The Streets Hold Me

Finale (1): New Beginning

_Four years later_

“Tia” yelled Tara from down the stairs. “I'm coming” I screamed unlocking the safe sticking his letter back into it space. It’s been four years and things have changed and I've changed a whole lot too.

I walked down the stairs to see Tara holding baby Reese in her arms as she rocked him back and forth. “Who’s Aunties favorite nephew” I asked RJ kissing his head.

“You’re his only aunt” said Tara. I smiled and sat on the chair next to her watching as she laid RJ on his stomach next to her. “You know reading that letter everyday won’t bring him back T” she said rubbing my arm.

“I know” I said smiling slightly.

Like I said things have changed after Kendrick left, Reese hired detectives to look for him and find any trace of where Kendrick had gone, but we all know Ken is smarter than to leave a trace of him behind. He closed all his bank accounts, took his name off the house and left it to me, he changed his number, and he abandoned his car in Alabama with no trace of his existence.

Reese told me to be strong because that’s what Kendrick would want, so I have. We all have Reese took over the business and is making more money than before, while also investing in “clean money” as he says too. Tara recently gave birth to Reese Jr. RJ for short and Reese and Tara are getting married soon.  They are happy and building their family.

Myself, well I got accepted to North Carolina A&T State University and I'm a junior there. After Kendrick left I took a year off, I got myself right before I went on with life and to say I'm a stronger, better person than before is the truth.

 Once I got out of the hospital I went straight to the safe and inside was a key that opened a smaller box within the safe. I sat on the floor opening the box to see the deed to the house and I bank account that Tara and Reese don’t know about. Inside of that bank account was five hundred thousand dollars. Kendrick left it all to me, the cars and the house in Virginia Beach everything that was his was now mine.

Getting over Kendrick has taken a long time for me, and I am truly still not over him. I can still smell his cologne, feel his touch and I can still hear is voice. Sometimes when I'm in the house when I’m back from school on break I can almost bet that he’s been here. That he’s come to check on things though of course, I don’t know for sure.

“Tia!” said Tara snapping in my face.

“Huh?” I said looking at her.

“You need to move on Tia. I know you loved Kendrick, but he's never coming back. It’s been four years and I want you to be happy girl I want you to be happy out of all of us you deserve it the most. Kendrick would want you to be happy.” She said pulling me into a hug.

She was right but as I returned the hug I couldn’t help but feel like Kendrick was my love. He was the only love and I knew no matter how hard I tried I’d never be able to give him up. I could say I love another man but deep in my heard I know I'd still love Kendrick. My mind was racing, when I came up with the conclusion that I needed to get away.

“I'm going to Hawaii” I said abruptly.

“Really girl? That’s good we can make it into a girls trip and we can meet some sexy Hawaiians and-“

“No Tara, I as in just me is going to Hawaii. I need some time for me to just get away from here and clear my mind. Come back with a fresher attitude, you know? “I said looking her deep into the eyes.

She hugged me again but tighter, “Tia I'm so proud of you. Take as much time as you need, I'll be right here when you get back” she said rubbing my arm.