DIAMOND KEYS

TWENTY

I had virtually thrown all my clothes to the ground. I was not in the mood to wear anything in my closet. I was wearing a crop top on slacks and my hair had never looked more disheveled. Claire had been gone for almost two weeks now and I had gotten a call from Dennis to report to their house before one o’clock in the afternoon.
    
Finally, I got out a blue t-shirt, jeans miniskirt and panty those.  I removed the cloth I was wearing and wore the one I just brought out.  I looked in the mirror- I looked sick.  My hair was a complete mess and I was sure I wouldn’t be able to get a comb through it so; I pulled a bobble hat over it.
    
I made my way down the stairs and I met mum feeding Maxwell on his high chair.

“Where are you going?”  Mum asked immediately she saw me.

“Out.” she smiled then.
    
She had been begging me to step out of the house all these days but I do refused.  “That’s good news darling but where to?”

“Claire’s house”

Her smile seized. “Why?”  
    
I explained that Dennis had called me.
“Oh,” she hugged me. “Get going. Take care of yourself or would you like your dad to drive you there?”
    
I smiled, shook my head and walked out of the house.
    
I ran all the way there trying not to think of anything. The boys had already arrived so; the meeting began as soon as I got there.
   
I sat beside Clay who looked like he’d had a rough night; he put his arm around me and I rested my head on his shoulder not saying a word.

“Good day to you all.” Dennis greeted. 

“Hi” I responded and the guys just grunted.
   
I looked around the house; it looked like his parents were not around. Thank goodness, because Mrs. Taylor would have made me emotional all the way.
    
Dennis cleared his throat and started. “The first thing I want you to know is that Claire demanded that your picture be put in her coffin.”
    
Clay and I stared at each other. I saw the tears forming in his eyes and I realized I was crying too. I hugged him and this time, he was the one crying on my shoulders.
    
Over his shoulders, I saw Logan, his face was in his palms, he was probably crying too. I turned to Marc, he had that same look he had that day in Claire’s hospital room-  the look that was void of emotions.
    
He was not crying and he was not blinking, he was just staring.
    
I let Clay go when Dennis continued. “And, she also demanded that I read this to you guys.” He held out a piece of paper. “Shall I begin?”

“Yes.” Marc answered since he was the only one that was up to the task.

“Okay.” He opened the paper and started reading. 

“Hey guys, I hope you don’t miss me too much; if you do, don’t worry you will be over it soon. I am not saying you should forget me though. You see, on this my sick bed, I have come to realize that what I had read in one particular novel is very true, ‘It’s not about what you look like, or your job or how successful you are. It’s about having people in your life that you care about and who care too…. That’s all that matters’ OMG; I’ve probably told you this before Michele.”

I smiled; it was like she was really talking to us. Yes, she had told me that the day she passed, that meant that she had probably written the letter before that day. Well, of course, she definitely wouldn’t have written it from the grave!

“I love you guys so much,” Dennis continued reading, “and that’s why I’m writing this for Dennis to read it to you. Well now, down to the main point, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately, since I have nothing else to do, and I have decided to share my things amongst my best friends. Let’s say this is my will. LOL! Life doesn’t go as planned, does it? I remember those times we had fanaticized about our future; I never knew that cancer would take me this young, but it’s my fate and God’s will, I’ve got no choice but to accept it.”
    
Dennis stopped there and wiped his face with his handkerchief.
    
Clay locked his fingers in mine and I turned to smile at him. The look on his face simply read ‘We-are-in-this-together’.
    
Dennis cleared his throat and continued. “To you my darling and beautiful Michele, I love to give you all my clothes, my laptop and all my novels. My dear, I really wish you would wear those clothes; they’d look good on you. I’m not trying to tell you to change who you are, I’m just saying you should learn to look good and not to hide your beauty. I’m giving you my laptop for you to watch those movies I always told you about. Please, you won’t regret it, and lastly those novels are my babies, take care of them and I promise you you’ll love them. Muuaaah!”

Dennis paused to look up at me. “What do you say Michele?”

“I’ll collect them willingly; I’ll take everything she gave me.”
     
He nodded and continued. “My dearest Marcus, I love you so much. I knew you’d cut your hair for me, I was also planning to dye my hair to its original color but I don’t think God wanted that in His plans. Marc, I’m giving you my dairy. Oh Marc, you will love it. Everything is in it. I know you guys never guessed I kept one, but I did.  All those things I couldn’t say, I wrote them in it. I really need it here but I can’t tell anyone about it. It’s in my jewelry box Marc and oh, Michele, you can take my jewelries, too except… let me not talk too….I mean write too much now. Read my dairy Marc, every word of it. You can take my MP3 player too, add it to the ones you have.” Dennis wanted to say something but stopped when he saw the expression on Marc’s face.

He continued reading. “Clayton Hollister! My greatest  frenemy, how much I love you!! That diamond necklace I planned to wear to prom, the one my dad gifted me when I was twelve, I give it you. Give it to Charlotte when you finally ask her to be your girl friend and don’t tell her it’s mine. If you do, I’ll hunt you for the rest of your life! Picture me smiling Clay, picture me, teasing you. You are lucky because I’m also giving you the video game Dennis bought for me. What did he think I was going to use it for?” Dennis laughed when he read that last sentence and Clay sobbed the more on my shoulder.

“I’m tired of writing but I won’t stop because this might just be my last opportunity to do so. Logan, Logan, Logan!  Firstly, please, change the color of your car to purple! He, ha, ha, I know that would not happen in a million years. Now Mister, take care of my Michele or else, I’ll hunt you too! I’m giving you the sports shoe I planned to give you for your birthday you’ll love it, and guess what. It’s red, shining red!” Logan chucked. “I’m also giving you my head phone, I would have given Marc but he has enough already, so, I’m  giving you, it’s very expensive so, you have to treat it like it’s gold. Lastly my dear friend  I’m giving you the cooking book I begged Dennis to buy. Yes Dennis, this is what I wanted to use it for. LOL! Logan, learn to cook since you love to eat. The book is very large. It contains the recipe of almost all kinds of food you could imagine. Don’t just keep it, use it!” Dennis paused and was smiling at the paper, probably reading something.

He laughed than he continued. “Michele! Logan! Marc! Clay! I hope Dennis reads this with all the exclamation marks. You must win that competition and you must find out who the hell Miss E is! Do you get it? When Dennis reads this part I want you guys to answer. Do you get it?” Dennis paused and watched for our responses.

“Yes.” we dragged.

“Okay now I’m sure you’ve responded. I can’t write much again, I’m already weak. I’ve tried, haven’t I? I love you guys so much and …. Wait Michele, thank goodness I didn’t forget. Michele baby, think about your dad and make sure you follow your heart on what to do, but honestly, I want you to forgive him. Okay I have come to the end of my letter or speech or will or whatever you like to call it. I love you all and again don’t miss me too much and don’t forget me. I’ll try my best to make time from my busy schedule in heaven to appear in your dreams. I love you all, my four best friends in the world, Michele, Marc, Clay and Logan!”
    
No one spoke a word when he was through. Marc just stared forward, Logan looked like he wanted to cry and Clay had tears flowing down his cheeks. Oh Claire, how very thoughtful of her. I’d wear her jewelries and shoes and I’d read all her novels and watch all the movies she wanted me to. I’d treasure them like they were gold and I knew everyone of us would. How long were we going to stay quiet?

I stood up from my seat and went to give Dennis a hug, “Thank you so much.”

“You’re welcome. You can come anytime you wish to take the things she gave you.”

“Okay, goodbye.”

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Love,
Prisca.