THE PAIN YOU GIVE

CHAPTER 17-A Journey of Forgiveness and Love

A week passed, and Mr. Taylor's funeral was held. Everyone was present for the ceremony. Chrissy, still not fully recovered, walked with crutches with her sister by her side. Despite her physical limitations, Chrissy showed no signs of weakness and never cried throughout the ceremony.

However, she felt uneasy when she saw her father's body laid in state. Memories rushed in, making her more agitated, and she was about to leave the premises when Jason crossed her path and pleaded for her to stay. All eyes were on her, and voices and murmurs filled the hall.Chrissy looked at Jason, her expression devoid of emotion, and walked past him. "Let me go with her," Tameka quickly intervened, holding Chrissy's arm, and they walked outside together.

The reception was ongoing, but Chrissy remained in her room. She heard a knock, and the door opened."Why don't you come down, child? Your family members want to see you," Auntie Imelda suggested."Pffff," Chrissy snorted in response. "I'm good, Auntie," she replied."Alright, let me know if you need anything," Auntie Imelda said before closing the door behind her. Chrissy nodded silently.

An hour passed, and the reception ended. Everyone proceeded to their various homes except the family, who stayed behind to discuss certain matters. Feeling stifled in her room, Chrissy decided to go out for some fresh air. Slowly, she held onto the crutches, descending the stairs towards the entrance. Her presence made the others' focus shift towards her, but she pretended not to notice anyone.Approaching the door, she struggled to open it because of her crutches. Seeing this, Jason rushed to help her, but his help was rejected. "I CAN DO IT MYSELF!!" Chrissy spat and left the house, Jason felt devastated, his heart heavy with concern for Chrissy. As he struggled to come to terms with her rejection of his help, Alex reached out to him, offering words of comfort. "Just give her time, dude. She lost her dad, and she's recovering as well," Alex said, his voice filled with empathy.

Jason nodded, taking in his friend's advice, and glanced at Chrissy through the window's glass with extreme sadness etched on his face. He longed to reach out to her to offer his support and comfort, but he knew he needed to respect her space and her wishes.

"Cheer up, dude," Uma teased, injecting a hint of humour into the heavy atmosphere. Jason managed a small laugh in relief, grateful for the support of his friends. "I miss you, Mum," Chrissy cried, her voice carrying the weight of longing as she lifted her head towards the skies. With closed eyes, tears streamed down her face, tracing the contours of her cheeks.

"I miss her too, child," Chrissy heard a familiar voice, soft and comforting. Quickly wiping her tears, she looked up to see her aunt coming closer, her presence a source of solace amid grief. With a gentle touch, her aunt sat beside her,

"GOSH!!!" Chrissy exclaimed, her heart still racing from the sudden appearance of her aunt. "You scared me, Auntie," she responded softly, her voice still tinged with emotion." I know. I'm sorry," her auntie replied, her expression reflecting regret as she sat there silently beside her.

"You know, even though your father hurt your mother, she never stopped loving him... She still wanted to make this work," her auntie continued her words carrying the weight of experience and wisdom. Chrissy quickly turned to her aunt, her attention fully captured by her words. "And she loved you even after the tragedy you faced. Always remember that. Anytime you are sad and depressed, always know that you are loved, Chrissy. Not just by your mum, who risked her life to protect you, but by me, Uma, Tameka, and Jason," her auntie reassured her,

"Pffff, those demons," Chrissy sneered, her expression filled with disdain. "Child, I know, remorse when I see one, and they are truly sorry. They have acknowledged they were wrong, except your dad, who sadly took his own life because of shame. Please give them another chance, especially your husband. I know deep down you still love the man," her auntie pleaded with sincerity.