Dear August

|Thirty-Six|

You should really listen to this song while you read this chapter, but once you reach a certain point. I'll tell you when to start it if you want to listen to it lol
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The graveyard where she's buried has been burned into the back of my brain since the first time I saw it.

Rows and rows of headstones, as any other graveyard would have. Some families were richer than others, that was obvious in what type of headstone you had. And the super rich families didn't even have headstones, but a whole ass room to put the casket in.

August's is a more simple one. A piece of grey concrete, a little weathered already, with her full name on it and her dates. A green willow tree hangs above hers and a few other peoples graves. The grass freshly cut, and a few flowers springing up from above her.

I glance over to my friends who are looking at me anxiously.

"How did you..." I question.

"Your mom told us where it was. I hope your not angry," Finley offers up a smile.

I shake my head no, unable to form any words.

"I don't know, we just wanted to surprise you. You were really down in the dumps so we thought seeing her would help," Joey explains.

We all sit in silence for a while, just staring at the gravestone. Studying the way the letters were engraved into it, how the grass was a little greener than the surrounding graves, and the little flowers springing up around the concrete.

"Oh and don't forget these," Finley breaks the silence, trying to fish something out from under her seat. She pulls out a familiar shoe box that contained all the letters I've written to August. "I'll tell you how I knew about them later." She hands the box to me.

I glance at her before Luca opens the door and slides out so that I can hop out. He puts a supportive hand on my shoulder and gives me a smile.

"We'll be right here."

I give him a nod and a smile and make my way towards her.

I kneel down on the soft grass, facing the stone.

August Monet Lane
December 14, 2001 - January 20, 2018

I sit with my legs crossed in silence for a second, taking my setting in.

The wind blew ever so slightly, moving my hair to wrap around my jaw, and causing the willow tree to sway back and forth gently. The sun kissed my shoulders and back. Birds chirped, hopping around on the telephone wires and trees, singing happy tunes. Wind chimes could be heard in the distance, playing calming notes.

I take a deep breath in.

"Hey," I start. It feels weird talking to someone I know can't answer. "Long time no see."

I can practically feel her eye roll at me, scolding me for waiting so long to come see her, telling me about how much she missed my stupid face.

"Sorry it took so long," I cough awkwardly.

Stop doing that awkward cough, Riley. Mom hates it when you do that, I do too sort of. I'm glad I don't do that.

"Hey, I get that from mom, she's just lucky that she grew out of it."

Oh whatever.

"This seems random, but do you remember that one time at Disneyland, when we were like 9 and 10, when you told me that they keep all the kids who got lost in the space mountain ride, and that's why they keep it dark?" I laugh.