On The Run

10

I pulled out of the driveway and drove for a few minutes until I reached the Green Leaf Cemetery. I come here when I'm stressed or I am struggling with something. My grandmother, Viola died when I was about 10 years old. I don't have many good memories of her, more sad ones. I was glad though, my dad and Claire would still let me see her even after I was adopted. She was diagnosed with dementia when I was seven and she had trouble remembering things. She was put in a retirement home and it wasn't a very good one. Before she passed she gave me a key. I don't know what it was for, she never told me. Losing her was one of the hardest things I've ever gone through. She was there when my mom wasn't and she always tried to look after me the best of her abilities. We would play dolls together and watch Nickelodeon until midnights. She was one of a kind.

I pulled in the cemetery gates and parked my car knowing I would be there for a while. I used to spend hours laying next to her grave stone and talking in hopes she was listening. Sometimes I'd bring her favorite books I collected from her house and read a few poems to her. I looked through the rows of the dead souls waiting and hoping for family to come visit them. I found my grandmothers gravestone and sat next to her. I traced my fingers over the letters that spelled out her beautiful name, Viola Joy Abram. I started rambling about my problems while picking at the surrounding grass. Before I knew it tears were strolling down my face and I knew she would tell me I was too good to cry over someone no good. I know this because she would tell that to my mom when she was upset because my biological father would hit her but she loved him and didn't know what to do. She would sob at the table while I sat on the stained floral couch watching Tom & Jerry.

Talking to her was so surreal, it was as if she was responding. I was able to release all my built up feelings. She listened when no one else would. It felt good to talk to her. After about an hour I cleaned up the books I had sprawled out around me and put them back in my purse. I fixed the fake flowers, setting them upright. It reminded me to buy some violets, her favorite flowers. I walked back up the cemented trail up to the parking lot when I saw Adams car, he was getting out of the car as I approached.

"I had a feeling you'd be here." He said softly turning around and reaching for something.
"Are you following me?" I asked as he turned towards me handing me a bouquet of violets.
"The other day I saw you put a reminder in your phone to pick some up from the store to put on her grave, I figured you didn't remember so here."
I chuckled, "that's funny I was just thinking about that." I said taking the flowers and smelling them. "Come on." I said holding my hand out for Adam to take.

I led him down to the gravestone and sat the flowers down nicely. I rubbed the top and looked over to Adam.

"Thanks for buying them." I said quietly with a smile.
"Anything for you."