Sawyer West has known nothing but hardships her whole life.
*******
After losing her mother to an overdose and then having to stay with her sick grandparents. They soon die thanks to Cancer and leave her a will that includes a scholarship for Raven...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
The Pastor is going on about how great and loving my grandparents are-Fuck- were. I keep forgetting that they're actually gone, they've been the closest thing to a parent ever since my Mother died when I was five years old. They took me in although they were both suffering Cancer. I thought I had more time with them, but it seems not.
After the service, friends of my grandparents come up to me and give their condolences.
"Hi, darling. How ya' doing?"
Cindy, my home school teacher, the only one who I ever got close to other than my deceased grandparents, approaches me. She's the sweetest person I know, she's always been my rock. She has a tan complexion due to the Sun always out and about in Cressmore, Tennessee. Her eyes are grey and always gentle, I can tell what she's thinking about by looking into her telling eyes.
Her hair is blonde, always done up in a tight bun. Her nose is petite, similar to the rest of her body. She's in her late 30's but doesn't look a day over 20. I give her a slight smile and nod because that's what we Southern Folk do when you're greeting someone.
"I loved the turnout, it's lovely to see how many people cared about my ma and pops." I avoid her eyes, because I know she'll see the scared little girl I am, wishing for her Mother's comfort.
I don't hear anything from her for a few seconds and then arms are around me and I'm enveloped in a tight, yet comforting hug.
This is just what I needed.
"Don't you ever hide your true feelings with me, ever again. You hear me? We're PB&J, that's never going to change. No matter how old I keep getting." She chuckles and then releases me but keeps me close to her. Her intense gaze tells me she's sincere.
"I'm sorry, Cin. You know how I have problems opening up and it just feels like everything is closing on me. W-What am I going to do now? Ma and Pops were all I had, you of all people know that."
My voice comes out shaky, but soft, not wanting the lingering people in the Church to hear me.
"You have me, S."
If I didn't know better, I'd say she's on the verge of tears. She's like a Mama Bear, always taking care of her cubs. She wraps an arm around my shoulder as we both walk out the Church. Once we get to her car, she removes her arm from around me so she can unlock it. I plop down in the passengers' seat and wait for her to do the same but in the driver's seat. She envelops me in another bone-crushing hug.
"Damn, Cin. I'll have broken bones and then you'll be the one taking care of me."
I make a joke, just to ease the tension. She lets out a laugh and pulls away, I'm shocked to see tears have run down her gentle face.
"I'm sorry, but, you're so strong. You will get through this, don't do this just for yourself but for your grandparents."
I give a firm nod, desperately wanting to change the subject, I ask, "Where to next?"
