Revealed

14. Solane

*Picture of Mama Dee*

I'm so confused. I thought this guy was reading but he must have faked it. I wonder why? I already lost him and there was a slight to none chance of me seeing him again. So, feeling defeated, I walk back home.

A week passes by. Graduation is in two weeks now. I'm so excited. My life began as soon as I walked down that stage.

Melissa: Guys! Jayden asked me on a real date!!

Stella: Ok i admit im happy 4 u

Solane: Me too! Good luck tho

Melissa: whats this? The two pessimistic puppies are happy for me?

Stella: Dont make me take what i said back *eye roll*

Melissa: lol okok im sorry but thanks guys

I'm happy for Melissa. We were all starting our lives.

"Solane! Can you please come here for a second?", Mama Dee calls out to me. I turn my phone off and head down the stairs to find Mama holding a little box in her hands. She's standing in the living room with a huge smile on her face. It spreads to me instantly.

"I was going to give this to you on your graduation night, but I couldn't wait to see that smile jump across your beautiful face. It was so worth spoiling your surprise over."

I walk over to Mama, my smile refusing to leave, and take the box from her hand. It's so beautiful and fancy.

"This looks so expensive! Mama you really didn't have to get me anything." I was trying to be reasonable and considerate.

"No, I want you to have it. Go ahead, open it"

I know Mama really wanted to see my reaction. I was just about to open the box when she yells "Wait!" in my face. I look up at her. "Hold on, I want to get my camera!"

I laugh. A few minutes later, Mama comes out of her bedroom with a camera that looked like it could have been from the depths of World War II. I burst out chuckling.

"Oh my lord, what is that?"

Now Mama is laughing too. "Open it."

The room is filled with every merry emotion possible. I can smell it. I carefully slide off the top the box and peer inside.

In the box is the most beautiful locket in the shape of a heart, and inside the necklace is a picture of me, though the other half of it is empty.

"I want you to put the picture of someone very special there," Mama says.

I don't know if my smile could spread out any wider. "Do you have one I could keep?"

Mama shakes her head and does a quiet giggle. "Like Stella or Melissa."

Then my mood changes as the memory of someone special comes to mind. "Or my mom," I continue.

The atmosphere goes from optimistic to gloomy over the course of a few seconds. I know I had just put Mama in an awkward position. We never talk about my parents. All I really knew about them was that my dad died and my mom left me with nothing but a bracelet with my first name carved into it. Of course by now it was too small, so I had it changed into a necklace. Everytime I wear it, Mama gets moody. She doesn't want to admit it, but I know she gets depressed at the thought of me remembering my past.

"I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me," I try to change the subject. "Hey, maybe I could put another picture of me in here. I think I'm pretty special."

Mama laughs. I can tell she was going to change the subject if I didn't anyways.

"Well, you do what you think is best." I nod and begin to walk back to my room with the necklace in hand. "Oh, and I know I said I would let you have a day off work today, but we have a last minute order for a baby shower and I'm going to need all my girls at the event. I know you can close up all by yourself so I was wondering if... maybe.."

I cut her off. "Sure thing. You don't have to explain yourself to me. I'll close up. I had no plans anyways."

Mama walks over to me and traps me in one of her 'I don't know what I'd do without you' hugs. With that, I head to bed dreaming of my mother.