Onika, a single mother, is desperate to find a cure for her daughter's mysterious illness. Just as hope fades, she meets Dr. Beyoncé Knowles, a determined doctor who refuses to give up.
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Beyonce Knowles Manhattan, New York
I sat at the table, only half listening to the conversation as everyone talked and ate. My eyes kept drifting toward Nicki, though. She looked nervous, fidgeting with her phone, checking it every few seconds like she was expecting something bad.
It was hard not to notice how on edge she seemed, even though she was trying to keep it together.
Suddenly, Nicki stood up and excused herself, her voice a little shaky. She didn't look anyone in the eye as she hurried off, and Lauren stayed behind, glancing after her.
"How did you even get her out of the house?" Angie asked with a grin, clearly curious.
Lauren laughed, but there was a hint of something more—like it wasn't as easy as she made it seem. "Had a little help from her sidekick"
Mama Tina chimed in, giving Lauren a knowing smile. "Oh, so she's a bit of a homebody, huh?"
The table got quiet for a moment, and Lauren's smile faded a little. "Well, her daughter's been sick for a while now, so she spends most of her time taking care of her. She doesn't like leaving her for long, so that's why she's been getting up and checking her phone. She might have to do that a few more times tonight, so don't mind her."
I perked up at that, paying closer attention.
"What's going on with her daughter?" Solange asked.
Lauren sighed, her expression a mix of frustration and sadness. "Doctors still don't know what's wrong. She's been in and out of the hospital for months, and Nicki's been pretty much living there with her. It's hard to get her to take a break. I just wanted her to have a little time to relax tonight, you know?"
Angie nodded, her smile softening with understanding. "Her daughter is the sweetest little girl, so full of energy. You'd never guess she was going through something like this."
We all nodded, and the conversation slowly shifted back to lighter topics, but I couldn't shake what Lauren had said. It lingered in my mind, like a knot I couldn't untangle.
I kept glancing toward the door where Nicki had disappeared, my thoughts circling around the unknown condition her daughter was dealing with, the stress she must be under.
A few minutes later, Nicki came back, looking even more flustered than before. She grabbed her purse quickly, barely making eye contact with any of us.
"I'm sorry, but I have need to go. It was nice meeting you all," she said, her voice shaky and rushed.
Angie, concerned as always, asked gently, "Is everything okay?"
Nicki nodded, but it was clear she was lying. "Yeah, everything's fine," she said, though her voice didn't sound convincing at all.
