All My Trials

All My Trials: Part 15

I stand at the foot of Jackster's grave, sobbing.
Even though I can't see it, I know what his tombstone says.
Best brother.
Best friend.
Best son.
Best person.
I drop to my knees, gently placing the roses on his grave.
My fingers find the face of the tombstone and trace the words.
It's been two weeks.
Two weeks without his laugh.
His words.
His voice.
His tiny footsteps.
Him.
A hand falls on my shoulder.
Daniel.
I jump up and whirl around, hugging him.
"Why?" I sob.
He slips his arms around my waist.
"God has a reason for everything." he murmurs. He's Lutheran. I need to look into this religion stuff.
I nod into his shoulder and we stand like that, huddled in sorrow, for a long time.
"Let's go home." He whispers.
I nod, pulling back and taking his hand, then leaning against his shoulder.
"I love you." He says as we walk to the car.
"I love you too." I reply.
We climb into his BMW. He kisses me once then starts the car, driving to my house.
He gets out, then helps me out. We walk into my house, then to just outside the kitchen where I hear my parents talking.
"... we have to tell Cosette." My father. What? I motion to Danny to stop.
"She'll be so upset. We should wait." Mom.
"Jen, darling. We have to tell her. Putting it off will only make it worse."
"No, Peter. We're waiting."
"You're waiting, Jen. I'm telling her."
"No, Peter!"
"Jen. You're either with me, or you're not. We can tell her, or I'll tell her."
I can almost see my mom hanging her head.
"We'll tell her." She says.
There's a pause and that's when Daniel and I walk into the room.
"What do you need to tell me?" I ask.
There's a pause.
"Your cousin, Samantha, is moving in with us." What?
No.
Not Samantha.
She hit us.
Jackster and I.
"NO!" I shriek, flipping out my cane and running to my room, only keeping it open for Danny, then slamming it shut and throwing myself onto my bed.