A Life Of Unkindness

The Future Is Now

Today marks the nine year anniversary of Peyton's demise. As promised since the day of her funeral, we all come back to Tree Hill to remember such a close friend we lost. Whether we already are living in Tree Hill or have moved away. We all seem to find our way back to one another throughout the year. And I feel today is as best of days as any to tell everyone that Sawyer and I are leaving Tree Hill the place that has always been home. Away from the people that have always been family. But it's what I feel I must do in this chapter of our life.

Some friends if you're lucky enough to get them, stick with you a lifetime and often a long time after that. I was fortunate to be one of the lucky ones who gained more love from the friends I grew up with than I knew what to do with. The truth is these people aren't just my friends they are my family.
You remember my little brother Nate reaching for the Stars since he was able to walk. Though Dan didn't make it easy on him or any of us for that matter, he has become such an amazing individual. A wonderful husband, a father. A man a truly sought out to be more like, he reminds me alot of Kieth. God rest his soul, and if it hadn't been for my best friend Hailes. I'm not entirely sure how he would have turned out today. And Jamie, my first nephew. A boy who's spirit could lift a congregation at it's highest with the wisdom he has to offer and the kindness that shines through him everyday of his life. He's 19 now and the young man he has grown to be makes me proud to say the least following his dreams of basketball just like the rest of us did, but with such grace. His younger siblings as well, god knew what he was doing when he put Halie into Nathan's life and i wouldn't have it any other way.
As for everyone else that stayed here in Tree Hill many found greatness without having to leave. Like Brooke yeah she has left more than once but after the twins were born she made Tree Hill the permanent location for Clothes over Bros headquarters, sadly tho at the time being her and Julian have seperated. But on good terms none the less, with faith I believe they will be together again. Sometimes you just have to do alot of waiting and praying to find out that what you have been looking so hard to find was right in front of you. You just didn't take the time to appreciate it, so you're grasp on life and love just doesn't feel relevant anymore.

Skills, who could forget skills, one of my childhood friends. A guy with so much passion for the game has made it his goal in life to make a difference in a child's life. Through basketball, he still coaches the Tree Hill Ravens as Coach Whitie once did. I take pride in knowing the boys of Tree Hill High will leave that high school knowing that they had someone who genuinely cared for them outside that basketball court. As for Mouth and Milli they moved away not long after Peyton died, they had a child of their own not long after.
Mouth is finally living up to his true potential as a Sports Caster for the NBA on Sports center. Work makes them travel alot so they are never in a place for too long. Though Millie doesn't seem to mind. She works from home but I know Tree Hill is Mouth's home he always comes back. Maybe one day it will be Permanently but I'm glad his talent can be shared with the world now. It took him so long to finally get where he is now and I'd never wish that on him. Dreams only come once in awhile, don't stop and double guess them cause' you might just miss them.

5:00 was the time the clock said as Sawyer and I got in the Truck.
"Dad, can we go? Please? I'm really excited to see aunt Brooke and everyone." Sawyer said after bucking herself in with her seat belt. I looked at her as I do everyday and wonder how she could look so much like Peyton that it was almost breath taking. Her hair was a dirty blonde with curls from beginning to end. It took me back to being young when I looked at her, I know Peyton would be proud of her she's something else.
"Yeah let's go" I replied after taking my attention off of Sawyer and back onto the steering wheel. "Are you okay dad?" Sawyer asked glancing at me in the passenger seat. "Yeah... Yeah," I said flashing her a smile "Just not an easy day never is." She placed her hand on my shoulder and gave me such a sincere look but didn't say anything. She didn't have too I knew exactly what she was feeling, and what she wanted to say without even muttering a word.

Pulling up to the cemetery, I could see Brooke, Halie and Nathan. Along with all of their kids. Alongside them Skills was talking to Jamie about basketball of course and Mouth and Millie we're embracing in hugs from everyone around them. "Come on daddy" Sawyer said climbing out of the passenger seat and shutting the door. "Just a minute" I said to her as she ran towards Brooke and Halie with such excitement in her. I took a deep breath and looked down at the picture of Peyton and I that I kept inside the dash board of my truck and got out. Taking the flower arrangement I brought at least once a month to the cemetery out of the bed of my truck I headed towards the best group of people I could ever have in my life. On one of the saddest of days I carried with me each year I placed the flowers in the spot as usual and greeted everyone as if it had been just yesterday seeing them and began to cry. There was so much love surrounding me I was speechless.