Life after Death

Chapter Seven

Later that evening...

I was soon back at my place, feeling grateful to meet new friends that Chance introduced me to while feeling nervous about the Brazilian beauty who seems to have a chip on my shoulder all because I was the new kid in town and that I gained Chance's attention.

In all fairness, I was still not used to being in the Nexus and I definitely didn't expect to see Chance at all. So I have no idea why she was jealous.

Anyway, I was soon back in the living room of my new digs, still remembering the letter that was from God and Lucifer (though the latter did most of the writing) and the reminder to take a look at the timeline where I didn't exist. The problem was, however, that I didn't know where to begin. Taking a seat that was in front of the entertainment center, I grabbed the TV remote and the screen flashed to a channel called "The Nonexistent Timeline." Choose which date you would like to see life if you hadn't existed, the instructions at the bottom of the screen read.

I thought for a moment. Maybe my sixteenth birthday, I thought to myself. Typing in the specific date, I let the screen load for a few minutes before the screen showed the same house that I lived in.

And then, I saw my entire family- Mom, Dad, Alex, Cameron, Leigh-Anne, and Mariah- all sitting down to a delightful dinner with smiles and good camaraderie on their faces. "Another day for us Chamblee family," Dad said jovially, his voice lighter than it was when I was around him. "And with the family company on the up and up, everything is going to remain roses and diamonds for all of us."

Roses and diamonds? Since when does he ever say that?

Right, I was never born during this timeline, so he could say that since I never existed.

Mom preened as Dad complimented on her new purchase of a necklace while Alex and Cameron excitedly chatted about an upcoming soccer game that their sisters promised that they would attend. "Even if it means pulling the necktie on our agents," Mariah said jokingly. "I'd never miss it for anything in the world, not when it comes to my favorite little brothers."

"So precious," Mom cooed as the servants began to serve the meal.

Mom would never say that when it comes to me and my birthdays, I thought dourly as I watched them all enjoy themselves. I could still remember the times that they all skipped my 16th birthday in favor of attending Mariah's fashion show in Paris when I was finished with tenth grade...

***************

FLASHBACK (My Bittersweet Sixteenth Birthday)...

"Child, your folks and siblings need to be horsewhipped for missing out on your birthday," came the sharp and candid Southern drawl of Minnie Jean Sammons, the head maid of the family as she whipped up a nice simple meal. She'd do this for my past birthdays while everyone else was out and about, never really caring that I made it to another year of life. "This is a time when everyone should be celebrating your big day as you grow closer and closer to adulthood, not them doing what they please while you stay here and wait to be shipped out of the country."

"Mrs. Sammons, I'm used to it by now," I replied, accepting a plate of oven-fried chicken with whipped potatoes and green beans before she turned on some gospel music. "Besides, I guess I should be expecting this for the rest of my life if my family had any say about it, especially Mom."

Minnie Jean shook her head. "Child, it ain't your fault for being born as a product of rape," she insisted gently.

"Then why does it feel like it is every time that she wished that I never existed or wished that she went against her father's wishes and had me aborted?"

"Because she's too stubborn as a mule to see that you do provide something to the family." She sat down next to me and placed her arm around my shoulder. "Your sisters are out partying and all while your little brothers are giving the maids grief. Your mama's drinking like a fish and her husband's out being a polecat to this secretaries. You keep your nose clean and get good grades while attending church like you do. Don't listen to that mama of yours, child. God has a plan for your life and I believe that you're going to be the key that puts this family together."

I nodded, steeling away a few tears as I finished my food so I could be granted with her signature red velvet cupcake as she would sing "Happy Birthday" to me. It was something that I looked forward to despite my absentee family enjoying their lives before they would announce me attending summer camp in some European country...

*****************

PRESENT DAY

I let the tears fall as I continued to watch the family enjoy themselves while taking in the soulful voice of the only maid who gave me any attention. I could only hope that Minnie Jean Sammons and the other servants would be at peace and give me a final burial. But knowing my parents, they would make sure that the help wouldn't be able to mourn my death for long before keeping them busy with plans for parties and galas to celebrate my execution.

I closed my eyes as sleep gave way.

Cumulative word-count: 6,457 words.

Poor Hezekiah. His birthdays were full of abandonment and sadness while the timeline without him continued to move on freely, his family just dancing through life without a care in the world. But as they all say, there's more than what meets the eye. And coming up next, Minnie Jean finally tells off her employees and leads the servants to an exodus. Boy, you're going to want to stick around because the downfall of the Chamblee empire will slowly yet gradually begin!

Dedication: AliKatMeow and BrianMullin0. Song: "Saddest Vanilla" by Jess Glynne ft. Emeli Sande.

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