THE FOUR.

𝟎𝟐𝟐

The family had took many losses in terms of family members, it felt like a never ending cycle. The family was crumbling down piece by piece. Relationships were falling apart, their grandfather had passed away.

Brooklyn sat quietly in the hospital room with a tear stained face. Cuddling with Kaari, She couldn't find words to describe the pain she was feeling. She was broken, hurt, and angry. Broken because her father was lying on his death bed. Hurt because her father is suffering in the bed of a hospital with tubes connected to his body.

Angry because she knew this was it but she didn't want it to be. Her grandfather would always scold her, discipline her but always just let her be her. Her grandparents were her world and She loved them with every fiber of her body.

"My sweet-sweet paw paw." She clutched his hand in her smaller one; Simone, Ja, and Reign had went home to shower and change while Shirleen and all of her babies stayed until they were given an update.

Shirleen looked behind her to see her babies asleep snoring holding each others' hands. The two stayed up for as long as their bodies let them waiting for updates on their grandfather but the doctors never came with answers, they actually never descended from their grandfather's room at all.

"It hurts you know? He's always been there, y'all have always been there for me. Now my time is limited with him, i know that he wants to hold on but no one wants him suffering to keep pushing." Brooklyn sniffled

"Growing up, i was treated like a princess by everyone. He raised me, he showed me what it was like to have a father, he attended all of my daddy-daughter dances. He attended my prom with me dressed like beauty and the beast as my request." Brooklyn smiled at the thought of her grandfather

"He'd given me everything, he never judged me or left my side. Remember when the school called home about my tattoo that he'd gotten with me, and he defended me like no other. He didn't play about his Brookie Cookie." Brooklyn laughed at the nickname she 'hated' growing up as Silas said his final words

"He taught me alot, what it's like to be loved. how to drive, how to cook and paint. He even paid for me to take fashion design classes in high school and bought me my first car for making the principal honor roll. It gets no better than my grandpa." Brooklyn smiled as Shirleen and her cousins began saying their final words

"Thank you so much for sticking it out this long to watch me grow and succeed. Your support and presence was definitely needed and never taken lightly. I love you so much paw-paw. I know you've got us. Thank you for everything, the notes, the memories, the heartfelt speeches and overall just being there and being you." She kissed his cold forehead as the line went flat

Clutching a sleeping Kaari tightly in her arms, Shirleen watched Brooklyn break down into tears dropping to her knees. "Tell me it's a nightmare!" Brooklyn refused to let go of Patrick's hand

"This can't be real, i want my daddy back." Those words broke everyone in the room hearts. "I want my daddy back, please please. I'll right my wrongs with everyone and everything God, please give me my daddy back!" She pleaded with tears in her eyes

Wails and Cries from Brooklyn could be heard throughout the hospital. Everyone was sort of prepared for this moment since he had told everyone except for his baby, who the news was currently killing.

----

Luckily, Brooklyn had an emotionally supportive other or an emotionally supportive ex-in law. Her entire family was taking it hard, it hit brooklyn the hardest when she deeply thought about how her father would never be able to see grow and become the mature woman he believed she'd be.

Kaari fortunately was the only person who brought light and a smile to Brooklyn's face. Lightly knocking before stepping in, Teniya and Damien were met with the smell of a champagne toast candle burning while a heartbroken Brooklyn laid under her comforter.

Damien held the large bouquet of 100 blue roses along with a gift bag full of her favorite candies and other objects she loved. "I know you hurting so i bought you this." He pulled the blanket from her head placing the bag and roses on side of her

"I wished these flowers could bring my daddy back." She smiled at the two and their sweet gestures as she busted the bag of gummy bears open

"I know that and i'm just tryna be hea for you, i can't bring him back but i can try to help you get through this." Teniya rocked them side to side comforting her like her grandparents always did whenever brooklyn was sad or overwhelmed.

"It's just so hard, why'd he have to leave me? He'll never be able to see me do great and he won't be able to see the woman i turn out to be. He was my safe space to cry in, my shoulder to lean on, his hugs could erase whatever i'm going through. I need that badly right now.""

"I wish i could turn back the clock and prevent this from happening. I listened to him take his last breaths. I thought i was just having a bad nightmare but no, my daddy is gone!"

The cries of her could be heard loudly. When Teniya and Damien hugged her, her energy was truly saddening and heavy. Teniya was wishing she'd pull away from the embrace because the energy was starting to reflect on her.

Emotions were at all time high, they all needed each other the most right now. The family had to stick together, they were hurting and it was definitely about to take a toll on them.

Brooklyn clutched the letter her grandfather had written to her when she graduated high school and left for college. She smiled with tears rolling down her face.

Dear Brookie Cookie,

I'ma always be there for you, love and care for you
just because mom and dad ain't here with you
that don't mean that you out here alone
I need that to be clear to you
Grandpa is always proud and i can't wait to see
the beautiful queen you become.
Keep making me proud, the bigger picture starts with you
my baby. Write your own path.
The bigger picture starts with you.
Ignore the doubt, Grandpa is always here and
supporting every step of the way.
Love, Paw-Paw.

"I love you too Paw-Paw." She sniffed kissing her fingers pointing to the sky as the rain began to pour.