Great Minds **** Chapter Sixty-Two

I was taken to the Women's Hospital in Baton Rouge, as soon as I arrived about 50 minutes after the call I delivered my daughter, it was the worst pain I had ever experienced, I was convinced I was being punished for something. I hated Trenton with a passion. I hadn't given the paramedics my real name, actually I'd given them Jennifer Myers, but hadn't mentioned I had been treated at LSU.

The delivery had been so quick they barely had enough time to administer anesthesia, and she was very sick when she was born, the sickest of them all. I understood why. I had underwent an emergency C Section again, I knew I could not go through childbirth no more. I had decided to have a Tubal Ligation during my Cesarean if I would have delivered as scheduled, but since she was born so fast it had not been done. She was born weighing 2 pounds 2 oz, and soon after she came into the world the Eclampsia came with detrimental intent and sent me into a coma. What transpired could never have been foreseen, not even in one's wildest imagination. I remembered being alert, for eleven days I had minimal brain activity but was ---aware. The nurses tended to me around the clock, they seemed to know how to take care of their patients. They even prayed. I had no medical history and they had to run a series of tests to determine what had happened to me. I could hear the machines and their activity, but as much as I tried I could not wake up. I knew I was sick when they began to speak on not knowing the outcome of my vegetative state. They contributed the onset to the Eclampsia and were puzzled about my confused state afterthe delivery. I hadn't even planned on her surviving. I was somewhat at a vegetated peace but was yet aware of the inevitable. Retrospectively, while growing up I had been eager to succeed, I had known how I had to escape the hell I lived in called home, then, along came Redd.

Their presences were welcoming, I knew they would take care of me, the nurse who had met me on the stretcher at the ER entrance assured me they would and they were gentle as she had promised while wiping my tears. I tried to squeeze her hand but my weak grip told her I didn't want to fight anymore, I was done. What had life offered me? Hadn't they known for every action there was a reaction? I had endured everything an African American woman could possibly endure, I had been stripped of integrity, and I was done. I preferred not initiating voluntary actions, I would kill if I had that right. The old nurse would hum.

The evening someone one came into the room I could feel them standing over me, their presence had not been pleasant, but caliginous and unlit even being in my current state, their comportment was unpleasing. I felt the oxygen mask move from my face while someone examined my features underneath. It was replaced as I heard the monitors announcing a change in my vitals. I needed to open my eyes! Who was it? Their scent was customary, the cheap aftershave lingered long after their departure and upon the nurse reentering she became defensive. "Are u family?" She asked. He spoke, it had not been Trent. I had heard his voice before and knew I needed to wake up! I fought an inner battle with my health and my memory was fairly gone, but I had heard the voice!

"Oh, I tracked my wife's Iphone and it led me here, I have the wrong room. I'm sorry for barging in."

Lying ass nigga, had he been near my daughter? Who was he and what did he want? What did THEY want?! Everything seemed like a dream. When I woke up 2 days later I wanted to just go back under and DIE! I was sick, they hadn't thought I would make it. I had a bladder catheter, feeding tube and so many machines to monitor activity, when I opened my eyes the nurse was in disbelief, "I told them u would wake up! Dr. Bonner, Nurse Hill!!!" I was in so much pain and could not move. Something had fucked me up, I was awake but my brain activity was weak. Also I had experienced Acute Kidney Failure while in the coma, I would have to learn to walk again and from the time I woke up to the time I was apprehended I hadn't remembered shit. I wanted to see my daughter and could not ask about her, how was she? I wanted my baby. I knew we would be hospitalized for a while but didn't know we would eventually be separated. I had no fight, I couldn't run this time, God had finally sat me down. I would get angry, I could not speak, and was yet a vegetable.

A month passed and I was somewhat improving, I could respond with my hands and eyes, I had had so many cat scans and mri's, they hadn't known what happened. I had Eclampsia but they were focused on the part of my brain that hadn't shut down during the coma, it had shut down after I awakened, that was backwards. Again, I was a guinea pig. I feared I would never walk and talk again, or take care of my babies, and Trenton would likely move on, he had won. I couldn't fight anymore. The voices had become loud, they substituted my thoughts and told me I couldn't get away this time.

The smell of hand sanitizer filled my nose, I opened my eyes and saw the officer who had handcuffed me to the bed and read me my rights. He inquired about my health and said he was appointing an officer to monitor the room until I could be transported to prison. For almost 5 weeks my room was supervised by men with rifles, I was a fugitive and they had been in pursuit for over two years. One day they took me from the hospital, loaded me into a transport van and booked me in on murder charges at the Prison. I appeared in court the next morning for arraignment in the wheelchair and hospital clothing. I didn't know if I was going or coming they could kiss my ass, and when they read my charges I knew something was wrong. I was charged again with the murder of Jermaine Hathaway, my dna had been recovered from the crime scene, how so?! Also I was a suspect in another murder, I hadn't even recognized the name! My life was over.

"Officer Hathaway was murdered execution style by the defendant Hazel Givens, she is unresponsive and has recently awakened from a coma following childbirth, after a lengthy manhunt Ms. Givens was apprehended at the Women's Hospital in Baton Rouge and supervised until extradition to Caddo Parish, we have pursued—-"

"Counsel, this woman is clearly a——vegetable, we can't try her in that state! She don't even know if she needs a lawyer!"

