38
Haze clouded the afternoon sky, but there was a sign that the sun would break through at any moment. Mimi pulled back from the window and crossed over to where Afrika lay sleeping and brushed her hair with her hand. Like a person examining a beautiful piece of art, Mimi moved from Afrika’s hair and gently rubbed the hand that held the needle that supported the IV drip—the tube running from the needle to the clear plastic bag that contained an assortment of medicines.
Drip, drip, drip, drip. Mimi watched the IV as if it contained healing power. Afrika looked like a sleeping princess in the small steel-framed bed, lying on her side. Mimi wanted to scoop Afrika up and place her in her old room that was bright, alive, and painted in bold pink and red colors; full of posters of her favorite actor and singing groups; filled with her teen drama books that had become real popular; filled to capacity with overstuffed pink and red pillows that matched her comforter…to get her away from the pain the hospital represented. Dr. Daniels said the surgery was successful, but Afrika was still in a critical zone. The bullet deflected off a bone in the vertebrae and that most likely kept it from going into her heart. The possibility of infection or pneumonia could set in, but Afrika was young and otherwise healthy, and the doctors counted on that scenario to help in her fight for survival.
Mimi walked to the chair that sat next to the wall, got on her knees, and began to pray. She prayed for a miracle. She prayed that God would make her daughter well. She prayed for Brenda who’d been with her through the night but had finally conceded to go home at Mimi’s urging so that she could get some rest. Brenda was afraid to go home, but it was where she needed to be. Mimi thanked God for reuniting her friendship with John who had been a great support during the past week. Finally, she prayed for her husband, Raphael, that he would have safe passage to her and Afrika and that she would see him soon.
She felt something. Mimi flinched and realized she’d fallen asleep while on her knees. She turned and looked up into familiar eyes with Dr. Daniels standing directly behind. His rugged good looks, still dressed in his Army dress greens, were a sight for sore eyes. Mimi’s surprise turned to joy as she got up from her knees and fell into Raphael’s waiting arms, nearly knocking him down along with his suitcase. He looked worn but Mimi knew the smile was all for her. She planted kisses on his lips.
“Hey, baby,” Raphael said, pointing his eyes in the direction of the doctor standing behind him. “Fell asleep on your knees, huh?”
“I was not only praying for Afrika but for this moment. Thank God you’re here.”
“Why don’t I give you a few minutes to catch up and then come back?” Dr. Daniels said.
“No, no,” Raphael said. “We need you. You’re going to help our daughter get well. We’ll move out of the way.”
Everyone managed a light laugh.
Dr. Daniels went to Afrika’s bedside after lifting her chart from its holder at the foot of the bed. He sat on the edge of the bed and lifted Afrika’s eyelids. She began to stir. A smile crossed Dr. Daniels face as Afrika tried to focus, opening one eyelid at a time.
“Hello, Afrika,” Dr. Daniels said.
Mimi and Raphael rushed to Afrika’s bedside. Smiles of joy and happiness pushed to the north and south of their faces.
“Hey, baby,” Mimi said, as she and Raphael stood on the other side of the bed.
“Hey, sweetie,” Raphael said and gave her a big wink.
Afrika looked at everyone and tried to smile. She was groggy but managed to say, “Hey.”
Dr. Daniels checked Afrika’s vitals again and took a look at her wound site. Mimi turned her head; she couldn’t stand to see the place where the savage assault had taken place.
“We took out a nine millimeter bullet from her back that was lodged in her vertebrae. Our hope is that she’s only temporarily paralyzed,” Dr. Daniels said, turning around to look at a frightened Mimi.
Mimi’s hands went to her face. “Does that mean she won’t be able to walk again?” Mimi asked with alarm in her voice.
“We hope that isn’t the case, Mrs. Bailey. As I told you last evening, we’re fortunate that the bone was the shield that kept the bullet from hitting her internal organs. She wouldn’t be with us now.”
“I’m hungry,” Afrika whispered.
All attention was directed back to Afrika. Mimi smiled but internally she was a broken down mess.
“We’re going to see if we can’t get you some food now,” Dr. Daniels said. “You slept through breakfast and lunch.”
“Mommy, Daddy,” Afrika said, her voice hardly audible. Afrika tried to lift her arm. “It hurts.”
Raphael sat down on the bed as Dr. Daniels got up. He gave Afrika a kiss on the cheek. “Don’t worry about trying to do everything all at once.”
Afrika smiled.
That’s what Mimi loved about Raf. He could make you laugh when you were sad. He could turn a total disaster into a thing of beauty. Yes, she loved this man. She was glad he was home.
“Mommy.”
“Yes, baby, I’m here.” Mimi leaned down and kissed Afrika on the other cheek. “My baby’s going to be all right.”
“I will when I get some food.”
They laughed.
“Someone should be up with some food for Afrika in a few minutes,” Dr. Daniels said. “I think they were about to make the evening rounds anyway. I’ll be back before I leave the hospital to check on her.”
“Thanks, Dr. Daniels,” Mimi said.
Mimi and Raphael joined hands and rubbed Afrika’s face with their free hand.
“Tell me what happened,” Afrika whispered. “I was getting my things to leave the stadium and now I’m all bandaged up in a hospital.”
“It’s a long story, Afrika,” Mimi said. “A stray bullet hit you in the back. The police haven’t apprehended anyone yet, but I’m sure they’ll catch someone soon.”
“But why…oohhhh…me,” Afrika managed to say.
“Enough talking,” Raphael said. “Lie still for awhile. You need to rest.”
“Okay. I’m a little tired.”
“We aren’t going anywhere,” Mimi said.
Afrika lay still and, within a few minutes, dozed off to sleep. Mimi and Raf left the room and stood in front of the door.
“I’m going to get the son-of-a-bitch who did this. They’ve been walking around free a minute too long.”
“We all feel that way, baby, but you’ve got to calm down.”
Raphael paced the floor. “Did you see my baby in there, Mimi? The doctor said she may be paralyzed. For how long…two weeks, two months, two years? I can’t stand idly by knowing that some human animal is loose on the streets who guns down innocent children. Lord give me strength.”
“The police have a person of interest they’d like to find and interview.”
“A person of interest? Who is it? They should’ve caught the son-of-a-gun by now. I’ve watched grown men gunned down in the heat of war, but an innocent child. My God, Mimi, what has this world come to?”
“I know, Raf. I’m scared, too. Let’s go back in the room. Everyone is looking at us.”
“Let them look. Their daughter isn’t lying up in ICU. Ours is, and I need to vent.”
Mimi pushed open the door and dragged Raphael into the room. Afrika was still sleep. Mimi placed her arms around Raphael and gave him a big sloppy kiss.
“I needed that, girl.” He pulled Mimi to him and kissed her back, locking his fingers and holding her around her head. “You’re the brave one, baby. That’s for being in place for our daughter. If you had come to Germany with me, who would’ve been here to take charge? My girl, Mimi.”
Raphael sat in the chair next to the wall and motioned for Mimi to sit on his lap. “I’m sorry, baby, for expressing my feelings like that, but I hate the son-of-a-bitch that did this. All I want is to get to this person first and ask why before I punch his or her lights out.”
“I love you, Raf.”
“I love you, too, Mimi.” Raf turned Mimi’s head so he could kiss her again. “So who’s this person of interest the police are trying to find?”