‘ten years later‘
“Are you picking up Lilian from school today?” I asked Blake as I packed the kids lunch.
“Yeah baby.” He says brushing Lillian’s hair for school.
Bash peers at me over the counter while stuffing his face.” Mom the principal wanted to speak to dad today.” He says, looking away from me.
I let out a breath. Bash was now a teenager and that meant more trouble. You could say he took his dad’s footsteps. “Bash your dad’s right there, tell him that yourself.” I pointed out.
Obviously he hated telling Blake this since he knew how Blake reacted when he got into trouble. He always ends up grounded and he hates it.
“Ooh someone’s in trouble.” Bailey laughs while eating cereal. Her black hair is perfectly in a high neat bun on top of her head.“Shut up loser.” Bash grunted. I rolled my eyes, my teenagers acted like toddlers.
Blake turns to Bash and glares. “What did you do this time Bash?”
Bash pushes a mouthful of cereal in his mouth and shrugs. I sighed, shaking my head at Blake who groans, rolling his eyes knowing that the principal would be giving him a lecture on his son.
“Did you have fun playing with Ricky yesterday Lilian?” I asked to try to remove the tension. Ricky was Arden and Rosalie’s son who was a year older than Lilian. You could say Rosa was bummed that we didn’t get pregnant at the same time.“Yeah mom.”
I turned to Bailey.” How about you Bailey, did you and Kristina try out for the cheer team yesterday?” I asked. She smiles, showing off the mushed cereal in her mouth. “Yeah we did, Kristina got in but I guess cheerleading is not my thing.” She answers.
Kristina was Kimberly and Ryan’s daughter who was two months older than Bailey. Reese who’s Kristina’s older sister and a few months older than Bash was a cheerleader. The girls wanted to follow in her footsteps.
“Yeah because you suck.” Bash snorts.
“Hey Aile, don’t suck Bashy.” Lilian argues.
Bailey sticks out her tongue at Bash.” See, our sister thinks I don’t suck.”
“You should work on your form Aile and maybe stop playing video games with Lucy.” Lilian suggested.
Bash snorted and laugh while Bailey turned to glare at Lilian. Blake, who was behind her still brushing her hair, chuckles in amusement. Lucy was Liam and Christal’s kid that was three months younger than Bailey.
Blake and I looked at each other across the room and smiled. No matter how much they were trouble we loved them dearly and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
‘forty seven years later*
I stared at my husband as I lay in bed. We both knew this day would come eventually and seeing how the tears gleamed in his eyes as he stared at me made me feel awful that I was leaving him. He squeezes my hand with the little strength he remains.
My entire body was in pain, I was slowly fading away and they knew it. The years have made us age and so has our health. Today I was surrounded by my loved ones, my family, the people I cherished most of all, at least some of them who could’ve made it.
I scanned around the room, knowing it would be the last time I would see their faces. Ryan, Arden, Kimberly, Liam, Avery and with her husband Arster who was also Blake’s brother. They all looked at me in pain. They had aged too and had suffered loss as well. Reagan and her husband Leo couldn’t make it since they were half way across the world.
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Chapter 233
Rosalie had died a year ago after fighting breast cancer for over a year, Christy had died five years ago in an accident. My mom, dad, Rose, Luke, Noel, Ryn and Ace had now gone out of this world too and I would soon be joining them.
I let my eyes tear away from their sad faces and faced my children who were crying. Bailey, who now had three kids, looked at me sorrowfully. She had married her high school sweetheart Sam who stood grasping her shoulders. Bash, who had gotten married to Lucy, had two children of his own. And Lilian oh my sweet Lilian died before she even saw her twenties.
They all surrounded me as I made my way out of this world. I turn to my husband, my lover, my bestfriend. The love of my life. I had experienced so much with him for the years I’ve been on earth. I was happy that he chose me to be his soulmate in this life and hopefully in the other.
A tear slips from his eyes and lands directly on our clutched hands. I feel my heart ache but I can’t even move my hand to wipe his tears away. “You’re leaving me Ley.” He cries, his voice has aged too.
I managed to smile sadly as I found it difficult to breathe now. “Forever remember?” I managed to croak out then cough. His tears flowed down more knowing it was already time. “Always.” He croaks. “Always and forever.” He promises.
I managed to smile during my coughing fit as I wheeze. The air wasn’t coming to my lungs anymore, I was dying.“Don’t look so sad Blake, you promised me. I love you.” Was the last thing I said as everything stops, time freezes and my soul leaves my body.
“eight months later*
“Don’t cry kids, I’m going to see Ley and Lilian.” I smiled and even though I was in pain I still managed to smile knowing that I was going to be reunited with Ley and Lilian.
“Dad it still won’t be the same without you anymore.” Bash croaks. He always acted tough in his teenage years but now he was shedding a tear for his old man. I wanted to laugh and tease him, too bad my chest feels impossibly tight.
I didn’t want to die in the hospital. I wanted to die at home in my bed, the same bed Ley died in. The doctor only gave me a few weeks to live after I was diagnosed with a brain tumor. I guess it was now time up.
“Grandpa, you can’t leave us here.” Samuel cries. He was Bailey’s son.
“Yeah granddad you can’t leave us.” Christine cries. She was Bash’s daughter.
I smiled sadly. “What did your grandmother say?”
She sniffles. “Forever. No matter what, we will always be together forever.”
I gasp feeling my insides turn numb and my breathing growing shallow. “Exactly, so even though you won’t be able to see me anymore I will still watch over all of you forever. Just like your grandma and aunty have been doing.” I gasp.
“Grandpa.” All my grandkids cried as they see my eyes slowly close shut. I smiled not able to answer them as I faded from the earth. “Forever.” I promise them as my soul leaves my body.
Everything is dark at first until a bright light emerges up ahead. I squint seeing a figure coming forward. My heart leaps as the figure comes into view. “What took you so long?” She asked, smiling cheekily.
I shrugged while walking towards her.” Don’t know, I wanted to spend a few more minutes with our family.”
When we are a breath apart I can’t help but hug her, “We meet again bambina.” I teased. She laughs, pulling away and clutches my hand. “Well let’s go see our family on the other side.” She says and guides me towards the white light.
I turn to her before we enter the blinding light.” Forever.” I whispered, squeezing her hand. She turns to me and smiles.“Forever.”
”
Always.” We both whispered simultaneously as we walked into the light. Our story may have ended here but what awaits us in the other life will never end, for we will always be together, forever.
