Forbidden Romance

Chapter Twenty Nine: I'm All Alone

       "Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar. Ashadu in La Illaha ila Allah, ashadu in La Illaha ila Allah," (Allah is the greatest, Allah is the greatest. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, I bear witness that there is no god but Allah) the many men of the mosque Zachary had once converted in began their prayer upon his deceased body in a Muslim graveyard.

"Look at this, this isn't how our son's funeral is supposed to be," Joanna began crying as she stood a couple of feet away, staring at the men praying.

"Darling, our son asked for this, it is only right that we respect his final wish," Zach's father, John, calmed her down.

"The second I found out he was seeing a Muslim girl I knew something was going to go bad," she paused.

"And it did, really bad," she placed her palms on her face as she began crying.

"Its going to be okay, just have faith," he placed his hand on her shoulder.

As time started dashing by, the men were finally done praying and it was time to burry Zach's body that was fully covered with a white cloth and in no condition visible.

As four muscular men headed towards Zach's body, Joanna rushed to stop them.

"WAIT! I need a moment with my son," she hovered over his body.

The men turned towards the Imam (Prayer leader) as he nodded his head in agreement to let Joanna have a moment with her son.

"Allow her to do as she pleases, this is a mother and her heart is aching at the sight of her deceased son, let her have this moment," the Imam (prayer leader) said to the four men.

"Why so early Zach? Why?" Joanna cried as she placed her head on his body.

"Thats enough Joanna, let him rest in peace. His time has come and there is nothing we can do about it," he implied.

"But, but he's my baby. How am I supposed to just let him go?"

"Joanna, he is my son too. Sometimes we just cant argue with fate, and this is certainly one of those times. We have to let go honey, thats the way it is,"

Joanna sat their in silence as she grieved.

The Imam gave John a look, letting him know it was time.

"Come on, we have to say goodbye,"

"No, this isn't goodbye. Zachary will always be with us, I pray that his soul rests in peace," Joanna cried.

John then helped her get up as she tried to calm herself down while watching the four men walk back towards her youngest son in mission to burry him.

"There will be better days," Archie appeared from behind them.

"How will I ever live without him," Joanna mourned at the sight of Zach's body being picked up and placed into his grave.

"You'll manage," Archie paused, "We will manage," he added as he hugged them both.

As they shared a hug together, Archie whispered into Joanna's ear, "As long as you keep your faith in god, good will come to you. You may not know it, but the unknown will reveal itself some day." Archie then waved goodbye as Joanna stood there trying to remember where she last heard those words.