Reina's POV
The morning started off by me being woken up by Madison.
"I know today's gonna be tough, but you gotta do it babes" she said before walking out of my room. I groaned and and sat up in bed. My pillow was stained with tears that hadn't dried through the night.
I got up and made my way to the bathroom where just the week before I tried to kill my self. Shaking the thought out of my head I took a shower and changed into sweatpants and a black tee.
I walked towards my mirror and wiped away the condensation from the hot shower and for the first time in weeks, I looked at myself in the mirror. This person wasn't me. This person was broken and weak.
A knock from the door brought me back into reality.
"Time to do your hair and makeup" Madison said quietly, hers already done.
3 hours later
"We'll be late if you don't hurry" Madison rushed as she walked out of my room looking for her shoes. I walked over to my bedside table and grabbed the small blue box, she had given me the night he passed.
I sat on the bed, careful not to wrinkle my dress. I undid the white ribbon and placed it beside me. Carefully, I opened the box like it was some kind of bomb and immediately a small, folded piece of paper fell from it, falling on my lap.
It was a ring. Not a wedding ring, but a promise ring. It was a knot ring. Immediately I put it on my ring finger and picked up the piece of paper.
"A 'knot' ring. The ring symbolizes a knot that is not quite tied yet, but has all intentions of being tied. A promise ring.
Ps. I'm sorry for everything Reina, and one day we'll tie this ring together and you'll be mine forever. I love you,
- nate "
Madison's POV
We sat in the back pews of the church. We being the girls who live with Reina and I. Emma sat right beside us, not saying a word. The service wouldn't start for another 10 minutes and the huge church was already filled to capacity.
It was an open casket and family and friends huddled around it, blocking it from our view.
"I'm gonna go pay my respects. If you don't feel comfortable enough you can stay here." I whispered to Reina who had her gazed fixed on a spot on the floor.
As I made my way to the casket I scanned the church. Family sat on the right and friends sat on the left. There was a line to see him so I stood behind an old woman with a walker, who was most likely his grandmother.
"Did you know him very well?" She asked me as she turned around to face me.
"No ma'am, but I hear he was an amazing person" I smiled.
"He was" she chuckled "my grandson always made me laugh "
After a few minutes of small conversation I felt someone's hand on my shoulder.
"Excuse us Ms. Martinez" Jack said before pulling me into a side room.
"Where is she?" He asked crossing his arms.
"She's at the back of the church, sitting with the rest of the girls." I responded, slightly agitated.
"No she's not" he slowly replied.
We glanced at each other for a split second before walking out of the room and scanning the church frantically.
"There" i said as I pointed to Reina sitting with a middle aged woman and two teenagers
"Oh shit" was all Jack said before he walked over there.
Jack's POV
"Hello Mrs. Maloley, Kaylan, Stewart, how are you?" I asked sitting next to Reina in the pew.
"We've been better Jack, but we're holding in there" Nate's mom said, answering for all of them.
"Service is starting in a few Reina, you should really get back to your seat" i said as polite as I could.
"Oh no she's fine here. Nate really did care about her, talked about her constantly." Mrs. maloley said.
I gulped. I wasn't about to have this conversation here. I shook my head in agreement before walking up to Nate's casket. there was no line since the sermon was supposed to begin.
He was cold, gray looking. His usual dimple wasn't there and the spot where the bullet landed in his skull was covered with what I assume to be fake skin, the kind of stuff they use in special effects movies.
"I'm sorry buddy" I whispered "if I could take back that day I would in a heart beat. I know you're probably looking down at me from above and hate my guts and that's okay. Just know I promise to take care of Reina because I know how much you loved her. And she loved you too."
I sat down next to Sammy and Cameron right before the service started. It was beautiful, there were speeches given by the family and Sammy went up too. I was asked to talk, but I couldn't. I knew the people who knew the truth would hate me for it. Truthfully, I hated myself.
Then something happened that I hadn't planned, nor expected. Reina walked to the altar and picked up a microphone. I leaned forward in my seat.
"I knew Nate like no one else. I loved him, well I still do and I know he loved me just the same. So I wrote a poem. A final way to say goodbye, without actually saying it." she said slowly.
She wiped a few tears from her eyes and began. "the turbulent turns and the tides that twist them. When what they once were, was how she'd wish them. And all the joys that he brought her- oh, how she could list them. In time she will learn, not to miss them."
Later that day we buried him. The sun was setting and before they lowered the grave everyone threw roses on top of the casket, to wither away with him.
After everyone had left the only people remaining we Reina and I. I wouldn't leave her alone, no matter how much she wanted me to.
"Let's go home" she said, walking past me
