Foredestined (Completed)

Twenty Two

Kai

Two Weeks Later, One Day Later

Saturday

I take a deep breath as I look out at the collection of headstones. I bite my bottom lip as I realize the body of my father is underneath one of them. This is crazy as fuck. This is how I have to talk to him now? I can't ever hear his voice again. I have to talk to a headstone. Damn man. Shit will never feel real to me. On top of that, the last time I saw him was absolutely horrific. Why did I have to see the life literally leave his body? I will never understand that.

"Baby?," Ayla's sweet voice called out to me. I turn to look at her and she smiles softly.

"Are you ready?," Ayla asked. I just sigh as I look forward again. I see Skylar and Jorden walking hand in hand towards the vehicle.

"Yeah....I'm ready...can you please come with me?," I said while gripping the bouquet of flowers in my hands.

"Of course baby," Ayla said. I nod my head and I sigh as I open the door as Ayla does the same. We both get out, close the doors and look towards Skylar and Jorden.

"You ok?," I said to Skylar. She just shakes her head and I sigh as she jogs towards me and wraps her arms around my neck. I wrap my arms around her tightly as I hold her close.

"I know....this shit sucks," I mumbled.

"I miss him so much Kai," Skylar cried.

"I know. I do too," I said softly. I hold her for a few moments before she pulls back and stares up at me. I use my free hand to wipe her tears.

"I know....this will never be easy Skylar. But I'm here for you and I know you are here for me ok?," I said.

"Yes...I know. Thanks Kai....go talk to him," Skylar said softly. I nod my head and I kiss her cheek before looking at Ayla. I hold out my hand and Ayla grabs it and interlocks her fingers with mine. I begin to walk and Ayla falls in line with me as I make my way to my father's grave. Within a few moments, I stop when my eyes land on his headstone: Anthony Harrison. Loving Father, Husband and Friend. I sigh as my eyes cloud with tears. I squat down and I place the bouquet of flowers delicately against the headstone.

"Happy birthday pops," I said softly. My eyes travel across the headstone and I rest my left hand against it. I take out a handkerchief from my pocket and I clean the headstone thoroughly. I tend to do this when I visit him. Once I am done, I stuff the handkerchief back into my pocket.

"You would be 56 today pops. Know you would be irritating me and Skylar asking what we got you for your birthday. You would have been bugging us for a couple weeks by now actually. And I miss that so much. I miss seeing a call or text from you. We would talk every day and it has been so hard not hearing from you or being able to pop up on you at your job. I miss being able to see you. It has been....so hard without you. It's just not the same. Skylar and I have been trying to be strong but it is hard. You were our rock. You were the parent we could always depend on to show up for everything and to always be there for us. Always there when we needed advice. Just always there for us no matter what. You never turned your back on us even when....everything happened with you and mom. You still did everything for me and Skylar even when your relationship with mom changed....I wish you were still here pops. I love you and I miss you so much," I said as tears ran down my cheeks. I wipe them away and I feel Ayla's hands rests on my shoulders. I rest my right hand on top of hers and she kneels next to me and I rest my arm around her waist.

"Well.....just to catch you up on what's been going on with me. First I need to show you this!," I exclaimed while holding out my left hand and pointing to my father's college ring. Ayla laughs lowly and rubs the back of my neck.