Ova Da Rainbow: HAWAII'S STORY (3)

White Roses In Bloom

A/N: Look who got another chapter done early! This chapter is made with the help of my dear friend, NewLostIslands, who all rights of the lovely May go to. I am forever grateful for her support and help.

"Oh, this one's a pretty one." Hawaii said, as she looked at the case May was showing her.

It was a silvery cross necklace, with little gems on it. Whether those gems were real or fake was anyone's guess, but it sure was pretty. May saw Hawaii looking at it, and immediately took it out of the case, and smiled, holding it out to her.

"I couldn't take this from you, May." Hawaii said, frowning. "I thought you had a collection or something."

"Trinkets that a few of my children and grandchildren gave to me are not a collection." May said, a twinkle ever present in her eyes. She was going to turn 90 this year. Something Hawaii never imagined to ever happen... but it was soon. 90 years was a long time, but it passed us by in the blink of an eye.

"I want to give it to you." May said, putting the necklace in Hawaii's palm and gently folding Hawaii's hand around it. Then, she looked Hawaii straight in the eyes. "I'm going to give you this now. So you may have it before I die."

"Which won't happen for a long time."

"You know I'm old now, Em." May said, sighing. "I don't live indefinitely like you do, sweetheart."

"May, you're overthinking it. You have a long time more. You're healthy and strong and-" Hawaii kept rambling, hoping to get the conversation away from the topic at hand.

"Emma Kailani Kameāloha. I'm going to die one day. You know that." May said. She looked like she had been waiting to say this for a long while. Something Hawaii desperately didn't want to face, now or ever.

"But... not yet, May. Not yet. You have so much more to live for." Hawaii said, frowning. "Don't worry about it, okay?"

"Look at me. I gave the same talk to my children and grandchildren." May said, cupping Hawaii's cheek. "When I do die, I don't want you to feel like I left you all on your own."

Hawaii looked away, feeling herself start to breathe heavily. "I... can't think about this right now, okay? You have been there for me for so long. You can't go yet."

"But I will. And you know I will." May said. "Hawaii. When did Kalakaua take his trip around the world?"

"1881, don't you re-"

"I was eight years old." May said. "I was a child when Kalakaua sailed around the world, and he brought you with him. I remember talking about it in school with my friends, with Johnny. Honey... I'm younger than you tell yourself I am, and I'm not immortal. None of us are, really. Some just have a natural immunity to death, like you. My Otis was not immortal, my mother wasn't, I'm not."

"Please don't talk about this. Please." Hawaii begged, trying to calm herself. "You've been there for me, May, when I needed you the most. I know... I know this won't last forever, but please don't make me have to think about this right now."

May put her forehead to Hawaii's, and in that moment, everything was great. Everything was alright and fine and not being thrown into question. "Emma, I love you, you know that?"

"I love you too, May. Just... promise me you'll stay."

"I can't promise you that one."

"Please... promise me you'll stay as long as possible then." Hawaii said. "Promise to me right now. You're going to stay... until you have to go. Please?"