CHAPTER 15
When I got to the emergency room Letah was talking to the nurse. She told us that they would have to run some test and it could be a while before they knew anything. I put my arms around Letah and we sat down in the waiting room. About an hour later the doctor came out and told us that Lynn had suffered a massive heart attack but she was stable. The doctor also said the she was gonna need an emergency bypass. She had a collapse in one of her major arteries and that she might need a blood transfusion. He asked if we could both donate some of our blood just in case.
“Of course!” I said.
The nurse came out to take us to a room and draw our blood.
“Follow me please,” said the nurse. I walked behind her and was about halfway down the hall before I realized that Letah was still standing in the waiting room. I stopped and turned around.
“Just a moment please,” I said to the nurse. I turned to walk back down the hallway; Letah stood perfectly still as I approached.
“What? What are you doin’? The nurse is waitin’, Lynn is waitin’. What’s the problem?” I asked.
“I can’t,” she said blankly.
“You can’t what? Girl… come on here and quit bein’ a baby. I know you ain’t still scared of needles. It’ll be alright, you’ll just feel a little pinch and that’s it. Come on. Do it for Lynn.” I said, growing more frustrated.
“No! I can’t!” She shouted.
“Why,” I asked. Letah turned away.
“I just can’t! So… stop askin’ me!” Letah shouted louder.
“You selfish little bitch! Our sister is layin’ in that operatin’ room fightin’ for her life, and you can’t? No, wait… You won’t take a little needle stick? It’s always about you ain’t it? You always have been a lil’ self-centered heffa’! I don’t believe you! This is so…” I said as Letah interrupted.
“She can’t have my blood! I’m sick Rayqelle!” Letah shouted!
“Sick how? What? You got a cold or somethin’? What is it? We ain’t got all day!” I demanded.
“Rayqelle I am sick! I have HIV!” Letah shouted again as she broke down into tears.
“What? Oh my God! No, please God? NO!” I said. “What? How? Why didn’t you tell me?” I asked putting my arms around her.
“Please... time is of the essence,” the nurse said from down the hall; unaware of the serious conversion that was taking place.
“Miss Davis, please!” the nurse said again.
“I’ll be right back,” I whispered; kissing Letah’s forehead as I headed back down the brightly lit hallway with the nurse.
“It’ll just be me,” I told the nurse as she led me to the exam room. When I got back to the waiting room Letah was asleep on the stiff vinyl love seat that was neatly situated across from the partitioned nurses’ station.
I sat down quietly, struggling not to wake my little sister as she seemed to sleep so soundly.