𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐬 | 𝐃𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐭

19. || Gift from Lik

Zuri Aniyah Banks
One Week Later
HARLEM, NEW YORK

The sound of the birds singing in the early morning hours caught the attention of Zuri, interfering with her task of getting dressed for Devon's funeral.

It had been a week since the traumatic and emotional event took place in the lives of Devon's loved ones, which had been one of the hardest weeks to cope with.

Devon always knew that the deeds of his actions or his friends' actions would could catch up to them one day. It was a reason for him turning away from the street life, and creating a relationship with God after marrying Alana. He lived a life as a firm believer in 'You Reap What You Sow', so he'd always prepared himself and Alana for that possible day, which sadly came.

"Hey, Mazi. Are you ready to leave, baby?" Zuri asked as she lightly touched his arm to get his attention, the picture of him and Devon in high school had his undivided attention.

"Yeah." His voice rasped, then he sat the picture on the living room's coffee table before he stood up from the couch.

The newly rekindled couple walked out of the house, quickly driving to the location of Devon's funeral, and when they arrived, they walked in the building— hand in hand.

"Hey." Zuri sadly greeted Alana, hugging her when she sat down next to her on the bench.

Although Zuri didn't spend much time with Devon or his wife Alana, she enjoyed the sheer memories that she had made with them. It hurted her to see others hurting, it always made her wish that she could cease their pain.

"Hey, Z. You worry about East, okay. He need you more than me." Alana muttered, kissing the side of Zuri's face before she pulled away from the hug.

Since the death of Devon, Amazi had completely shut himself down, shutting everyone out except Zuri. Whenever he was away from her during the new grief, he felt like his world was crashing down, but whenever he was in her presence, he felt that everything would eventually be okay.

"I love you and I'm here fa you, my Mazi." Zuri whispered as she laid her head on his shoulder, tightly holding his hand.

"I love you, too. Thank you for stayin' by my side and not leavin'." Amazi replied, kissing the top of her forehead moments before the pastor began to speak in the microphone.

"For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life." The pastor read from John 3:16, then he closed his Bible.

"Eternal life is a reality. Choose it. It is available. How is it available? Only through Jesus Christ. Our dear departed loved one, Devon Turner, is with Jesus now." The pastor added, giving the loved ones of Devon encouragement and hope.

"He chose eternal life. He chose Jesus. He chose to be born again of water and of Spirit. He chose to be in a place that 'Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the the things which God has prepared for them that love him." He continued, quoting a verse from 1 Corinthians 2:9.

"You have heard of the wise men who sought Jesus. Well, wise men and women STILL seek him. We are not lower animals. We have greater opportunities. We are members of the human race."

"This is why we dream, plan and imagine. We are not ONLY interested in survival. We are interested in greater things, and newer things. This is why we pursue knowledge. This is why we dream, plan, imagine, believe and prepare."

"Because of the disobedience of Adam and Eve, death was introduced into the human race. This is why we are here today, to celebrate the life of our beloved departed." The pastor spoke, taking a deep breath before saying his final parts of his opening speech.