Page 11 of Nobody Praying for Me

“Eastside Savage!” someone called out when he bent down to see Kalm in the driver’s seat.

“Wassup, Jah,” he greeted the guy. They reached in front of me to dap up. “Your ass supposed to be in Beverly Hills, ain’t it?” I could tell he was teasing him.

The guy Jah laughed and leaned into the window. “I know you ain’t hating on a nigga getting out the hood and shit?”

Kalm chuckled deeply. “Never that. I love it.” His voice trailed off, making me glance in his direction.

Both of them had their eyes trained on the cherry red Mustang slowly passing by. I sucked in a sharp breath, knowing exactly who the car belonged to. I reached for Kalm’s hand, only to be met with the feeling of cold steel. I glanced in his lap to realize he had a Glock sitting there. His friend had also leaned out of the truck and now stood with his hand on the barrel of a gun in his waistband. Had he already known Bryaire was following us?

“Fuck is that?” Jah asked him without the jovial spark his voice had a minute ago.

“Ole boy I choke slammed the other night. He’s been following us since we left her crib.”

My eyes bulged, realizing I hadn’t noticed a thing. At the same time, I was impressed by how on point Kalm was. He hadn’t even said anything to me about it, perhaps to keep me from stressing because he knew Bryaire scared me a little.

“You good?” Jah asked, looking back inside the truck only once the car could no longer be seen.

Kalm nodded and extended a hand toward him. “Always. Just had to take him on a little detour first. You know no nigga that’s not from the Eastside is comfortable being this way for too long.”

“True shit. Aight, y’all be safe. I’m about to head to the Big House.”

“Fresh Prince of Belair living-ass nigga,” Kalm joked with him. All the seriousness they previously had slipped away to show their brotherhood. He shifted his eyes to mine. “They live in a big-ass, beautiful estate in the country,” he shared with me.

Jah popped his collar with a grin. “Shout out to my brother for finding love.” We all shared a laugh before they dapped up again, and Jah turned his friendly gaze to me and said, “You gotta get this nigga to bring you through one day. You would love my sisters and sister-in-law.”

“Maybe one day,” Kalm replied. “But let us head out. Oasis has her first chemotherapy session today.”

“I’m praying for little sis,” Jah said, voice every bit of sad as we all felt about what she was going through. I liked her from the moment I met her and wouldn’t have guessed that she was recently given some devastating news.

“’Preciate it.” After that, he rolled up his window and hit the gas. His truck jerked forward with a growl, and we were on our way.

Noticing that I was watching him, his eyes slid over to me. “Told you I got you, Pretty.”

And after seeing how he’d dealt with Bry, I truly believed him. I released the tension in my shoulders and sat back peacefully for the ride back to my new home with the Savage siblings.

The truck was silent apart from the purr of Kalm’s engine. After taking my things in the house and into the guest bedroom, we’d returned to the truck with Oasis in tow. She hadn’t uttered a word since we left the house, and the spirit of heaviness in the car was darker than the tint on Kalm’s windows. He eased into the parking lot for the oncology department, and I heard her suck in a sharp breath.

Glancing over my shoulder, I saw her back there biting her nails. “Do you want me to pray with you before we go in?” I asked.

At such a young age, she was facing something so life changing. When I was her age, my worries were a mile long, but even still, I hadn’t faced this kind of turmoil. The only thing I could think to do for her was to pray for peace of mind. Her eyes slowly shifted to mine; she nodded her head with fat tears ready to spill on her cheeks.

Taking off my seat belt, I hopped out and opened her door. Taking her hands in mine, I said, “Bow your head and close your eyes.” I waited for her to do that then continued. “Heavenly Father, we gather here today, asking for your spirit to remove all nervousness Oasis may feel. Strengthen her as she embarks on this journey. Tuck her in your bosom and keep her protected and far from harm. I don’t know why you would put her through this test, but I do know you won’t leave her side while she walks through this. Keep her brothers lifted because she will need shoulders to cry on. I touch and agree with her that this will not be the end of her story, and she will have total healing. This is simply a part of her testimony for the many lives she will change one day. Your word says everything works together for the good of those who love you, so I humbly request that you keep your promise and perform miracles only you are capable of. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.”

I opened my eyes and lifted my head to find a teary-eyed Oasis looking at me. She sniffled with an innocent pout that made my heart squeeze into a ball. She was so cute, looking like her brother’s twin, only she was much shorter. “Thank you.”

I reached up to wipe away her tears. “It’s going to be okay, and we’re both here to hold your hand.” I motioned to her brother, who stood silently at the back of his truck. I knew he was watching us because the heat of his gaze made the hairs on my arm stand at attention. Reaching into my purse, I pulled out a strawberry and crème candy. “Want one? Whenever I’m nervous, a piece of candy always helps.”

I held it up, waiting to see if she’d accept it. She smiled widely before reaching for it. “Thank you, Pretty. I feel a little better now.”

I giggled, hearing her call me the same nickname as her brother. “You’re welcome. Now let’s go kick cancer’s ass.”

I held out my hand to help her out the truck then wrapped ours together. Kalm closed the door and trailed wordlessly behind us. I glanced over my shoulder to find a pained expression on his face. He might not say it, but I knew this was killing him. Since meeting him, one thing I noticed was the love he had for his siblings. Knowing he couldn’t heal her had to be eating him alive.

“Thank you,” he mouthed when he noticed my eyes were on him.

I gave him a toothless grin and nodded once to let him know it was all good. He trusted me enough to accompany his sister, and I was going to do everything in my power to be a part of her support system. I actually liked her and wanted to see her come out on the other side of this diagnosis stronger than ever before.

Leaning closer to her, I whispered, “When we get alone, could you tell me about your brother?”