Forbidden (Completed) EDITING - Chapter 29: Chapter 29

Omniscient
Erica got to the hospital as fast as she could. Restless during the drive. She didn't want to think the worst but how could she not with Jamal giving her little details as to what was going on.
She stood at the receptionist desk scanning the waiting room for Jamal. Everything moved so fast. She couldn't focus on anything.
"Ma'am, can I help you?" The receptionist asked, seeing her in distress.
"Umm, I'm here to see someone."
"Name?"
"Demarcus Simmons."
She typed a few things in. Erica waited momentarily.
"He's still in surgery but if you take the elevator to the third floor. That's the waiting room for ICU patients."
"Thank you."
ICU? Nothing good could come from those words. On the ride up she tried to keep her mind as positive as possible. If was taking everything in her not to break down. She felt like this happening was some bad omen against their relationship. Everything had been so smooth between them.
Now this.
"Erica!" Jamal called out once he saw her stepped off of the elevator. He motioned his hand for her to join him.
"Jamal, thanks for calling me. I got here as fast as I could."
"Of course."
"What happened to him?"
Jamal pulled her to sit down next to him. She thought she looked bad, he looked even worse.
"We were leaving a party heading to our next stop. We were talking in a big group next thing I know a car came down the street and just started blasting," He looked off into the distance, reliving it. "We all scattered and ducked and shit. I thought he moved with the rest of us. Until everything stopped and we saw him lying there."
Erica tucked her lips, holding back her tears. "Was he awake?"
"Yeah, for a good while. I talked to him and me and our other friend stopped the bleeding as much as we could until the ambulance got there." Jamal punched his hand. "I should've made sure he was with us."
Erica patted his back. "Don't beat yourself up about it. You did all you can. Bullets don't have a name on them. Even if he did run, it still could've happened."
He nodded.
"He wanted you to hear this." He pulled his phone from his jacket. He pulled up the voice memo. "I'll give you a minute."
Erica's hand shook as she brought the phone up to her ear. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she heard his voice. A little shaky but it was still him. She smiled at him still being himself in the midst of being injured.
She wiped her tears and let out a deep breath.
Jamal returned to the waiting room with a stranger. Spitting image of Demarcus almost, just older and gray in his beard.
"Erica this is my uncle Tony, Demarcus's dad. Uncle T, this is your son's girlfriend Erica." He made the introduction.
The word girlfriend sounded strange to Erica coming from someone else. She couldn't remember the last time she was a "girlfriend". But it also warmed her heart to have that title.
"Erica, I have heard so many good things about you. Though the circumstances aren't the best. I'm glad I finally got the chance to meet the woman that stole my son's heart." Tony shook her hand.
She returned a handshake. "I have heard a lot about you too. You've raised a wonderful son."
"I did alright." He played it off.
"Simmons?" A doctor stood at the front of the waiting room.
They crowded around him and introduced themselves.
"I'm Doctor Worthington and pleasure to meet all of you." He was an older white man, with silver hair.
Jamal and Tony moved aside giving Erica the space to be front in center with receiving whatever news they would receive.
"Is he alright?" Erica asked. She closed her fist tightly at her side.
"He's going to be. We stopped the bleeding and where the bullet lodged was a safe spot missing his internal organs, mainly his heart. He's definitely a fighter."
A silent relief overcame all of them. They just didn't show it right away.
"Can we see him?"
"Soon. He's in recovery being on close watch for a bit until we get him in a room for the night. I'll have a nurse come get you when it's time."
Erica dried her hands off as she exited the bathroom. She needed a moment alone to let out a much needed sob. Tears of joy and sadness released fell from her eyes.
She headed back into the waiting room. The number of people have dwindled down as it got later and later.
"Hey, Erica, I got you some coffee." Tony said as he stood up with two cups in his hand.
"Thank you, Tony."
"I figured we could use a little pick me up."
"Definitely." She nodded.
"I remember the first time Demarcus mentioned you. I was a proud dad to know some of my skills rubbed off on him." He laughed. "He's had a fair share of women. But when he talked about you his eyes lit up and the way he spoke about you, I was surprised. That's the same feeling I feel about my wife."
"Really?"
"Really. I had to tell him then, that he was in love."
Erica felt warm inside. She never knew how much Demarcus spoke about her to other people or if he did at all.
"I really don't know what to say." She grabbed a tissue and dabbed her eye a little bit.
"Nothing is fine." Tony smiled. "I just wanted you to know that he truly loves you."
The sound of Demarcus's heartbeat was the only sound Erica wanted to hear. It was strong just like it is when she would rest her head on his chest. Comforting her from whatever she had going on that day.
Jamal and Tony left a little while ago. They wanted to give her some time with him and only one person could stay the night.
Erica hasn't moved from the chair beside Demarcus's bed. She dozed off a couple times, never sleeping for longer than ten minutes. She wanted to relax in knowing that he is okay but her mind wouldn't let her. She thought about how their night began and how it ended before he left her.
The should've, could've, would've entered her mind. She imagined if she begged him to stay in tonight. How he would've been in her arms besides a hospital bed.
Snapping her out of her daze.
Demarcus cleared his throat from it being a little scratchy from the breathing tube that was put there doing surgery. "Hey." He muttered as it was still slightly painful to speak.
"Hi, Baby." She sat up in her chair, moving close to him. The tears of joy couldn't stop.
He caressed her cheek with his hand and wiped her tears. "Stop crying. I'm good."
"I know. You just don't know what I thought would happen."
"I thought I was gonna die too. I wasn't scared. The only thing I was afraid of was leaving you."
"You're not getting rid of me that easy." She smiled with her lips. "How are you feeling?"
"Tired but I don't feel anything. This shit doesn't even hurt." He took his hand and pressed on the tender spot. "See."
Erica giggled to herself cause she saw him wince a little when he did it.
"Yeah, I see." She intertwined her fingers into his. "I heard the message you left for me on Jamal's phone. It was sweet that you were even thinking about me at that moment."
"I'm always thinking about you. What was your favorite part?"
"When you said how you wanted me to live and encouraged me to take all those trips I've told you about and that you would always be in my heart."
"I just didn't want to leave you without something. So I just said everything."
"Now you don't have to worry about that."
"I love you, Erica."
"I love you too." She started getting emotional. "You better not scare me like that again!"
He tried to laugh normal but it seem to hurt as he tried instead gave a small grin. Showing just a little of his perfect smile. "I won't I promise."