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Chapter Thirty-Five: See You Again

KAKUYA POV

It's been seven months since Kasem was diagnosed with HIV, and now she's got full blown AIDS. Doctors told me that a person's average T-cell count is 50-500, and Kasem's is only 9. It's only a matter of time before she goes. I don't know how to let her go. She's my first born, and we've been through so much together.  I looked at her in the hospital bed, with tubes down her throat and the aspirator breathing for her.  She was now blind and couldn't talk. I can only imagine how much she had to tell me and vice versa. 

Me: Kasem? Baby?

(breathing)

Me: Well, I know that you're gonna go soon, but-

My voice cracked.

Me (tear-filled): I just want to let you know that I love you so much. From the moment you were born, I knew that nobody would have my heart but you. I failed you, but I'm here now. If I could trade places, I'd do it in a heartbeat because I don't want to bury you. I promise that I'll take care of your sister and never let her forget the beautiful, kind, gentle, and loving spirit you have. I love you baby.

(Machine sounds)

Me: I love you,  Kasem Kain. And I'll never let go.

DeVante came in quietly, wrapping his arms around me. Tears streamed down my face and I turned and sobbed in his arms. He hugged me and we both sobbed, he blinked and let the tears roll.

Me: I love her!

DeVante: She's gone, K.O.

I looked and saw the monitor go dead. He was right....Kasem was free. Her pain was gone, and she had a new home called Heaven. On June 16, 2016, Kasem Rashida Kain died of complications from AIDS. She was just 22 years old. 

We held her funeral on June 25. I decided to bury her in an ivory casket. She was dressed in a N.W.A. t-shirt, black Kangol, skinny jeans, and high top Chuck Taylor sneakers. Roughly 2.3 million people showed up and it warmed my heart to know that my baby impacted so many lives! I had a band play Thug Life's song "Pour Out A Little Liquor" because it was what she wanted. After everyone left, I looked at the casket.

DeVante: Baby, let's go home. 

Me: I just keep looking at the box. 

DeVante: I know.

Me: I just can't wrap my head around the fact that I buried my child today. She went away just right. Oh God.......(sobbing). What do I do now?

DeVante: You move on, K.O. and that's........so damn hard. 

I wiped the tears and looked in his eyes. He pulled me into a kiss and embraced me.  

DeVante: You've taken care of her long enough. God's gonna go His part.

I nodded, kissed Kasem's casket one last time and walked hand-in-hand with DeVante to the car.