Heartless People

TWENTY-SIX

So its true, when all is said and done, grief is the price we pay for love.

~ E.A. Bucchianeri

LAUREN.

DAY 3

Knock.

Knock.

"Lauren? I brought you some food."

Grabbing the lamp at the side of my bed, I threw it at the door before shifting back onto the ground, lifting the bottle back up to my lips and pressing play for
the video on my tablet to start again.

"Lauren, get that out of my face—I swear Im going to hurt you." She pushed the camera aside.

"How can you hurt a women with a face like mine?" I said, in sync with my recorded self.

She paused to think. "With a hammer, a blow torch, or safety scissors, if Im feeling creative-"

"Lets put that mind to better use."

"Lauren don't! Lauren! HAHA!" I tackled her to the ground, holding the camera to her face.

"Say it."

"Say what?"

"Say you love me."

"Lauren we need to finish—"

"Im not letting you up until you say it."

She made a face into the camera. "Does it count if you are forcing me?"

"Yes, because I know you mean it anyway."

"You are so—"

"Say it—"

"Oh my God, fine! I love you, Lauren. I, Karla Camila Cabello Jauregui  LOVE YOU! Are you happy now?"

I smiled just as hard as I had back then. "Yeah. Im over the moon because I love you too."

The video cut and I drank.

DAY 5

"Lauren."

"Camz?" I whispered, turning around, but instead it was my mother kneeling beside me. She put her hand on my head and I just turned back over, coming face to face with too many bottles to count.

"Lauren, we can't hold out on the funeral any longer, its in two days."

"Go then, I'll stay here, "I whispered, reaching over to find a bottle with anything left in it.

"Lauren, your children—"

"Can you lock the door behind you, Ma? Im tired."

She brushed my hair back, kissing my forehead. "No one else on this planet understands this pain like I do. I know you feel like you are being burned alive,
but you have too much to do. Your kids need you, I need you too. You wouldn't let me leave you when your father left and I won't let you do it now either."

My tears rolled over my nose and onto the ground beside me. "Thats because Im selfish, Ma."

I had nothing more to say.

Again she kissed my forehead. "I swear after the funeral it will be different."

How? Why? What was the point?

DAY 6

"It has been six days since the death of beloved Miami's governor Camila Jauregui and the world is mourning. Some of our viewers may not remember
this, but I was in the UK after the death of Princess Diana, and the cloud that hung over that country is very present here today. Outside the Jauregui mansion, people of all walks of life, and not only from Miami, have come to pay tribute, leaving flowers, candles, and teddy bears, some even leaving Cubs jerseys — Camila Jauregui favorite team—outside the family gates. Her funeral tomorrow has drawn not only politicians, but also the likes of Amelia London and Noah Sloan, long-time family friends of the Jauregui who have both commented on this tragic loss. Many are coming from all over to pay respect to this great woman."