Page 62 of Butterfly 6, Phase 1

The last thing he heard was the sound of the alarm blaring and someone yelling, “We got a situation up here! LOCK IT DOWN!” Then, he was out.

“1-800-HEARTBREAK” by Summer Walker

“Mo’s here!” Eazy shouted. The joy he expressed at first sight made Morgan feel a sudden emotion she couldn’t explain.

He hugged her. “Where is Yolly? When can we see her?” Eazy had rapid-fire questions for Morgan before she could even get through the door. “Where’s Messari?”

“She’s still at Hurley, E,” Morgan informed. “I’m hoping to bring her home soon. Kids can’t visit, but as soon as she gets out, we’ll be here. You’ll be able to give her all the love.”

“Is she in pain?” Eazy asked.

Morgan didn’t want to tell him the truth. She didn’t want to see his eyes change like everyone else’s just yet. There was an inevitable doom that invaded the hearts of men when the big C was mentioned. She didn’t have the heart to tell him, not yet. “Just pray, okay?” Morgan asked.

Eazy nodded and wrapped his arms around Mo. Eazy’s hugs were always full of love and hope. He had been her first baby. Since the day Raven had died, Morgan had placed Eazy in an extra-special chamber of her heart. They had been raised together, and she was more sibling than aunt, but he had been the first heartbeat she had felt outside of her chest.

Bella hugged her next.

“Where’s Alani?” Morgan asked, looking to Ethic.

“She’s probably resting. I’ll find Mara and see if she’s up to coming down,” Ethic said. “Let me know when you’re ready to head to the hospital.”

Morgan checked her phone and replied, “Messari’s pulling up with Aria now, actually.”

Morgan opened the app that controlled the front gate, and she typed in her code to let Aria onto the property. She walked outside, eagerly meeting Aria in the driveway.

“Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!”

Messari’s voice was music to Morgan’s ears as Aria freed him from the backseat. Morgan ran across the yard to meet him halfway.

The pure joy in his squeals was like a beacon for Morgan, drawing her near as she picked him up and smothered him with tight hugs and endless kisses.

“I missed you soooo much, Mommy’s Ssari,” she said. Aria smiled as she emerged slowly from the car, gathering Messari’s things.

“Did you have fun with Auntie Ari and Uncle Isa?” Mo asked.

“So much fun. Uncle Isa started a fire!” Messari reported.

“Boy, hush,” Aria said, laughing as she leaned in to blow raspberries against his cheek.

“A fire?” Morgan asked, grinning in confusion as she looked to Aria for answers.

“Girl, don’t even ask. Not a real fire. Nephew was in good hands,” Aria assured, laughing.

“I have no doubt. Thank you, Aria. I appreciate y’all so much.” Morgan’s sigh was full of gratitude and exhaustion that she couldn’t quite vocalize.

“Anytime. You know we got y’all. Whatever you need. I was supposed to be leaving to audition for a few tours, but I’m putting all that on hold. It feels like I need to be in town right now,” Aria said.

“Aria, no,” Morgan replied. “I can’t ask you to do that.”

“You didn’t ask, Mo. What I look like, leaving while my niece is sick?” Aria frowned.

“This is your moment, though. It might not come back around,” Morgan said. “Take it, Aria. I don’t know what fight we have in front of us, but I know it’s long and hard. You can’t pass this up. I won’t let you. If I could, I would be on the road with you, auditioning and dancing our way through city after city. I made a different choice a long time ago. I became a mom, and that means I got to sit some stuff out sometimes. But you have to go fuck up the stage for both of us. If you winning, I’m winning. I can only experience it through your eyes right now. So, nah, girl, go and pop your biggest shit. If I need you, I’ll call.”

Aria nodded while her eyes brimmed with tears.

“You’re really my best friend out here, Mo.” Aria was emotional. “I just want good things for you. I want you to be okay. I want you to be safe and happy, and I want these babies to be okay.”

“We will be. I promise,” Morgan reassured. She wasn’t confident that this was the truth, and her voice frayed at the edges, softening into something wounded. Aria’s eyes went wet. These women, ride or die, one band, one sound, desperately wanted to align, but life was requesting them to be present in two different places.