Honey Tea Lemon Tree

Chapter Six

The hospital knew Oceanus was now officially ours, so we took him home with little complications. I held him throughout the car ride, and when we got home I did anything in my power to make him smile. I read to him, offered him cookies, and asked if he wanted to play the piano. He went to it, and after sitting there briefly, he played a sad, soulful melody. I sat there and watched him play it, and saw what Lorraine had meant by how he used music to convey his emotions. When he finished, he placed his hands in his lap and began to cry. I sat down next to him, pulled him close and hugged him while he sobbed quietly on my shoulder. It felt like the best thing I could do.

  A small graveside funeral was held for Lorraine. Me, Daddy, Oceanus, and a handful of Lorraine's neighbors were the only ones who showed up. I realized she might not have many family members, if not none at all, and helped me realize why she was so close to Oceanus - he was her closest family member. He had no family left. 
   I thought I had cried my tears that day I got my hair done, but I didn't. The moment I made that realization, I burst into tears. I cried throughout the funeral, and Oceanus cried at my side. As Lorraine's ebony casket was being lowered into the ground, the priest asked if there was anything we would like to say to her. I stepped forward, knelt before the casket and whispered softly, "Don't worry, Lorraine. I'll take care of Oceanus."
 I kissed the casket, went to Oceanus and took him in my arms. I kissed his cheek and remembered what Lorraine said about falling in love. It was about dedication to a person you care very much about. Did I care about Oceanus? Was I dedicated to him? Yes and yes. I stopped hugging him and gazed at him. Tears streamed down his cheeks. I ever-so-tenderly wiped them away. "I love you, Oceanus," I said. "You're not alone."

   Months passed. Oceanus was welcomed into our family, and together we pulled through her loss. As we got closer, I became more and more grateful for him, so when I realized his birthday was coming up, I knew I needed to come up with a special gift for him. I knew he liked music, and I realized he hadn't touched Lorraine's piano since he played that sad song. I sat down at the piano, wiping dust off the keys, and experimented with different notes for hours until I was satisfied with what I heard.