Cherry

Forgiveness

I tried to keep my hands from shaking as I drove to Cherries. I led the way to her home in my car while my brother and Cherries sister followed behind closely. I was terrified. I was terrified that she would slam the door right in my face. I was terrified that she would break down into tears and tell me that she hated me and command that I leave her home. Terrified.

I tried to prepare my heart for the blow with every passing second, but nothing seemed to stop the quick pace that it beats in.

I pull up to Cherries large drive way and I turn off my car. I sit quietly in my holding my steering wheel thinking about the last time I was here. The beauty that radiated off of Cherry that night was breath taking. I had never seen a women look that beautiful in my whole entire life. And then her bloody face minutes later. She looked defeated and sad and it was all my fault.

Even though I just wanted to sit here and think I couldn't. Shaylla is here. I promised that I would take her to see her sister and I promised Cherry that I would find her sister. Even though I want to be selfish and just think about me and my problems. I can't.

I climb out of my car with a sigh and make my way to my brother's red car that is parked behind mine. Before today I hadn't planned on getting out of bed. Ever. Now here I am at Cherries.

Maxwell rolls his window down. He looks at me with pity. Oh how sad I must look right now.

"We're gonna stay in here until you talk to her bro." He says. Shaylla nods in agreement. She looked at me with sad eyes, but gave me a thumbs up for reassurance. It baffles me how much her and Cherry look alike. Looking into her eyes I see the same kindness that I see in Cherry and that makes me smile. They definitely are sister. And I'm so happy that I get to be the reason why they reunited.

"Okay" I say. I walk away from the car and make my way to Cherries front door. My heart thumps against my chest and I have an overwhelming urge to cry. Kinda like the first time Cherry invited me to her house for dinner. I was so nervous. That seems like forever ago now. We had grown so much since then. Waves of emotions wants to take over, but I cant let that happen. Not here. Not now.

I take a deep breath and knock on the door. I have been wanting to do this for weeks, but now that I am here at her door I want to run away.  I keep thinking of that night. This was a bad idea. I don't know what I was thinking.  Cherry would have contacted me if she wanted to, but she didn't.

I turn around to make my escape when I hear the door unlock and open. I stop in my tracks. I couldn't run any longer. I'm scared to move. I literally can't move.

"Da-David?"

The sound of Cherries soft voice was like a drug to me. It instantly made me feel good. But there was something in her voice that was different. Confusion? Horror? Saddness even?

I turn around. Cherry stands before me. She wears red, green, and black plaid pajama pants and a white tube top. Her feet held white fluffy socks that were a bit too big for her. Her hair was natural and curly but held up in a messy bun with some stray curls falling in her face. Her face was puffy and her pretty brown eyes where red as if she has been crying and that made me hurt instantly. She looked exhausted as if she hadn't rested in weeks. Wha-What happened?

Cherry ran into my arms quickly catching me by surprise. I almost lose my balance. She starts to sob loudly and I hug her tight afraid to let her. I don't understand what is happening. Why is she crying? Why is she hugging me?

"Th-They said that you died. They s-said you dah-died." Cherries cries into my shoulder holding me tight. Her words shock and anger me at the same time.

"Who told you that baby?! The nurse told me you checked out of the hospital before me. I thought you hated me." I say tears fall down my cheek. Cherry looks up at me in confusion. Her pretty brown eyes filled with tears and sad.

"Why would they do that? " she askes biting her trembling lip. The thing is I felt like I knew. Jealousy? Hate maybe. To think that I sat at home for weeks killing myself over something that wasn't even true.

"I don't know baby. I don't know." I answer trying to calm her down. I hold her tight once again. Reassuring her that I am right here and I am not going anywhere. That I am alive and here for her.

"I'm sorry Cherry. I'm so sorry for that night." I say

"I shouldn't have insisted on moving things along before I was divorced. I'm so sorry that you had to go through that."  I continue. I put my head down in shame. Cherry pulled away from our embrace then cuffed my face with her small hands.

"It was not your fault baby. I'm so glad that you are okay. I missed you so much." Cherry spoke.

The fact that she thought that I was dead this whole time makes me want to throw up, but I have to be strong for Cherry right now. I can't not imagine the pain that she was going though. Way worse then how I was feeling thinking that she hated me. She thought that I had died.

"I missed you too. More than you could ever know." I say hugging her tight. We stand there hugging each other. I enjoy the embrace. I wasn't dead like she thought but without her I sure felt like it. I never want to feel like that again.

Cherry pulls away from me then her eyes drifting to look behind me in confusion.

"Who's car is that?" She askes.
I almost forgot. How could I forget.

"I have a surprise for you baby" I say smiling hard. Cherry is one of the sweetest girls on this earth. She never deserves to feel pain and the fact that her sister being out of her life causes her pain kills me.

"A surprise?" She questions while scrunching her cute face. I know that she hates surprises, but I'm sure she will like this one.

I turn around a wave to Maxwell and Shaylla gesturing them to get out of the car and come over.

They exit the expensive car. My brother walks over to Shaylla and holds her hand. It looks as if he is comforting her. I look over to Cherry who still looks confused, but I watch her face waiting for them to get closer.

Cherries mouth drops and her eyes water.

"SHAYNNA!?" She cries.

Cherry and her sister run towards each other and come together in a tight hug. They cry and hold on tightly on to each other afraid to let go. So afraid to let go.

I was able to give Cherry the one thing that I promised her. And that lifted all the pain that I carried.