Godparents (Camren)

4.

"Dearest Lauser,

If you're reading this, I'm dead. Let's be real though, I'm going to outlive your sorry ass so I don't know why Normani has insisted on wasting the time and money to write our wills. Oh yeah, if you're reading this it means Normani is dead too which I don't even want to think about so let's move on.

You're Skylar's godmother. One of them, at least. I think you'll really like the other. Her name is Camila and Normani and I would like you to co parent Sky if she's under the age of eighteen and if she isn't, we'd still like you both to play an active role in her life. I hope Camila is old enough to handle the parents thing at this point, Normani said that she probably will be by the time that we're going. Sky is going to need you guys. I didn't tell you that you were her godmother because I knew you'd freak out and think that you can't handle it but you're the strongest person I know, Lauren, even if you can only lift the ten pound weights at the gym. Anyway, you better take good care of her or else I'll haunt you or something. Although i'm sure you're going to do a great job, if you hear some sounds coming from your kitchen at 2 a.m., it's just me making a snack.

Normani and I have instructed the lawyer dudes to sell our house and our stuff in the event that we die and we want all of that money to go to Sky to help her pay for college or her wedding or her first house but I think we'll be around to see all of that so the money can go towards whatever as long as she gets it. Also, the money in our accounts should be transferred to her.

I want to tell you how much I love you. You're more than just my best friend, you're like a weird extension of my soul. I'm unbelievably grateful for all the time we've spent together over the years from the first day of school when we met, to that one time we jumped off the roof of your old house and missed the pool by a solid two feet. We both broke our right arms, how crazy is that? You've been there for the best times like my wedding and the day we brought Sky home and the day we officially adopted her but you've also been there for the worst like when I went through all of that rough stuff in high school and went my parents got divorced. I can't imagine a life without you so I kind of hope that you do outlive me. Then again, what will you do without me? Probably lock yourself up in your room and paint sad pictures for a decade.

Normani has already finished her letter so I guess I should wrap this up.

I love you, you weirdo.

See you on the other side,
DJ"

As I finish reading the last line of Dinah's letter, I feel it. I feel a tsunami wave of tears work their way up from somewhere deep inside me and come crashing through my entire body, causing me to shake as the water cascades from my eyes and makes faint splashing sounds as they reach the tiled floor below my feet.

With my vision blurred, I don't see Camila reach her hand out to grab mine, but I feel the warmth of her fingers tangle themselves in mine and hold them steady.

It's weird how you can't always comprehend the full reality of a situation until weeks or months after it occurred. For the last couple of weeks, I was so busy with Sky that I didn't realize that Dinah should be making her way through the door of my apartment with the key I gave her when I moved in and yelling at me about how I need to get out more and stop spending all my time painting and listening to hipster music. A fresh wave of tears hit me as I realized I'd never see her again.

The funeral was in just a few days, delayed by the detectives attempting to sort through the rubble to find the source of the fire, but having no luck thus far. I hadn't allowed myself to think anything by objectively about putting the service together in order to not get overcome with emotion to the point of not being able to get everything ready. They deserved a beautiful funeral, even though they were much too young to have one.

After a good amount of tears had left trails of water down my cheeks, Camila spoke, "I want to help you, with Skylar I mean."

I looked at her through watery eyes, "What?"

Camila spoke again, more seriously this time, "I want to-"

"I heard what you said," I cut her off and wiped at my eyes, "but, why?"

"Normani wants me to and I owe her big time. Plus I don't know how you'll be able to get any parenting done with all of this crying," she joked with a light laugh.

I laughed slightly as well as I realized that my hand was still wrapped up in hers. Her gaze followed mine and she withdrew her hands quickly, "Sorry."

"I could really use your help when she goes back to school. I work most weekdays at the art gallery downtown until five so I won't be able to get her when school lets out," I speak as I turn away from Camila to grab a glass and fill it with tap water.

"My last day of finals was yesterday, I go to FIU, so I can get her whenever," the dark haired girl replies.

"Thank you so much, I had no idea how I was going to make it work," I say with true sincerity, grateful for any help I can get. "I have no idea how I'm going to make any of this work, actually," I sigh and lean back against the sink, eyeing the girl on the other side of the counter..

"We can do this, how hard can one kid be?"

"We?" I ask, tilting my head in confusion.

"Yes, we. It's you and me now," Camila speaks with a wide smile.

I find myself able to easily return it. We can do this.

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I've been updating this story so quickly I'm surprised. I hope you guys are enjoying it!

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Thank you for reading,
X