Zauna {COMPLETED}

Chapter 12

Play when I say

The next morning, I wake up to the smell of bacon and pancakes. When I walk into the kitchen, Zoë has Noah's hand in hers and is teaching him how to flip the pancakes. She spots me and says something to Noah, then walks over and hugs me.

"Morning mom." She whisks around and grabs a plate off the counter, and gives it to me. "We made these for you. Figured you could use a little pick-me-up!"

I look down at the pancakes and chuckle. "Who made the face?" It's one of those X3 faces, complete with cat ears.

"That was me!" Noah tosses Zoë the syrup, and she sets that down. "We've been preparing this for a while. I've invited some friends over to help us set this up." The doorbell rings, and Zoë runs to the door.

"Morning mom." Noah slides into the chair next to me and takes a bite of his pancake, a smile spreading across his face. "I think I did pretty well, if I do say so myself."

"NOAH RO'MEAVE I HELPED YOU SO SHUT UP!"

I laugh, but it's quickly cut off when I see the people following Zoë into my kitchen.

Aphmau, Garroth, Dante, Katelyn, Travis, Gene, Aaron, and... Reese... Aphmau comes over to me and gives me a hug, and I can feel the pain she's been going through. "Oh Nauna... Zoë told us what happened..."

I nod. "It was a while go though..." Even as I say it, a renewed wave of pain washes over me, and I begin to cry. "I miss him so much Aph... he never met Noah, he was so young. He could've been able to walk Zoë down the isle. Cry with me when we were seeing Zoë and Noah off to college. Held our baby grandchildren. Died peacefully together... but it's all gone..."

Garroth gives me a hug, picking me up out of my chair. "I miss him too. But he's watching us, proud of us. You can't give up. And... Zoë has a surprise for you, but you'll find out what it is after a special thing she planned for you."

He takes me by the hand band leads me to the music room, sitting me on the couch. "Sit here."

Zoë nods to Aphmau, who grabs a blindfold and ties it across my eyes. "Can you see?"

I shake my head, and hear a chorus of giggles. "Ready?"

Play song now An all too familiar music begins, and I immediately tear up. "Guys..."

"Should've stayed, were the signs, I ignored?
Can I help you not to hurt anymore?
We saw brilliance when the world was asleep.
There are things that we can have but not keep.

If they say
Who cares if one more light goes out in a sky of a million stars?
It flickers, flickers
Who cares when someone's time runs out of a moment is all we are?
We're quicker, quicker
Who cares if one more light goes out?
Well I do

The reminders pull the floor from your feet
In the kitchen one more chair than oh need, oh
And you're angry, and you should be, it's not fair
Just cause you can't see it doesn't mean it isn't there

They say
Who cares if one more light goes out in a sky of a million stars?
It flickers, flickers
Who cares when someone's time runs out of a moment is all we are?
We're quicker, quicker
Who cares if one more light goes out?
Well I do

They say
Who cares if one more light goes out in a sky of a million stars?
It flickers, flickers
Who cares when someone's time runs out of a moment is all we are?
We're quicker, quicker
Who cares if one more light goes out?
Well I do

Well I do..."

I take off the blindfold and wipe my eyes. "Guys..."

I'm pulled into a hug, and we all sit silent. "We all miss him Nauna. We all do. And we're here for you. Always. Always remember that..."

And I do. I will always remember that. We may go our separate ways, but they are always her for me. I've got friends who will love and support me no matter what.

Zane may be gone, but when we're al together, I feel his presence. He's always with me. And I will always hold onto that...