I could feel the drool pooling on my shoulder, "This case was dismissed back in 2011 in Judge Roger's courtroom, Officer Hathaway was also under investigation when he was killed. Now u can't drag this case into the courtroom without cause, furthermore this is a Federal matter! May the appropriate Powers That Be tend to it! This woman's got one foot in the grave, we cannot try her in a parish jail for an on duty cop! Under U.S.C section 1512 we just can't detain her on these charges! They wouldn't even pick up the case back in '13, Officer Hathaway was not even in his jurisdiction when he was killed, he was here! Drugs were found on the body, he had his pants down for crying out loud! Let this woman die in peace! U KNOW WHY HER DNA WAS ON HIM! I would have shoved a fricking apple down his throat too! We cannot hold her for more than 72 hours Counsel! Next Matter!

He had eagerly rolled me before the judge but turned away and left me sitting and slumped over. "Get the patie—-defendant!"

The bailiff proceeded to roll me to the prisoner holding tank.

"What happened to u?! Oh my Lord, they don't care if ya half gone or not! Come on let me wipe ya mouth!"

I could wipe my own damn mouth! What I needed was them muthafuckas to repeat that shit. Redd needed to wake the fuck up, right then, I had questions. I sat in the holding cell while the Celina chic performed tricks with decks of cards, she shuffled them the numbers jumped out and stood in the air, they hadn't given me any meds and my senses were becoming keen. I was so hungry and just stared at the sack lunch, also was weak and actually waited to die. I didn't care if they came, I would still die soon. I wouldn't remember dying, that was for sure. I think I died with Rashinda. Everybody would now know, I had written it all in the shed. When the guard said my attorney was there she rolled me to a visitation room, my head remained held down, I was defeated, I would never see my children again, I wanted the lethal injection to kill me slowly, and wanted to suffer! The attorneys presence could be felt and I was sure someone had accompanied him. I only had one request but couldn't speak, tell them my babies name; Emily Trenae whether she had lived or not, I hadn't known because I hadn't asked. "We're gonna get u out, but u have to be extradited first. Since u can't sign the extradition papers your husband is here to do it for u." The attorney laid paperwork on the table and it was signed. I felt someone lean across the table and kiss the scar on my forehead.

At about 3 a.m two days later guards in black attire and face shields transported me to FMC Carswell in Fort Worth. It was a medical prison for federal inmates. When I appeared in court 56 days later the doctor declared I was brain dead and had had no normal brain activity since I had been incarcerated. He recommended my release. My attorney also appeared in court with a "Punishment is ineffective if the criminal is unaware of the infliction or consequence defense." I still had the feeding tube and catheter and would not eat, my heart was weak, the control of my arms I had concealed was gone from lack of use. I often wondered about my children and as I sat before the Judges of Mankind I prayed to my creator. I knew one sin was no greater than the next, Daddy made sure I knew. I had only wanted to be normal, all I had was my mind, it was a haven. The voices had consoled me and calmed me since a child. I vowed to never tell on my father but never said I would not write it, now they knew. I would not go down alone but I asked God for one last chance, and knew it was the last of the last chances.

"I cannot find probable cause to charge this woman! The evidence is limited, we cannot move forward, where are the witnesses? Mr. Brandon Lewis can't testify, he was brutally gunned down, and the Karma Creighton informant isn't reliable! Carmella Long's conflict of interest makes her unreliable, and the confession tape of her being a fruitcake and serial killer is not substantial, it even sounds like a joke! Look at that woman! U ain't gotta worry about her killing no one else! Now she is under investigation somewhere else, we can't afford to medically treat Ms. Givens!"

I felt the drool when it rolled down the side of my neck. I am what they say I am.

When the three judges agreed to dismiss the case from Federal Court, I heard a couple of low mumbles, but was instantly rolled out of the large courtroom with my I.V pole. I wondered who was coming for me next. When I was taken back to the hospital they didn't handcuff me to my bed, but my normal medical routine resumed. They continued therapy for about three days. Megan would talk to me, and say we were the same age. She spoke of me being admitted into a hospital for the young and invalid there in Fort Worth. During our session she said she had good news and I was leaving the facility. Of course I couldn't show emotion. I had no clothes and had lost so much weight, my limbs were frail and useless by now. I remember being wheeled to the transportation tank and about two hours later someone came for me, and rolled me out. The rays of sun shined on my face and I couldn't tell who stood before me, only they were in all black. I prepared for the long journey ahead. When I was rolled down the ramp I expected a big van or bus but instead Trenton said, "I'll help u inside, be careful." I got inside we drove away, I was free.

"U can't live life on the run," he said.

Fuck that! I saw a pair of baby socks, car seats and a pacifier. I also saw a woman's earring...

I began to scream, I was suddenly overwhelmed with so much grief! I was almost dead, and he had completely left me! I didn't know where my baby was! "How could u leave me!!!!" I cried with all my might, I just wanted death to come on. Trenton and I would never be the same again. I could not trust him, I hadn't understood his logic! What did he fucking want! My arms were so weak from intentionally not moving I couldn't fight him if I wanted to. I saw hurt on his face though, as if he was disappointed. "U will never get it Hazel, and I give up. If u want to know your daughter's name it's Emily after my Grandmother.