Dead Makes Sense

Chapter 2: Steady Breaths

(Excuse any mistakes 😅‼️)

NINE YEARS LATER......

"Deuce, STOP! You're getting food all over your new clothes!", Alahni yelled with frustration. It was Roman Jr.'s birthday and he had just ruined one of his three birthday outfits she got him. She thought dry cereal would be safe for breakfast, but was very quickly and messily proved wrong. He had gotten cereal all over his shirt and made it worse by smearing it into his midsection and his sleeves were wet from slobbing all over them. It was a complete disaster. In that moment, she was grateful that she got two other outfits for him and didn't have to worry about having to find him a completely new outfit at the last minute.

"Huh, okay, you're done, let's go get cleaned up. Daddy should be pulling up soon!" She took RJ out of his highchair with a loud grunt because her protruding belly got in the way. She was 6 months pregnant with a baby girl, but she looked and felt all of 9. This pregnancy was kicking her tail and she couldn't wait for it to be over. She didn't remember her first pregnancy being anywhere near this uncomfortable, and the only satisfaction she had was that she was having the daughter she always wanted. She loved her son endlessly, but she was ready to have another girl in the house and do her hair, dress themselves in Mommy and Me outfits, and go on girl dates just like she fantasized in her earlier years. These were all things missed out on when her mom died, and she promised herself that her daughter would always have her there.

Roman and Alahni got married two years after college. They maintained their relationship despite being at two different colleges, but they made it work by traveling back and forth. After a knee injury that took Roman out for the season, he made the tough decision of hanging up his football career. However, instead of letting it break him, he focused his time and energy into business administration and marine biology. He graduated and was immediately hired as a consultant for one of the biggest business branches in the the state of Texas, and eventually paired it with becoming CEO of AquataLife, an organization dedicated to rescuing, healing, and releasing marine animals. He loved both of his jobs, and with all of the extra income flowing in, he didn't hesitate to ask Alahni to be his life partner as his wife.

Alahni was passing all of her classes with flying colors, studying Computer Science and working tirelessly in the IT Department. When she graduated, of course Magna Cum Laude, she was offered a job as one of the course instructors for the University in Computer Science, and also was offered a PAID position on the board of the IT Department because of her commitment to her job as a student. Soon after, Roman proposed to her and she was the happiest girl in the world.

However, tragedy struck. She received a call from her hometown stating that her entire family, consisting of her father, two younger brothers and one younger sister, were found dead in their home. Carbon monoxide was the culprit, and their alarm didn't go off because the batteries had died a couple of days prior and her father hadn't gotten around to replacing them. Alahni went through a lot of therapy, mental setbacks, and guilt. She thought there was something she could have done to prevent that from happening. This affected her and Roman to the point that they pushed back their wedding date to ensure Alahni was ready to take that big step.

After a lot of thought, prayer, and counseling, Alahni decided she was ready. She had come to terms that she was not to blame for her family's tragic and untimely demise, and she also recognized that she had a life to live. With that, 4 months later, she and Roman tied the knot on the beautiful island of Montego Bay, Jamaica. Delonte was able to get them some extreme deals because it was his home town and he had major connections all over the city. MaKiah was her matron of honor and Delonte was the best man. The wedding was absolutely beautiful! A year later, they welcomed RJ into their lives and things finally falling into place.