Antoine’s hand and caressed his fingers. “There’s just no rhyme or reason/only this sense of completion/and in your eyes/I see the missing pieces/I’m searching for/I think I found my way home/I know that it might sound more than/ a little crazy but  I believe/I knew I loved you before I met you/I think I dreamed you in my life/ I knew  I loved you before I met you/ I have been waiting all my life…” She kissed Antoine’s hand. “Please forgive me?” she asked. “I can’t live without you…I love you so much.” She kissed his lips. All of a sudden, she felt a stirring. His finger moved. “Oh…” she said in shock. “Don’t stop, baby, keep moving.” His hand squeezed hers. His head moved from side-to-side. His eyes fluttered open.

    Antoine had heard her singing. For a moment he thought he had died and gone to heaven. A little girl of about 10 years old with glowing caramel skin and golden-brown hair, took his hand. “You can’t go yet, Antoine,” she said. Her hazel eyes glistened. “With Reyjah by your side, you will finally have completion…”

    “Rey..jah?” he said. His vision started out blurry.  He saw a pair of blue eyes  and
    a beautiful, brown face. “Antoine?” she said. “Oh…” he squeezed her hand. “Did you mean what you said; I can’t get rid of you?” he asked as he caressed her cheek. “Only if you choose otherwise,” she said. “I know of no otherwise,” he said. “Let me kiss you.” Reyjah obliged. She let his tongue guide itself into her familiar, warm mouth. She let her hands slide down, until she hit something. She broke the kiss. “Even in the hospital, Antoine?” she joked. “Old habits, die…hard,” he said laughing. “I love you,” he said. “And I love you,” she said.” Oh, I had better get a nurse,” she said. Reyjah got up. Before alerting the nurse, she pulled the screen around Angelina’s bed. There was no one there. “Wha..?” “Bell, what’s wrong?” asked Antoine. Reyjah smiled and looked up. She turned back to Antoine. “Absolutely nothing,” she said smiling.

    Tales From Sha-Hair-Azad - Chapter 24