Help Me ~ c.d

1.1

| Alia |

Arriving at my hometown in Louisiana brought back every memory I ever had. I forced the drivers to stop at my favorite cafe.

As I entered the restaurant, dragging Cameron behind, the little grey haired lady behind the counter lit up.

"My goodness! Alia, sunshine. How are you?" She smiles, bustling around the counter to hug me. I let Cameron go and hug her.

"In wonderful! I see you're doing great too. Feel any rain coming on?" I joke with her. She chuckles.

"Not today, shockingly." She smiles. "And who is this?" She asks as everyone joins us.

"Well, this is my boyfriend Cameron, and all my closest friends," I go on to tell her everyone's names.

"Nice to meet you all. I assume you want the usual?" She turns to me.

"Yes, and the same for everyone. Surprised you remember it." I follow her behind the counter.

"An old worker never forgets. And it's the favorite of course. Go sit down dear I'd like to speak with that boy of yours." She ushers me away, pulling Cameron in. I giggle and sit down Matthew and Nash, saving a seat across from me for Cam.

| cam|

"Now, boy." Gladys, as her name tag says, starts an obvious lecture. "You caught a pretty good fish. Don't throw it back. She's had a rough life. Such a strong girl though. And if you hurt her, I can't imagine what she would do. I saw the way you two look at each other. I doubt either of you will lose interest. Love her well." She puts a huge batch of some pastry into an oven. I nod.

"No need to worry. I actually have two questions. First, where is her father buried?" I breathe. She sighs.

"You know." She mutters. "At the only graveyard in town. It's a block over from here. Ask her to take you to him. Why would you need to know?" She eyes me. I swallow.

"Well, that has to do with question two. Where is the nearest jewelry store?" I look down at her. Her face lights up.

"Two streets down. It's a Tiffany's. Now to my question again." She whispers.

"I want to tell her father I'm going to marry her. I want him to know and I will ask his permission even though he can't answer. I will be asking her mother as well for a real answer." I smile. Tears start to well in her eyes.

"That is so sweet. You take good care of her." She pulls the pastries out of the oven and places them all on plates.

| Alia |

As the food is placed in front of us and Cameron takes his seat, Gladys winks at me with one sentence. "Take care of him. He's a keeper." And then she goes to start to clean up shop for closing.

I don't question anything and bite into my favorite pastry ever. I groan in satisfaction. The whole group does.

"I missed this!" I giggle.

• • •

"Mom!" I sprint to the front door of my home and hug her. "I missed you!" I embrace her.

"Oh honey! I'm so glad you're back." She smiles. "And Cameron! Come give me a hug!" She laughs. Cameron does as he's told and gives her a polite hug. He's a good foot and a half taller than my mother.

"Where's Kenny?" I question my mother, searching the large area around us for the big fluffy mutt. Mother sighs, obviously something wrong. My heart drops as her smile does.

"He's getting old. He's laying beneath the oak tree where your swing is. Go see him then come inside." Her explanation seemed distant. My small fragile mother seemed more delicate than she usually did and it scared me. I look at Cameron and reach my hand out to for him to take it. Then we walk quietly to an old oak tree near a large, red turned maroon color with age, barn. I see the old dog, laying silently, head on his paws. Stopping, in the path I bend down and bring Cameron with me. I let out a clucking sound, habit of my younger years of horse riding and using it to train Kenny. His ears perk up and his old brown eyes open.

"Hey Kenny! Come here bubba!" I call his nickname. He slowly rises to his shaky stance and wobbles over to me. I lay him down in front of me and rub his stomach, fur tangled with bits and grass and hay. I notice how grey his snout has become. Cameron, tentatively stretches out his hand to pet Kenny who lets him.

"Kenny, this Cameron." I talk to him, my voice cracking. I used to talk to him about everything. Up until I moved out I had done it. It felt too natural. But the pain was I knew he needed to be put down. I knew he needed to be set to rest. Under this oak is where I would bury him. That's for sure. This was our spot. Me and this dog. We grew together. Under this tree. And now I would let him be there forever.

"Hey, Kenny. You're a very handsome old boy aren't you?" Cameron whispers. Kenny's tongue lolls out the side of his mouth as he begins to pant and I laugh through my tears eyes state.

"We should go inside." I whisper. Cameron nods. "Stay Kenny." I command, and rise to briskly go to the house. I enter through the back door, which Cameron holds open for me. Stepping into the kitchen I see my mom wiping her tears.

"We need to do it." I whisper. She nods.

"I just don't know who should. The vets out for the week and I could never do it. I thought he would pass naturally. " she cries more.

"He's in pain we can't wait." I demand.

"Then you have to do it." She very seriously states. She points to the large gun she had laid out. My mouth falls open and my tears fall.

"I-I" I stutter.

"I'll do it." Cameron sensitively suggests. "I know how to use one. Where should I do it?" He asks.

"Cameron." I try, mother interrupts.

"let us say goodbye then do it behind the barn please. We can bury him as well. Under the tree." She stands. I follow her outside and collapse at Kenny's feet. Sobs reach my lips as I pour out a goodbye to my dog.

| Cameron |

I take the gun and check for the bullets. All set, with just the on bullet I'll need. I know it'll hurt me but I have to help Alia. I can't make her suffer. Once both Alia and Mrs. Manson come back in I kiss Alia's forehead.

"I'll be back." I whisper and stiffly walk to the dog behind the barn already.

I turn the safety off and bend down to the dog. I pet his shaggy head, my hands shaking. Never had I ever shot a live thing. Only targets at a range. This was scary.

"It'll be fast." I rise to my shaky feet and look down the barrel of the gun. "Sit." I command, my voice wavering. He does. I feel my chin tremble. My shaky hands move a finger to the trigger.

"I'm sorry." I close my eyes and pull it.

Bang.

| Alia |

Bang.

The water works begin as I place my shaky head on my arms and cry.

I can only hop Cameron got him the first time. I don't think I could bear for Kenny to be in the pain of a shot. My hope is fulfilled as Cameron enters the house, his hands trembling ferociously. He places the gun down.

"He's in a better place."

-

a/n:

I'm crying

I am sooooo stretching this Out as much as I can

So i made this happen and now I'm crying

I always say I don't care who dies if the dog lives but then I killed the dog and omg I'm sad

If you wanted to know, Kenny is like brown and really shaggy and he looks like an Irish wolfhound but smaller so look that up if you want

Poor Cameron he's so afraid of what he did ;-;

I hope you didn't cry

Sorry if you did. Here's a tissue. *hands tissue*

Btw this is really long for me and I'm proud of it.

Ily guys

Ok byeee