How My Life Was Saved-Completed

Chapter Twenty-Five

Ten Years Later

"Mama," Layana says, "you were in love with Grygh. Weren't you?"

"Yeah, baby girl," I whisper pulling her up on my lap. How my six year old daughter knows about love is beyond me. "I was in love with Grygh and I still love him."

"But don't you love, daddy," Landyn asks.

"I do love your father," I reply smiling. I know he's going to be a great big brother just like his uncle. I've watched that little rascal grow up for ten years already. It's hard to believe it. "But I love your father differently than I love Grygh now."

"I'm home," Hayden yells walking in the door. He comes over and kisses my forehead. "I took tomorrow off for you. Are you still planning on going there?"

"Yeah I do," I whisper trying not to cry. It's hard to believe that Grygh died almost eleven years ago. Eleven years ago my life was saved. Eleven years ago was the last time I saw my parents. Every year though I go and visit his grave. I might even see Elizabeth this year. She knows he's dead but hasn't been to his grave once. "I plan on leaving early."

"Why is Mama leaving again?" Landyn asks, "Every year she's gone a day and I'm pretty sure it's the same day every year."

"Is it the day Grygh died?" Layana questions.

I feel my tears slide down my face. "Landyn, can you help your sister get ready for bed?" Hayden asks, "I'll be there in a few." Layana and Landyn walk out of the room I break down. Hayden comes over and pulls me close to him. "You told them the story."

"Yeah," I sniffle, "they've been begging me."

"It's going to be okay," Hayden whispers in my ear. "It's going to be okay.  It will get better and easier. I'm going to tuck the little rascals in bed now."

I watch him walk out and slowly stand up. I follow him out and watch him walk into Layana's room first. I look in and see that she's already fast asleep. He pulls her blankets up on her and kisses her on the head. "Goodnight, sweet pea," he whispers.

"Goodnight, daddy," she mumbles under her breath.

He walks out and goes into Landyn's room. "Daddy, why was mama crying?" Landyn asks.

"She loves Grygh very dearly," Hayden responds softly.

"Doesn't she love you though?" Landyn asks.

"She loves me to," Hayden responds smiling, "but Grygh saved her life. He chose to give up living for the hope that she would still get to live. You should get to bed now."

"Goodnight, daddy," Landyn says as Hayden pulls the covers up on Landyn.

"Goodnight, kiddo," Hayden replies walking out of the room.

"Thank you for treating him as your own," I whisper, "he has the exact same eye color as Grygh."

"Your welcome, sweetie," Hayden says, "He'll always be mine. He deserves to have a father. Especially for what his father did for you."

I wake up the next morning and put on a pair of sweats and a sweatshirt. Hayden will know where I'm at.

When I arrive at the gravesite and see a woman standing there. "Elizabeth," I whisper.

She turns around and looks at me. "You must be the famous Alessa Nealen," the woman replies.

"It's Alessa Martins now," I reply, "It has been for the past eleven years."

"Where's my grandson?" she questions.

"Not here," I growl, "and you'll never meet him. Grygh told me not to let you near any children I have."

"He said no such thing," the woman growls taking a step closer to me, "I would like to see my grandson now."

"Elizabeth, stay away from her," Colton growls from behind me, "you know for a fact that Grygh said that. You will not be seeing Landyn anytime soon. So leave, Elizabeth."

I walk over to Grygh's tombstone and read it like I do every year.

Grygh F. Colton
Born. Sept. 28, 2002
Died. Nov. 18, 2019
Was:
A loving brother, friend, and soon to be father

I let a tear slip down my face but push it away. I lay down the bouquet of tulips and walk over to Colton. "I'm not spending all day here," I whisper, "I need to go home. I can't hold onto the past all the time now. I need to let it go. I will still visit every year but I'll only stay a few minutes."

"That's okay," Colton whispers hugging me, "it's a good thing that you are doing that."

Colton walks away and I look back at Grygh's grave. "I love you, Grygh," I whisper, "and I always will. Just not in the same way I did before."