In the middle of it all

Tanisha Jackson

"Fucking hate this..." mumbles Nate. Diego died February 6th but we were only able to plan his funerals almost 2 months later. It was windy and grey outside. Diego's least favorite .

"Y'all are making me a regular." The priest tried to joke. Some Silvers chuckled, some didn't. I didn't. Neither did Nate, Aneesa and Asad. Jessie was holding herself as the wind hit her with a cold breeze. The priest did his thing and when he was done, Jessie went in front of us, the crowd.

"Stand tall." she says. She takes a profound breath before proceeding. "Respect." she continues. She turned around and we all bowed down in front of the graves of our lost brother. "Thank you all for coming. Let's not forget Diego. Let's keep the memory of him alive in our hearts." concluded Tanisha.

"I've been meaning to ask this since the second time we've met." The priest begins to speak to Aneesa. "What are you guys ?"

"What are we ?" she repeats in a pinched tone.

"I-I don't mean to sound insensitive but you kids are so young and to have that many funerals in such a short period of time. You aren't ever with adults-"

"They're adults. I'm an adult." She says pointing to the non-minor Silvers.

"Where are your parents ?"

"Even with parents, people die, don't they ?"

"Yes but it's always your group alone."

"Cause that's all we got ! You think we want to be here ? You think we want to experience losses ! We're paying our respect like everyone else that comes here, is that too difficult to understand !" She cries out. I wrap my arms around her as she weeps and get her away from the man. Jessie goes towards him.

"Thank you again for today."

"I-I didn't mean to sound insensitive." He tells her. "It's just the timing and everything."

"Please leave, sir."

"It leads to the event that went on the news a few years ago. The massacre."

"Leave, sir."

He looks around. "You're part of that gang...All of you are ! I'm right, I should've known looking at you guys." Tanisha slaps him.

"Leave." she orders.

"You all deserved what's happening to you." he adds, his hand on the side of his face. "I should let the cops know about you all." He takes another look at each one of us before leaving the area.

"You shouldn't have slapped him, Sha." comments Xavier. All heads turn to him. Tanisha glares at him with narrow eyes. "He can use that against you. We have a target on our backs now."

"He ain't gon' do shit." responds Nate.

"You never know." adds on my boyfriend. Kyle shakes his head.

Aneesa pulls away from me and goes to stand in front of him. "So what ? Should we be scared for our lives now ?" she says, brooding. Her bottom eyelids were still holding water but her gaze was fierce. "I'm going to the crib. Titi, you're coming ?" She looks back at me. They both do, matter of a fact, they all do. I don't answer. I just stand there looking at her, deadpan. "Asad, give me the keys."

"I'll drive." Asad passes by his sister and walks out the cemetery.

"Shit funeral..." Nate mumbles as he follows Asad alongside Kyle, Jessie and Sha. Aneesa glances at me before following them.

"Aneesa..." I call her out.

"It's my fault, I shouldn't have asked." She says, smiling at me warmly. All the Silvers leave in groups and I leave with my boyfriend.