It's Just Life

The Place To Be

I had an idea in my mind. It wasn't anything huge, just something that I had planned to do since we were already in New York and all. I was also shaking with nervousness and anxiety from waiting dad's results, no matter how hard Ashton tried to calm me down. It had been several days since we met dad. Aiden called the other day and said that it was better if we wouldn't visit during the time of waiting. We'd just have to "relax", calm down and wait for the results. I had been ready to fall into a deep depression knowing that dad would end up in jail because of me and his call didn't help at all. But, Aiden had been hopeful and a really good lawyer which had turned my mind around. This all might just end up okay.

"Hey Ash." I suddenly said. He lifted his head up from the magazine he was reading and lifted his brow.

"Can I take you somewhere?"

"Where? I thought we already went through all your favourite places?" He was right, we toured almost two days going around New York and seeing the places I had missed.

"Not this one. It's a special one." I answered. He stood up and flung the magazine to the couch where it eventually fell to the floor. He stretched like a cat with his hands lifted high in the air and let out a small "Ugh". I also got up and lightly tapped him on the belly.

"Come one you lazy butt."

Marc wasn't usable in journeys that didn't connect to Police, so we caught a taxi 10 minutes later. I said the address to the driver but not the name of the place, not wanting Ashton to know. He was teasing me the whole way, trying to figure out where we were going. I didn't budge, instead teased him right back not letting him try to wiggle it out of me. After a half an hour ride we halted to a stop. I paid to the driver and stepped outside, where I found Ashton staring at the big gates before us.

"Trinity Church Cemetery". Ash turned to look at me, hint of worry plaguing his eyes. He knew exactly why we were here. I smiled at him and walked to his side. I gazed at the gates with dreamy eyes, remembering times that I had came here. Suddenly I felt the need to say something.

"Is this okay for you if we visit quickly? We can leave if you want to, I know some people don't want..."

"Of course I'm okay with it. I'm honored if something." I smiled at his response and opened a small door next to the gates. It opened up a view of old fantasy-like oak trees and small perfectly clean sand roads between the graves. We started waltzing around, Ashton looking at the place with round eyes and me enjoying the peaceful atmosphere. After a while he took a hold of my hand and I swung them back and forth, trying to show him that I wasn't sad and he had no reason to be worried. It was a warm and sunny day, clouds here and there occasionally covering sun. Birds were chirping and I could hear water distractingly gushing in the backround. There was a fountain somewhere close if I remember correctly. It was quiet. A perfect day for a picnic. Or a swim on the beach.

Or for seeing your mother's grave.

Some of the tombstones we walked by were almost falling on their sides, abandoned and forgotten. Grass and dark moss growing from the top, making the surface of the rocks fade. Names had become dull and unreadable against the stone that they have been written on a long time ago. Some of the stones were new, names clear and new white flowers planted on their sides. Someone died 50 years ago, someone last month. It seemed like the cemetery went on forever, a tombstone after a tombstone. I suddenly recognised what we were looking for. I headed towards it with Ash beside me and stopped in front of the small tombstone, silently inspecting it with our gaze. Dad had payed for the cemetery workers to keep the area clean and decorate it sometime, therefore the stone was somewhat clean and it had small wild roses planted in front of it. I read the writing on it. It was uneccessary to read it, I remember every word by heart.