Torn

Chapter Twenty

Ma'Leyah

I walked into my mother's home with Mary, as she was coming into the living room. She paused.

"Ma'Leyah," she semi-whispered as tears fell down her face. I sighed, rubbing my forearm.

"Hey momma, where's the kids?" I asked, looking down. She approached me, hugging me close. "What happened baby, what happened?" she cried. "She was involved with a homicide," Mary said. Mom looked at her, looking back at me. "What homicide?"

"Jaden," I mumbled. "He.....dead?" mom asked. I nodded. She exhaled, sobbing. "Oh baby," she hugged me close. Mary rubbed my shoulder.

"She's okay, it was self defense," she said. "I know, Leyah wouldn't hurt anyone," mom said with anger. Mary sighed. "Mom, where is my kids?" I semi-yelled. They were quiet. "In your old room," mom said. I scurried up the stairs. I went into my old bedroom to see Jadailah playing with toys and Chre'Maya asleep on my old bed. Jadailah looked at me.

"Hey mommy!" she got up, running to me. I kneeled down, hugging her close. 

"Hey baby," I said. "What's wrong?" she asked, pulling away. I wiped a falling tear from my eye. 

"Nothing baby," I say. I stood up and picked Chre'Maya up out of her crib. I bounced her, rubbing her back. My girls is the only thing left for me.

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ONE YEAR LATER

"Come on Jadailah!" I called out, holding Chre'Maya's hand at her the door. She came racing down the stairs. We all three left out of the house, getting in my car. I fascined them both into the car, getting in the driver's seat. I buckled my seatbelt, driving off.

I pulled into the cemetery, parking by Chres' grave. 

I got the girls out of the car, grabbing the flowers out. I handed two to my girls, keeping two for myself. We all three walked up to Chres' grave. 

I looked down at his name written on the tombstone, blinded by my tears. I wiped them away. Chre'Maya laid her two roses on the grave, sitting on the tombstone. I smiled to myself. Jadailah sat her two roses on top of the grave. 

"Love you daddy," she said to a tree nearby. I looked, there was nothing. Chre'Maya bounced up and down, happy while looking at the same tree. The tree was near Chres' grave.

"Who do you see J?" I asked. She looked at me. "Daddy," she said, looking back at the tree then looking back at me. "You don't see him mommy?" she asked. I shook my head, crying. "Mommy, he said don't cry, he's okay, he'll always be with us," she said as if someone told her to say it. I sat down next to them, covering my face in tears. I felt a hand caress my face, I looked up. Nothing.

"That was him mommy," Jadailah said. I sighed, wiping my eyes. I forced on a smile. "I love you Chres."