Finding My Way

Epilogue

                            Four Years Later

Life is certainly a very complex things. Never know how it'll turn out. They say that 'life is what you make it', but I don't completely agree with that. We don't pick and choose our parents, and we certainly don't have a say in what they do.

Marcille. That woman is really something else. She would do any and everything to try and get what she wanted in life. Raymond couldn't give her everything she wanted, so she thought it'd be cool to sleep with his best friend, causing her to have a baby outside of her marriage. When the truth finally came out, Raymond chose to act out on anger and wind up in jail. So, her plan to sleep with best friends didn't work. Since her life was miserable as hell, she chose to try and use her daughters as pawns in her scheming game. That drove one of them into an abusive relationship and the other to... wherever she is.

I still don't really understand why Mr.Hayes felt like he could buy his son a girlfriend. Correction, a wife. A wife that he abused and treated like a tamed pet. A wife that he used as a sex slave. A wife that he never respected.

Marcille just straight up let that man do whatever he wanted to me. And for what? For makeup and ugly clothes. I don't and never have felt one ounce of guilt about her not getting what she wanted. Once the horrible psychopath went to jail, she lost her makeup and every possibility of a fashion line. She also lost her second daughter.

Her first one... man I don't know what happened to Arianna. She just wanted to be rebellious and carefree. I have no idea where in the world she may be, but at least she left Qua out of it. I know have full custody of him.

Grace, my grandmother, did have custody of him, but she finally got what she wanted three years ago. She passed away. Our relationship was at a fairly well place before that happened. I miss her sometimes.

Anyway my dad has been doing very well in life. Not only does he have a good job, but he also met a very nice lady named Vanessa. He made sure to take things nice and slow with her. They are now engaged to be married though. I am so glad that he didn't let Marcille's mess hinder him from ever being able to pursue a new love. He deserves all the happiness that comes his way.

I have a beautiful family. I have a nice home. I have good people around me. I've been in school. It seems like I would be at a pretty good point in my life, but there's a key part that'll be missing in it.

"Adrianna. You've been glued to this spot for the past few minutes." Tiffany came beside me and put her arm around me.

Tiffany, my sister in law, has played a big role in my life for a majority of my life. She's been a true friend to me all these years. I'm so glad that she ended up with her high school crush after all. She is a great person, and she also deserves an abundance of happiness.

"Are... are you scared?" She whispered while gently rubbing my arm. "I won't lie. I am, but I'm here for you. We can go in together."

I looked at her, watching tears slide down her cheeks. This is a tragic time for her as well. Her and Raheem were good friends. I asked her not to come out here, because she's pregnant, but she came anyway to show some much needed support and love.

I was about to answer her, but the door came open and out comes Juliette and Ralph.

"I can't go back in there. My son. My boy. My baby! WHY HIM?! WHY?! LORD WHY DO YOU HAVE TO TAKE NY BABY?! WHY?!" Juliette started crying and shouting, causing people to look our way. No one gave us weird looks, only sympathetic ones.

Ralph pulled her to him, wrapping her arms around her. It's so sad that it took something this tragic and traumatic in order for them to get back close together. Why does it take something like this to bring family members close?

"Outbursts like this is why he has done what he has to do Juliette. He's holding on and trying to stay strong for us. I know we'll miss him, but he needs to know that we'll be alright and we won't be mad at him." Ralph managed to get through his speech before he broke down too.

"Tiff, you, Juliette, and Ralph need some fresh air. Take them outside for a minute. I think I'm ready to go in. I can do it."

She looked hesitant for a moment, but she did as I said.

I took a deep breath before opening the door and going inside Raheem's room.

"Hey sweetheart." I faintly whispered.

He doesn't even look the same anymore. As he lays in that bed... he looks so... helpless. His color looks flushed, his eyes look soulless. His body... he's so much smaller than he was a year or two ago.

Raheem became extremely ill a few months ago. He's been sick for years now, but his m. just started rapidly declining all of a sudden. This man is twenty four years old, in a hospice bed, trying to hold on to the little life he has left. He has been for almost a whole week. I haven't been able to do anything to make things better, and that shit has been hurting me so bad.

It's just not fair. Raheem is a good man. He has been nothing but good to me all these years. It's so tough seeing someone I grew up with and care about die. My very best friend. I can't do anything about it. No matter how much I've tried to prepare myself for this, but it's hard to prepare for something like this. I feel like... I know that once he dies, a piece of me will die right along with him. I've seriously never experienced this much pain in my whole entire life.

I took another deep breath, then slowly sat beside him. We simply stated into each other's eyes in silence, until tears slowly rolled down his bony cheeks.

"You fought a good fight Raheem. You are the most powerful person I know." I grabbed his hand in both of mine. "So strong."

I paused for a moment to get myself together. The last thing I want him to do is see my tears.

"Wow. We have really been through a lot together, haven't we? From the first day I met you and you pushed me on the swings, I knew we'd be best friends. I didn't think you were yucky like the other boys for some reason." I laughed a little. "That's how I knew you were special."

I took another pause, just staring at his flickering eyes. I really don't know what to say, but maybe if I start talking the right words will come to me.

"The kids and I... we will be okay. Layla and Qua are amazing with helping me with Audrielle and Jr. Your mom and your dad... they're doing good. They've been getting along well.  Keisha. She's good. You're brother's fine. Julianna... she's alright. We're all good. We all... we really love you. Raheem you've been amazing. You helped me get over the trauma of my previous relationship. You taught me the true meaning of love. You taught me how to love... and... and how to care. And you taught me how to truly trust. You've gave me the best years of my life. You've really helped me find my way in life, and I will be forever thankful that God blessed me with your presence. I never thought that someone could love me and respect me so much. I love you with all my heart baby. I really love you Raheem. I do.... I love you... so much."

By now tears splashed out all over my cheeks.

"You have been so strong your whole life, but this is it. It's okay to let go Raheem. That way you won't be in pain anymore. You won't have to suffer. You... you can go see Grace... and your grandmother. We'll be alright here. You don't have to worry about us. Just relax and... just let go Raheem."

Through my blurry eyes, I watched as his eyes closed one last time.

                               The End

Sorry for ending it on such a sad note everyone.