You know what people say about how powerful words can be? Well it's true, They can do severe damage in a matter of seconds without a drop of blood being shed.
They can change people's lives, either for better or for worse.
In this particular situation, those words had the power to make my head spin in circles like I'm in a freakin roller coaster!
I slowly sat on the bench and just stared down at the floor.
I had so many feelings at that time, I felt terrible for Al, He was a really good guy and a fierce friend, I've known him since 7th grade and we've been best buddies ever since, he was the funniest one amongst us and was always able to make me laugh even if I were at my worst. And now he's going through this unbearable shit.
He lost his mom, the only person no one in the whole world could stand losing.
*everyone is going to die after all*
*that's life, you live, you grow old, you die*
We always said these stupid lines that we've known forever, but we never took the time to understand them, or imagine how it would be like if it really happened to us.
If I put myself in Al's shoes, how am I gonna survive this? How am I gonna live in a world that my mom is no longer in?
At that thought I found myself about to start crying so I pulled myself together and cleared my throat and finally broke the silence.
"Who told you?" I asked quietly
"Fred" said Joe slightly raising his voice "He called me and said that he'll go to Al's to see him"
"So.. what are we gonna do?" I asked
"I dunno" said Joe
"Look, I don't care about the formalities. I'll go check up on this guy" I said putting my clothes on.
"Okay, I'm in" said Joe
We got out of the gym and I wanted to walk to Al's house even though it was very far, but I needed the fresh air. However exhaustion beat us both, so we took a cab.
On our way, I kept thinking of all the people close to me who passed away.
I remembered my dad's best friend who died a year ago, he was like a father to me, I've known him since I was born. I kept crying after he died for 2 weeks until I dreamt about him telling me that he's fine and that he's in a better place.
I held on to that memory in my head to tell it to Al, cause I know that there's nothing more comforting than letting people know that their loved ones are in a better place than we're in, and that they're happy.
We arrived at Al's house and of course the door was open.
There were a lot of people, family I guess, friends from school, neighbors, but I was able to recognize a man who looked absolutely dreadful, Al's dad, he was devastated.
I walked straight toward him to pay my condolences with the most straight face I could make, but as soon as I made a direct eye contact with his swollen red eyes, I couldn't hold my tears anymore and they streamed on my face.
"I'm sorry for your loss Mr. Williams" I said
"Thank you for being here, son" he said
I quickly made my way out of the house to get some fresh air. I knew I couldn't meet Al like this, so I stayed outside for a while till I was a little better.
I came back inside and avoided seeing Mr. Williams again, I wanted to meet Al with a straight face, I didn't want to make him feel worse.
I came up to his room and found him laying in his bed, staring at the ceiling.
I slowly approached him as I thought he was asleep, but he wasn't.
He was just laying on his bed staring at the ceiling and tears are streaming down on his face.
"Hey Al" I said quietly
"Nick.." said Al weakly
"Yeah man, where is everybody?" I said
"Joe was here just a moment ago and so was Fred" said Al
"Look Al, I'm really really sorry for your loss, and I just want you to know that I'm here for you, we're all here for you. I dunno what to say bu.." I was saying when Al said "you don't need to say anything Nick, I just appreciate that you're here, that's all you ever had to do"
We sat in his room for how long god knows, but out of nowhere without me saying a word he said "she was sick, you know?"
"What?" I said, I surely had no idea what he was talking about.
"My mom. she was really sick in the past few months" said Al
"Oh really?! Thank god!" I said "no no no no I mean uhh--" I was mumbling as I knew I fucked up
"Easy easy! I know what you mean. she can rest in peace now, she was suffering" said Al
"Yeah yeah, that's exactly what I wanted to say" I said.
Then I told him about my dad's best friend and about the dream I had, and that I think that they're in a better place and that they're happy.
.
"You think so?" Asked Al
"I know so" I said
We kept talking till he became a little better and I'm sure as hell that I got a smile off him.
"Thanks man, I love you so much" said Al
"We are all here for you bro, I'll come to see you tomorrow before the funeral and we'll go together" I said
I left the house and checked my phone which was silent and found that joe had gone home and that my mom called me 20 times!
So I called her, but I held the phone a safe distance away from my ear.
"NICKOLAS OWEN!! Where have you been?!!" Shouted mom
"I'm sorry ma, Al's mom had passed away and I was at his place to check up on him" I said
"Oh my god! I'm so sorry dear. take your time with your friend, he needs you now" said mom
"It's okay ma, I already left and I'm coming home" I said "one more thing ma, I love you, I love you so so much"
"I love you too honey, take care" said mom
Al's mom death has got me thinking of how death is really close to us all, so you have to live each day as if it's your last day, and treat everyone as if it's the last time you'll ever have the chance to be with them.
I got home after this long tiring day and slept without even changing.
I woke up on my ringing phone *as usual* and it's Chris.
"Yes Chris" I said
"Are you awake?" Asked Chris
"No I'm answering you while I'm asleep.. what do you want dumbass?" I said
"I'm asking you who are you going to prom with?" Said Chris
"Seriously Chris?! You're waking me up to ask me about prom?" I said
"Umm yes" said Chris
"I dunno man, besides I have a long day and a funeral and I don't have time for that trivial shit right now" I said
"Okay I wanted to tell you that I got a message from Nora and I'm thinking.." said Chris
"Thinking about what?" I asked
"You know.. me and Nora" said Chris
Okay now the long day is about to get way longer!! Oh god give me strength.
YOU ARE READING
Timing Is Everything
Non-FictionIf you gave it a bit of thought, you'd find out that all our actions and others' reactions depend on timing, timing of the action you've taken, timing of their reception to that action. So eventually.. Timing is everything.
