Still Here

Chapter Eight

Today is the day Aubrey and Keanna have to let their little girl go. The week went by way too fast and Monday morning snuck up on them.

Shiloh started crying the moment she woke up. She absolutely did not want to go to school. No matter what Aubrey and Keanna did, they could not get her to calm down. Aubrey cringed at her cries but continued to pack her lunch. He decided to write her a note to hopefully make her day a little better:

Baby girl,

I hope your first day of kindergarten is going well. I love you more than you know :)

Love, Daddy

"Alright, let's go," Keanna said as Aubrey zipped up her lunch pail.

"I don't wanna go!" Shiloh wailed, hot tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Shiloh, please," Keanna begged.

"Daddy, don't make me go!" Shiloh pleaded. "Please, Daddy!"

"Talk to your daughter, please," Keanna sighed. "I'm gonna put some shoes on."

"Daddy!" Shiloh ran into Aubrey's arms. "Don't make me go!"

"Baby, you have to go to school," Aubrey told her, embracing her tightly.

"People are gonna make fun of me," she sobbed, the tears falling from her eyes like a waterfall.

"You're beautiful, Shiloh. No one's gonna mess with you," Aubrey assured her, cupping her tiny cheeks.

"Please, Daddy! Please!"

"You'll be okay, sweetheart."

"No, I won't!"

"Is she still not cooperating?" Keanna asked, tying up her Jordan's.

"Yeah, she's pretty upset." Aubrey picked Shiloh up and walked to the door. He turned to Keanna. "It'll be fine, though."

Shiloh cried all the way to the elevator and refused to get inside. Aubrey pulled her in but she would always run out.

"Shiloh Roxanne Graham, you get yourself into this elevator before I slap you!" Keanna scolded as she failed at another attempt to get Shiloh off the floor.

"Let me go!" she screamed, scratching Keanna's arms.

"Little girl, you're asking for it. Get up. Now."

"No!"

"NOW!"

"I can't breathe, Mommy!"

"Keanna, stop," Aubrey said, breaking his silence. He crouched down next to Shiloh.

"Mommy, I can't breathe," she wept, coughing and slapping the floor.

"Shiloh, calm down," Aubrey commanded, successfully pulling her off the floor. "Do you need to go to the hospital?"

"Please don't encourage this behavior, Aubrey. She needs to get in the elevator," Keanna said, crossing her arms.