Stay

Ch 25

"No..."

I began to uncontrollably cry while shaking her shoulders.

"Wake up! Baby, PLEASE!" I screamed.

The doctor came in moments later after hearing the beeping from the machine. He gave me a sympathetic look and worked to turn off the machine.

I cried hysterically, desperately wanting you to come back. The nurses began to cover her with a sheet, but I demanded one last look at you. It turned out that I asked about ten times and they finally had enough with me.

***

"Maya, it has been about twenty-four hours since you past. Today, I was ordered to clean out your hospital room, taking anything you and I owned out of the room. I can't tell you how hard this task was for me. Your body was no longer in the room, it was sent to the funeral home to get you presentable.

Isabel is torn. Leah won't leave her room. Stephanie won't talk to anyone. Nobody loved you? I can believe you thought that crap. Jason won't laugh or smile, according to Tyler. Now, I can't talk with meaning, I can't live with meaning because without you, my life has no meaning. It hurts so much to know that I can never kiss your lips, I can never hold your body, I can never hear your voice telling me you love me. I can never tell you how much you mean to me."

***

I opened one out of three of her dresser drawers and took out her outfit that I last saw on her two months ago. I took the striped T-shirt and shook it out from its frozen position. While I did that, a folded up piece of paper fell out from the bottom of the shirt and hit my upper thigh. I set the shirt down and picked up the paper. It read, "Hazza<3". I opened it up and read the small, sloppy handwriting.

"Tre, I remember that I never wrote you back. Six months later and here I am. I wrote this on September 15, 2013, the only day were not beside my bed. I don't have much time before you return, but I have ALOT to say. As much as this hurts to say...I want you to move on. Don't think of suicide, don't hold a grudge. I'll always love you. I'll miss you dearly. I hope you treat your next girlfriend the same way you treated me. Because if you do, you two will be together for a long time.

Whenever you want to talk to me, hold your infinity chain...and I'll hold it with you.

I'll love you forever and always.

Your Maya."

***

"Where do you want this?" One of the funeral directors about Maya's necklace. I wanted to keep it, but I also wanted her to keep it on her, forever.

"Put it on her." I instructed.

Without arguing with my decision, they did what I demanded.

•

"Maya, today was the day of the funeral. The last day I'm able to physically see you. I know I'm going to break out so hard because of it. How do you possibly think I can move on? All my life I have loved you. I am wearing a tuxedo and a purple tie, cause I know it was your favorite color. Everybody you know will be at the funeral; Isabel, Leah, Jason and Tyler, Stephanie...

I just miss you so much:("

•

"I'm really sorry for your loss..." Repeated many people at the funeral, usually followed by an awkward hug. I smiled and nodded, limiting my words.

Isabel, Jason and Tyler, Leah, and I, and of course many others, were all here. We were waiting on Stephanie and many more people to arrive. Isabel cried a lot. Leah stayed away from the casket. Jason and Tyler stood on the foot of the casket, side by side.

About an hour later the priest came because he was going to say some words.

"Welcome and thank you for joining me in recognizing that our friend, Maya Wu, has left our world and has now entered the afterlife..."

•

"...so now a few of Maya's loved ones will be saying some last words." Concluded the priest.

First up was Isabel. She looked quite scared and timid to go up to the podium, but finally, she made it up.

"Maya and I have been best friends, practically sisters, since about second grade. She was a shy, insecure, and quiet girl. But once you got to know her, she would come out of her shell. We would always go to the mall, but she would act so different. She wouldn't make eye contact with anybody, she would stay quiet, and she wouldn't smile. I have always felt helpless because I have never experienced that kind of hate towards myself. One day in March, she brought up the subject of some British guy named Tren. By the way she described him, I thought I just met him. I knew he would keep her heart safe. I trusted him..."

Then Leah.

Now Jason.

"Maya and I were very close, and she was a very important person to me. She was the same age as me, so we had a lot in common. We would always talk to each other and text whenever we could. She was always there for me when I needed her and I was always there for her as well. Not only was she a cousin, but she was a best friend. Maya was someone I could talk to because we went through some of the same things in life. I'll never forget all of the hilarious and fun times we had over the years. Even if one of us was sad, we could always cheer each other up. I'll never forget you Maya and I know I can always talk to you even if you aren't physically with me."

Now my mum.

"As soon as I met Maya, I saw what a great couple they made. I didn't care that she was Asian. Tren would always act so differently around Maya; very protective. I always see a smile on his face. It was real love..."

And now me.

"I came to America not knowing anyone or anything about this foreign country. Mostly, I had no idea that I would meet this extraordinary girl whom I would call my 'girlfriend'. I never knew what real pain she has gone through her whole life, until I began dating her. The infinity necklace on her...we both got one. It said that we would love each other forever. I guess we don't have forever any longer, but I will never forget her..."

***

"Where are your suitcases?" My mum asked.

"In my car."

"Well? Come on then!" She annoyingly said. "We have to go!"

I made sure I had all my necessary items, especially Maya's outfit. Then, I closed the door to the hotel room, and made my way to follow mum.

~to be continued~