For hours, Kross and Aniyis just sat in a comforting silence. Kross kept his baby boy’s hand in his just to give him the sense of security he needed. He was cool with the silence. WheneverAniyis finally felt like he wanted to talk again, he for sure would be all ears.
There was a light knock on the door that caused Aniyis to tense up. Kross gave his hand a little squeeze, assuring him that everything would be fine. Assuming that it was probably one of Aniyis’ nurses, he gave them the okay to come in. Once the door was pushed open, he was shocked to see it was Amoura who was making her way inside the room.
The last time the two saw each other was when she pushed up on him back at the condo. Kross assured her that he would eventually come around and let her know when she could come and visit Aniyis, but he never did. He had so much shit going on already, he didn’t want to deal with the situation with Amoura as of yet, so he pushed it to the back of his mind.
He stood up, wanting to stop her before she got in view of Aniyis, but it was too late. Aniyis craned his head in the direction of the door and saw Amoura make her way inside. “Niyis,” she croaked, almost on the verge of tears as she rushed to his bedside.
Kross let out a heavy sigh. He didn’t want to cause too much of a commotion in front of his son, who was still in a very fragile state, so he just let it ride.
“I’m so happy you’re okay.” She kissed his cheek repeatedly. “God mommy is so grateful. Thank you, God,” she went on and praised.
From the looks of it, Aniyis seemed to be reacting to Amoura well. After all, she was one of the most active and constant people in his life, second only to Cassie. He knew her well and felt safe. Overwhelmed with emotion and the pain that he was still recovering through, Aniyis ended up breaking out into full gut-wrenching sobs while in Amoura’s arms. Since he wasn’t talking, Kross had yet to figure out how much Aniyis knew or didn’t know of the current situation.
He shed a tear with his father, but he felt comfortable enough to unleash himself fully to his god mom. She cradled him in her arms, his cries strong enough to bring her to tears. There was just so much pain and anguish they were feeling. Despite him and Amoura not seeing eye to eye, Kross knew some familiarity was what Aniyis needed in a time like this. He excused himself out of the room and just gave them a moment alone.
His time in the waiting room lasted all of thirty minutes before Amoura stepped out of the hospital room and approached him. A heavy breath exhaled out of Kross. He really didn’t want to address the elephant in the room. He preferred not to speak on it at all and just keep Amoura at a distance. Instead of shutting her down before she could get anything out, he decided to hear her out.
“Hey,” she said nervously as she approached him.
“What’s up?” Kross looked up from his phone and set his eyes onto her.
All in her face he could see the nerves that shackled her. She just wouldn’t feel right if she didn’t clear the air.
“Look, I just wanna apologize for what happened the last time we saw each other.”
“You did that already,” he reminded her.
“Right. I just don’t want you thinking I’m some fake-ass bitch who jumped on her cousin’s man after she died.”
A deep chuckle rolled out of Kross as he shook his head. “Man, Amoura, that’s exactly what you did and that’s exactly what you are. You trying to do damage control ‘cause I ain’t fold like you thought I would.”
“I’m going through a lot, Kross.”
“Me too, but the last thing on my mind is sliding into your pussy, Amoura. Look, I don’t really care to move past this because we wasn’t locked in like you and Cassie were. You did some snake-ass shit, and I can’t give you the benefit of thedoubt. We can stop this conversation where it’s at ‘cause ain’t no changing how I perceive you.” Kross shrugged his broad shoulder nonchalantly.
Amoura pursed her lips in shame. Since the night she jumped on him, her guilt had been eating her up. She couldn’t even muster up enough courage to go visit Cassie’s grave. In the heat of the moment, Kross was just there when she was longing for someone to fill the void Cassie left behind. She crossed a major line, and as painful as it was to hear how Kross thought about her, she knew he had every right to feel how he felt.
“Alright, Kross,” she agreed to put an end to the conversation. “Am I still able to be a part of Aniyis’ life? He means the world to me.”
“How you even knew he was awake?” He screwed his face up.
“Your mom. I reach out for updates.” Kross never got around to telling his mother the real reason why Amoura stopped coming around the hospital. He didn’t feel like it was necessary to paint her out to be the bad guy to everyone when she had her guilty conscience eating her up already.
“Look, you’re good to see him today. I’m not tripping. Just keep communication with Raq. I’m cool off you,” Kross concluded before rising out of his seat and bypassing her to head back to the room and check on Aniyis. After saying a goodbye to Aniyis, Amoura left shortly after. She felt like it would be best to ease back into things, and eventually, Kross would be comfortable with her staying longer.
Next to Aniyis’ bed, Kross sat gazing at him aimlessly. His mind brewed with questions about his son’s road to recovery and eventual normalcy. He was parenting alone, and the pressure of having to make the right moves for his son was beginning to feel suffocating. He had all the respect in the world for Cassie because she did it all alone for seven years and nevercracked under pressure. She was a damn good mother, and Kross knew he had some big shoes to fill.
Reaching over, he cupped Aniyis’ hand into his and gave it a light squeeze. “We’re still gonna do everything you said you wanted to do while I was away. We just hit a slight detour, but that ain’t nothing to a giant.”
A faint smile tugged on the corners of his lips as he spoke to his son. He was hoping everything he was saying would bring life back into him. Kross didn’t know if he had it in him much longer to sit and witness his son in so much mental and emotional pain. Still regaining his strength, Aniyis mustered up enough of it to nod slowly in response to his father. The small gesture caused Kross’ heart to swell and a beaming smile to cast his face. Since Aniyis awoke, speaking to him felt like speaking to a brick wall. He was so emotionally and mentally disconnected, but Kross still made the effort. Small progress was better than no progress, and Kross was grateful.
Kross could see the concerned look that conjured up on his son’s face. It was evident that he wanted to speak but was too afraid to. Running his hand through his dreads, Kross was hoping he could get him to say something.
“Let it out, ‘Niyis. Whatever it is, I’m listening,” he assured him in a soothing tone.
Aniyis’ plump bottom lip trembled for a moment before he craned his head up and his big brown eyes seared into his father’s. Finally, his lips parted, and he croaked out a question that was heavy enough to make Kross feel like he had just gotten the wind knocked out of him.
“Where’s Mommy?”
