The Family [Book Two]

Thirteen

Toni Sanchez

Another day is gone, I'm still all alone, how could this be, that you're not here with me.

I held Tyson close to me as the choir sung You are not alone by Michael Jackson.

Tears flew down my face a mile per second because this was possibly the worst feeling I could've ever imagined.

I was burying my husband and the only thing I can remember saying to him is how I didn't want to see or talk to him.

The love of my life was gone.

Just the other night, I thought I heard you cry

Tavi leaned on my shoulder while Ej cried closely on my moms chest. Korrine held Elijah while Jupiter rubbed Gloria's back.

Everybody came out this morning to say their final goodbyes to Eric before we laid him to rest officially.

All this past week, I've gotten phone calls from people Eric never even mentioned in our ten years of being married. People sent gifts for our kids and even offered to pay for his service.

But no, thank you.

Planning his service by myself was the hardest thing to do.

I picked out his black, gold lined casket. His black suit with his diamond earrings, Rolex chain, and his Cartier wrist watch and lastly laying on display; his gold, diamond encrusted wedding band.

Gloria blew up his senior portrait from high school and had it sitting right next to his casket at the head and at the foot of it, our latest family picture.

I watched as people walked in and found seats, it was crazy how people showed up out of nowhere because of his death, but if I asked about these people to him if he was alive today; he'd ask me how I knew them?

Silence took over the church as the choir ended their song. A few seconds later Pastor Christopher came up to the podium and opened his bible.

"Eric Sanchez was a bright, entertaining, mindful young man. He was a family man. A good man, soulful, selfless, hard working. He was known for his bad boy ways but was an angel sent from heaven. God called him home."

I sighed hearing those words.

It was hard to be sitting here believing that he was laying in a casket. He was dead. I couldn't wrap my mind around the thought of it.

"I remember when he was only twelve and his mother; Gloria first bought him to thischurch." Everybody chuckled. "He was bad, always had her running around chasing after him," he chuckled.

"Him and Jonathan grew up together and became two, head strong, independent, beautiful young men." I nodded looking over at Johnny who wiped his eyes before he looked up at me.

"Eric always told me that if anything happened to his family, that Jonathan Salazar would be his families protector." Everybody looked at Johnny and my dad grabbed his shoulder. "His brothers keeper."

"Johnny would you please come up here?"

I looked up and watched as he stepped out of the pews and walked up to the podium.