The Stripper Chronicles Book Two (Urban)

XI

"I'm sorry ma'am, we've done everything we've possibly could but Mr. Marlon Rashaad was pronounced gone at approximately 7:32 am." At that exact moment, time began to standstill. I closed my eyes to cry, as I opened them we were at his funeral..

"Marlon Rashaad was suffering from multiple gunshot wounds".  Taking a deep breath, he continued ... "but the most severe is the penetration of his neck by thee bullet. Puncturing and causing  major damage to his blood vessels. As well as his spinal cord causing significant injury... With that being said we tried for multiple hours."

Interrupting the doctor, I looked him in his eyes. "What do you mean you tried? Why are you saying the word tried?"

Placing his arms behind his back, he looked me directly in my face...

"I'm sorry ma'am, we've done everything we've possibly could but Mr. Marlon Rashaad was pronounced gone at approximately 7:32 am." It kept replaying in my head over and over. Being told that the doctors have done all they could to save someone you love, only to fail.. Heart - destroying! I stepped out the limo, holding Kavilles hand. Kaville held Kavelles hand, who was holding Jelanis hand. My mother was next, damn near being carried by Deshawn. Once again Alanina holding Dj. I patted my skirt down, fixed my shades and we all walked towards the burial. Sitting in the first row looking at the cherry red casket which held our baby boy!

The pastor began ...

"As we gather here today, still reeling from the tragic death of Marlon Rashaad, we are shocked, scared and angered at the unfairness and senselessness that took him from us. We seek to make sense of this, to understand the reason why this happened. What plan could this have been a part of, what possible meaning or lesson can be gleaned from this?

Well meaning people will tell us that it is all part of God's plan, or that this was just Marlon's time to go, that he is in a better place. But we cry out that while God certainly knows his plan, we do not. Marlon may indeed be in a better place now, but we want his to be here with us.

Unfortunately, there are no easy answers, and as difficult and painful as it is, we must accept that Marlon is gone. As a family, as friends, as a community, we express our sadness, we acknowledge our loss, acknowledge the great importance of Marlons life, and the loss to us all that his passing brings. And though we must face bravely the fact of Marlons death, we owe it to Marlon and to ourselves to look at the bigger picture of his life.

Marlons tragic journey to Heaven this last Sunday has changed our lives forever, but it was only one of an incredible multitude of journeys that Marlon took in his life. It is this multitude of wonderful journeys that will have the most lasting effect on us. With that I ask you all to bow your head as we say our goodbye prayer.."

I squeezed My mothers hand. I heard her silent cries just as she had heard mine. The pastor continued...

"Lord as we look back over Marlons life,

We ask what we have received, what we can appropriate that thou may continue on in our own lives and what must be laid to rest.

Our love for him reminds us that our sharing In one another's lives brings both support and pain.

Our being parted from him reminds us of our own mortality And that your love is enduring.