Chapter Eleven
Heaven
Leslie
"Ashes to ashes. Dust to dust."
I stared at my mom's castic while the Pastor said the final words. I was torn. Hurt. Broken. Knowing that it was the last time I'd see my mom was the worst feeling I've ever experienced.
"Please don't leave me mama." Lyla cried out, falling to her knees. My dad kneeled down beside her, rubbing her back.
I couldn't stand it anymore, I left the grave site, going back to Talon's truck. He and Keri followed behind.
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I laid on my mom's bed, staring at the ceiling. It felt weird without her being around. I thought about the time her and my dad taught me how to ride a bike. The way she reacted when I told her that my menastrual cycle had started. The way she screamed my name at my track meets. I thought about all the moments that we shared. Oh, what sweet memories we had.
The door creaked opened slowly. I sat up to see who it was. It was Lyla, Trevor, Trina, Tricia, and Trent.
"We've been waiting on you to come out for the past hour." Tricia stated, sitting next to me.
"Just had to get myself together." I wiped the tears away.
We were all dressed in a black shirt with mom's picture on it with "R.I.P. Mom" printed above it. We all wore jeans as well.
"You know ma is in a better place." Trevor said. "She's no longer suffering. She wouldn't wanna see us like this."
"Trevor's right." Lyla looked around. "We're all gonna miss her. But she'll always be here in spirit and in our hearts."
I smiles, nodding my head. "Y'all are right."
"Group hug?" Trina giggled.
I stood up so that we could group hug. We wrapped our arms around each other.
"Stop breathing Trent, your breath stank." Lyla said and we all laughed.
"You got jokes I see." He laughed hysterically. "Does it though, fa'real?"
"Nahh, I'm just playing."
We left mom's room and went outside. There were people everywhere. Southern soul blues played through the speakers. The meat on the grill smelled so good. There were people I hadn't seen in years and most that I'd never seen.
"Have you seen Talon?" I asked Jamal, who was sitting on the steps.
He pointed to the garden area. Him and aunt Nicole were talking. Talon noticed me looking and smiled at me. That man makes me feel something I've never felt before.
The past week, he'd been so supportive. I cried every day. Literally. Not once did he leave my side. He even took the week off to be with me. I don't know what I would've done without him.
"Les, come here!" Aunt Nicole yelled from across the yard.
I walked across the yard to where her and Talon stood.
