Just Out of Reach (Norminah)

"I can save you."

"Mama!" Tamia's voice rang out.

"It's okay, babe. Just follow the sound of my voice." Normani calmly spoke as she made her way down the hall to Tamia's room, meeting the smaller girl halfway.

"Mama, I'm scared." Tamia started to cry. She has always been afraid of the dark.

"It's okay. Here, you stay with Lauren while I check the fuse box."

Tamia only tightened her grip on Normani's hand, not wanting to let go. The house wasn't completely dark thanks to the sun rays allowing in some light in a few spots.

"I'll go." Lauren spoke up before she headed off in the direction of the basement.

"I want mommy." Tamia began to cry.

Normani felt her heart break at that word that once brought so much happiness into her life. Tamia was calling for Dinah and she wouldn't calm down unless Dinah was present and holding her. Normani placed her palm over her mouth as a silent sob pushed its way out and the tears flowed freely down her cheeks.

She was thankful for the semi-dark room at the moment.

"Mommy!" Tamia screamed out as she grabbed onto Normani's legs tightly. "I want mommy." She began to sob causing Normani to cry harder.

A sob escaped loudly in the room just as Lauren flipped the lights back on and Tamia immediately gazed into her mother's face.

"Mama?" She cried harder at the sight of Normani's sad face. "Don't cry, Mama. Lolo has lights on now." She spoke as she hugged Normani tighter, thinking that her mom was scared of the dark like she was.

The cute display of affection caused Normani to giggle even as the tears strolled down her face. Tamia was so adorable when she would comfort Normani even when she was scared herself.

Lauren came into view with a frown that quickly turned into a smile when she noticed Normani was smiling.

"Hey, you okay?" She asked as she leaned down, picking Tamia up and placing her on her hip.

Normani smiled as she reached up to wipe the fallen tears. "Yeah, she was just....um.." she trailed off and Lauren saw her bottom lip shiver ever so slightly and she knew that she was on the verge of breaking down again but only keeping the tears at bay due to the smaller girl still being in the room.

Lauren whispered something into Tamia's ear and the younger girl's face lit up with excitement as she scurried out of her arms and down the hallway into her room. When she was fully out of sight, Lauren stepped forward and engulfed Normani in a hug, her belly preventing her from completely pressing their bodies together.

Normani immediately released a cry into Lauren's hair. "Dinah, she asked for Dinah." She cried. "What am I gonna do?" She whispered the last words sadly.

Lauren just stared off into space as she felt the emptiness inside of her multiply. Her body started to become numb with every breath she took as she thought of Dinah. She took a deep breath knowing that that's something Dinah won't be able to do anymore. She tightened her arms around Normani, knowing that Dinah would never be able to hold her as she had before. In that moment, she vowed to keep Normani happy, just as Dinah would want. She would carry the burden of Dinah's passing so Normani wouldn't have to.

Normani had two children that she has to take care of, as well as herself and she knew that Dinah wouldn't want Normani to be sad, she would want her to be strong. She could cry over her now, but she must move on.....as hard as that may be. They both had to.

Normani's sobs became quiet and Lauren took that as a sign that Normani was calming down when in reality is was the exact opposite.

Normani's eyes opened and her body stilled as she took in the image in front of her. There was a woman standing at the far end of the room with her back turned to Normani. She couldn't make out any of her features but the blonde hair stood out to her the most. The woman slowly turned and Normani's breath got caught in her throat.