Adopted at 16

Chapter 3-

I parked the Mercedes in the front of the funeral home lot and looked at myself one last time, my hair was curly, I wore a black dress that went down my knees that I found from Grandpa's funeral. Today's funeral's would be Mom's, tomorrow's Dad's, the next day Maya's and the day after her's is Isabella's.

I felt put my crossbody purse on and got out of the car and arrived in the only funeral home that's closest to where I live. Aunt Brooke was standing beside Mom's casket as I walked closer to her. She was our only relative on Mom's side still alive.

"Hey, Em," She hugged me. "I'm so sorry, and you don't have to speak at the podium, I love you Emalie, you can sit in the playroom if you don't feel comfortable with all the adults." I walked up to the stage where my mother laid. I got closer and starting feeling my eyes were watery. Her blonde hair looked straightened, and she didn't look like she was in the accident. Mom wore a floral v-neck dress and I kneeled in front of her.

"Hey Mom," I tell her. "You've been really good to me these past sixteen years, you've taught me through everything and," I let tears roll down my red cheeks. "I love you,"

I stood up and walked away from the casket, looking towards it. The service was going to start at five, which was in two minutes.

"Welcome to the service of Susan Johanna Johnstree," Aunt Brooke said, as read from a paper. "Susan Elizabeth Johanna-Johnstree was killed in a deadly car crash involving her husband, Johnathon, her daughter, Maya, and her daughter, Isabella. Susan was the beautiful daughter of John and Rose Johanna. Susan is survived by her daughter, Emalie Grace Johnstree, her sister, Brooke Johanna, and is preceded in death by her parents, her husband and her daughters. Susan went to Prepton Derkick High School and excelled all four years and University of Prepton for eight years and had a doctorate degree. Susan will be dearly missed by her family and work friends. I was scrolling through her stuff and found a letter she wrote to her daughters for when she died. I'm going to read Emalie's letter," She paused as she pulled the envelope out.

"My dear Emalie Grace," She reads. "It has been my pleasure mothering you to womanhood. I'm super sorry about you losing me, but I want to tell you some words of wisdom. Be wise in this crazy world of fools, don't listen to what others say, be awesome like I know you, and be the brilliant minded kiddo that you've always been. I will always be here for you, in your heart and mind. I wrote this note for you to show that I cared, well, you're a little one month old rolling around your crib right now and Maya is playing outside with Dad. I'm going to admit this, Maya was born a month before she was supposed to, and I remember being pregnant with you and through those nine months I was scared and terrified that you would also be a premature as well. You're such an awesome kid, Em. You haven't even been a year old yet and you're starting to roll over already! Emalie, you have no idea how much I love you. Even on the days I was not up to anything, I love you like a cow jumping over the moon, I miss you so much! -Mom"

I had to sit in the private green room and cry. Mrs. Green walked in the room and sat next to me.

"You had a great mother," She says. "You wanna come over for dinner and maybe a movie with the kids and I tonight?"

"Sure," I nodded my head.

"Emalie," She paused. "I lost my mother to cancer when I was your age, and I was beyond baffled. I had to live with my father, who was always drunk and abusive and I was depressed and uninterested in life. In school, I was just like you, so beautiful, popular and involved in many things. After Mom died, I lost interest in everything and I was just such an upset person. Then my favorite teacher referred me to Freeway Prep Boarding School and that's where I finished my High School years. I then met a cute guy and now I have two daughters and Em, the things I learned through all of this were that your world is not falling apart and to always keep your faith and hope and don't be afraid to grow it. I'll always be here for you whenever you need it." Grace Greenaland, back at it again. "Let me know when you leave so you can follow me to my house,"

"Ok," I smiled even though tears were rolling down my face. I only have eaten one meal in the last two days. As Mrs. Green was rubbing my back, I looked in her blue eyes and said "What are you fixing up for dinner?"

"Well, today's Italian, which the girls will have their favorite cheesy lasagna,
and Mr. Green and I will have fat noodles with garlic, tomato sauce, zucchini and chicken. I also serve my dinners with fruit, vegetables, and biscuits." I smiled and hugged Mrs. Green and went out while the viewing was concluding.