Always

40.

Spencer James

*one week later*

"The first day Sean and I met, we had a fight. I'm talkin' like he and I was exchangin' blows. I'd seen him walkin' in the neighborhood...bein' young and dumb...I was caught up in some street shit and was lookin' for trouble. Lord knows I met the wrong one because he fucked me up that day, on hood" Spencer chuckled and the crowd laugh. "I've been in hella fights...have been in hella battles. Sean the only nigga I ever lost a fight to. After the fight, I went to my granny's house and was pissed. You could only imagine the shock on my face when I went to Crenshaw the next day and saw that nigga there" he continued and the crowd continued to laugh.

"Outside of him and Nae, he and I were damn near conjoined at the hip too. If you know me, you know I ain't have no siblings, but Sean was damn near my brother. You saw Sean, you saw me, and vise versa. He always kept it a buck with me...he wanted the best for me but I wasn't tryna hear shit" Spencer heaved a big sigh. "It hurt my heart when our relationship went downhill...he and I stopped talkin' for years. But God knew we needed one another and placed us in each other's lives again. Though there was time that was missed...nothin' between us changed. He still embraced me and vice versa. He still wanted the best for me...he stepped behind me on anything. He was the realest nigga I knew. Sean was an inspiration" Spencer paused from speaking as he felt a lump in his throat.

"Nae...the love he has for you...I hope you know the shit's unwavering. He loved you with every damn bone in his body. And he knew the same could be said about you" Spencer glanced at his friend. "I hate that your time together was cut short. I hate that he won't be around to see y'all's unborn baby. I know this shit is an ultimate tragedy but I hope you know he will continue to flow through you...infinitely. Know that in this life time and every other lifetime, he would always choose you. Nae...Liv and I got you and the baby through anything. You need us and we will pull up. You and Sean have done the same for us...it's our turn now" he said and Nae nodded with tears in her eyes.

"Sean...man. I hate this shit. I hate that I'll never get to experience new memories with you on this Earth side. If y'all ain't know...Sean played a huge part in the opening of the clothing store. Every thought he put into this shit was led with the purest intentions. If Sean ain't agree with an idea, it wasn't the right choice, I genuinely respected his thoughts. I just...I hate he ain't gon' be here to see the shit open. I hate that I'll be missing him longer than I've known him. I don't know how I'ma get through this shit for real" Spencer's eyes begin to water. "But Sean, just know that I love you man...and I'll see you when I get there. Thank you" he cleared his throat and exited the podium.

Everyone stood to their feet and clapped at Spencer's speech. Spencer walked down the steps of the stage and towards the seating his family sat. Angel sat in Mr. A's lap while Olivia held their son in her arms.

"That took a lot of strength for you to go up there and speak..." Olivia watched as Spencer sat next to her. "I'm proud of you...and I know Sean would be too" she interlocked their fingers and gently squeezed his hand.

"That was a great speech, son" Mr. A said.

"Thank you, Pops" Spencer said as he blinked his tears away.

As Nae went on stage to deliver her speech, Spencer briefly zoned out. He never envisioned he would be at Sean's funeral. He had a hard time accepting the reality of Sean no longer being there. Spencer always thought he would be the first one to go between the two. Never Sean. In a way he felt guilty and at fault for what happened to him.

Spencer snapped back into reality as he felt Olivia gently squeeze his hand.

"I've got to use the restroom...hold Kross" Olivia said as she handed him their son. Spencer pecked Kross' forehead as Olivia stood up from her seat and exited the aisle.