Veronica walks over to the closet and puts on the same clothes she had on yesterday. She takes the towel from her head, releasing her curls that are still a little damp. She then digs into her bag and pulls out her phone.

She grabs the room's keycard and leaves out with hotel slippers on her feet. She takes the stairs down to the main floor and approaches the Front Desk. "Hey, I have a favor to ask."

"Okay. How can I help you?"

"My phone is dead, and I don't have my charger with me. Do you have one I can use for my iPhone?"

"Umm..."

"I'll sit right here in front of you while I charge it. I just have to make an important call."

The Attendant nods before reaching below her desk, and pulls out a charger. "You can use it over there in the lobby," she tells Veronica.

"Thank you so much." Veronica grabs the charger and turns to leave. She heads over to the lobby and spots an outlet. Moments after plugging in her phone, it turns on and notifications pop up like crazy. She has several missed calls, voicemails, and text messages. She ignores them all, and immediately calls Nate.

Nate is standing at the hospital entrance, watching Sam through the large windows as Sam paces outside like a madman. Nate reaches into his pocket for his ringing phone, and shakes his head when he sees 'V' flashing on the screen. He accepts the call. "About damn time."

"I know, my bad. Are you okay, though?"

"Not really. But Sam is taking it worse."

"I can imagine. He lives further away from her. You guys can see Aunt Lily everyday if you wanted to."

"Yeah, I get it," he states sympathetically.

"What is he doing, right now?"

"Walking back and forth in front of the hospital with his hands balled up."

"Damn..."

"I tried to get him to come back in, but it was a waste of time. I'm trying to give him his space, but at the same time I know if he doesn't go back up there with me, he's going to regret it later."

"Yeah. He should definitely go and talk to her while she's still alive."

"You do, too. Are you on your way over here?"

Veronica hesitates before answering his question. "... No. I don't want to see her like that. Reminds me of when my mom was in the hospital."

Nate nods as if Veronica can see him. "Well, can you at least come and talk to Sam?"

Veronica sighs before shaking her head in annoyance.

"What's the attitude about? I'm asking because you're probably the only one that can get through to him."

"Nathan, I don't want to be anywhere around the hospital, okay?"

"Just do it for Sam. That's your favorite cousin, isn't it?"

"All of you are something else," she states disappointedly.

"I'm just saying. You moved to California, and then all of a sudden y'all thick as thieves," he expresses with a little jealousy in his voice. "So, you should definitely be here for him."

"You know what... I'll take care of Sam, okay. Just let him be, and go spend time with your mother."

"So you're gonna come?"

"Don't worry about it. Just go."

"... Alright."

"Oh wait..."

"What?"

"Tell Aunt Lily... Tell her that I love her."

"... I will."

"Thanks. Bye."

___

TWO HOURS LATER

Sam is now sitting down, still in front of the hospital. The nurse, he was going to approach earlier, comes out of the building and heads straight over to him. "Samuel?"

Sam looks up at her, and the nurse flinches at the sight of his deathly stare. "Umm... your family is worried about you. But I can give you an update on your mother, if you would like that."

He looks away, not saying a word.

"I hope I'm not overstepping, but I do think you... you may want to go up there while she's still coherent."

A moment later, Larry strides out of the front doors. "Sam, you need to get out of this funk and come see your mother," he commands.

Sam jumps up and lunges at his father right before shoving him away. The nurse looks shocked at their interaction. Larry catches his balance and storms back over to Sam, grabbing his collar aggressively before yanking Sam closer to him so that they are face to face. "I'm not gon' let you keep putting your damn hands on me. I'm still your father."

"Where was my fuckin' father a whole year ago?" Sam asks through gritted teeth.

The nurse interrupts, "I'm- I'm going to leave now." She quickly turns around and speed walks back into the building.

Larry calmly breathes in and out before releasing his grip on Sam. "I should have told you, and I apologize for that."

"Your apology isn't gonna give me more time with my mother."

"You being out here won't either. You have some real anger issues- you know that?"

"Is it not a big deal to you that she has Cancer? I don't understand why you're not angry about it. Do you not give a fuck? Is that why you didn't tell me?"

Larry shakes his head in disbelief. "I had to watch my wife, the love of my life, my first love, deteriorate for a whole damn year. And you're going to stand here and tell me I don't give a fuck?!"

Sam stares at him for a moment, contemplating his words.

"You're going to regret the time you could've had with her today, if you keep this up. I promise you that, son."

Sam ignores him, and then sullenly goes back to where he was sitting.

Larry watches him, wondering if there is something else he can say or do to get Sam to go inside. A few moments later, Larry shakes his head in defeat before going back in.

___

LATER

Jamie parks his car in the church parking lot for an event they are having. He disembarks as Tevin hops out from the passenger side. They both turn around when they hear someone driving fast into the parking lot. The car stops right in front of them, and the guys glance at each other skeptically.

The window rolls down, revealing Jasmine. "About time you showed up."

Jamie shakes his head, annoyed with her presence. "Why do you keep coming here? And what were you doing? Parked somewhere waiting for me?"

"Like I told you before, it's a church. Anyone can come. Anyway, that's not what I came to talk to you about."

"What do you want Jasmine? I already got my face bashed in for you."

She furrows her eyebrows in confusion. "Wait... Are you talking about Sam? He hit you?"

"Yes, so stop coming here before you make things worse."

"Why did he hit you?"

"- Goodbye Jasmine."

"Wait, let me guess. Did he think you and I were messing around?"

Jamie ignores her, and starts walking towards the church building.

"I knew he still had feelings for me. I knew it."

Jamie stops in his tracks. "Jasmine, he does not want you. You gotta keep it moving, man. This is getting ridiculous."

"Then why did he hit you then?"

"Look, I know this is none of my business..." Tevin interjects. "But my boy is happy with his lady, so you should get him out of your mind."

Jamie nods. "Exactly. So stop coming around here."

"Whatever. I'm going to keep coming here until Sam gives me another chance. I don't care about that little girlfriend he has. He's meant to be with me. Not her."

"You're psycho," Jamie tells her.

"Anyway, I was coming to apologize for messing up the friendship we were developing. But I see that's not going to get me anywhere with you," Jasmine expresses.

Jamie waves her off and walks away. Tevin shakes his head at Jasmine before following Jamie inside.

"Nice seeing you again, Tevin," Jasmine teases him.

___

An Uber pulls up to the front of the hospital. The back door opens and a pair of Timberland boots slide out. As the person disembarks, we see that it's Yemi with a worried look on her face. She closes the door behind her and looks around the area for Sam. He's nowhere in sight, so she calls his phone. The call goes straight to voicemail.

Yemi enters the building and spots Sam in a chair with his head down, near the elevators. She rushes over to him. "Sam..."

Sam quickly lifts his head up to the sound of the familiar voice. His eyes land on Yemi's face, causing his frown to turn from anger to sadness. His eyes start to water and Yemi leans over, wrapping her arms tightly around his upper back.

All of a sudden, Sam starts sniffling with his face buried into Yemi's neck. Yemi loosens her grip to look at his face and sees Sam sobbing as if he's been holding it in for hours.

A silent tear wells from Yemi's nurturing eyes. "Baby, I'm so sorry."

Sam pulls her body onto his lap before wrapping his arms around her waist, hugging her like his life depends on it.

TO BE CONTINUED...

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