"C'mon son. Let's go eat with the family. I know Hyde's looking for you." David softly says.
Unable to move, I stand staring, transfixed on her sparkling white coffin. My dad cradles my bicep causing me to glance at his hand, still I can't move. The gravediggers keep circling us. My dad puts his hand on my shoulder as he pats it whispering, "C'mon let's go."
"I'm not leaving, dad."
Sighing, he nods and then walks away. Lifeless, I stare at Lola's coffin for hours. My mind is thoughtless. I'm just a hollow shell standing in this cemetery unable to function.
Hesitant one of the gravediggers says, "I'm so sorry to interrupt you sir, but the cemetery closes in ten minutes. I'm so sorry about your loss."
Looking directly into his eyes, I never respond. Dropping his head, he walks away. I return my eyes to Lola's coffin, then I look across this lush landscape. No one's here but me. I look for my car and the driver is standing by the back passenger door, patiently waiting. I see movement in my peripheral and it's the gravediggers dreading approaching me again. It's then I turn and head to the car. Wearing shades, the driver looks straight ahead holding the door open. Once inside his baritone voice asks, "Where to?"
"Take me home."
Lola's scent hits me at my front door. My heart's pounding so hard it feels as if it may explode. Now wobbling, I drop to my knees and let out this bloodcurdling wail. On the floor, I lie in a fetal position, sobbing.
It's my fault she's dead. All she asked me to do was take her and Hyde snorkeling. If I were there none of this would've happened. She would've suggested we swim deeper. We would've taken Hyde to Leah or Mae and then swam underwater together. All the stuff we've endured and still made it, why would our lives together end so meaninglessly?
I remember when she dumped me. We'd been dating about nine months. I had mentioned marriage a couple of weeks earlier, but tonight was a great night. We hung out with friends, went to a nice restaurant, came to my home and made love. We're lying in bed when I roll on top of her. I'm staring into her beautiful chestnut eyes then kiss her saying, "I think we should get married."
In the past she'd laugh it off, but she stares up at me dazed. I grin, "Yeah, we need to be married."
Still she says nothing. Now concerned I ask, "You disagree?"
Squirming from underneath me she answers, "King we've only been dating a few months."
As she's speaking my phone vibrates. I glance over to see who's texting. It's a female friend. I ignore it then continue listening to Lola. Now squinting she asks, "Who is that?"
"No one. And we've been together almost a year. I love you. Don't you love me?"
"Don't do that! Who just called you?"
"No one. It's a text. It's a client."
Lola reaches across me and grabs my phone, but I grab her wrist and snatch it away saying, "Hold up! What's up? You don't trust now?"
"Maybe I never trusted you."
"Huh? Baby, you trippin. You need some more of big daddy, don't you?"
I whisper into her ear, "I got you," as I kiss her neck, but she shoves me saying, "Stop it King! What'd your client say?"
Frowning, I hand her my phone. She puts in my code and then reads. Appalled, she shakes her head then tries to get out of bed. Snatching her back I say, "Nah, what's up baby? Why are you acting like this? You know I have a past. And you know I haven't been with anyone since I met you. I love you. You know this, so why are you angry tonight?"
