Chapter 2
It was now a week before graduation, and I was even more depressed. I picked up my keys and headed out the door.
"Where you heading?" Race asked me as I got in my car. Race used to be my dad's bodyguard, now he has chosen to stay here and raise me and Hadji, along with his daughter.
"I have some stuff I need to take care of real quick." I said. "I won't be gone long."
He knew exactly where I was going but didn't say anything.
I headed down to the freeway and took that a couple of miles. Then turned on to a worn paved road. I parked the car and headed up the hill to my parents' graves. They were buried side by side.
I sat there for a moment, gathering my thoughts.
"Hey Mom and Dad." I said to the marble slabs that held their names. "I'm sorry I haven't been able to come out here more often. I've been real busy with school. Hadji, Jessie and I are graduating next Tuesday." I felt a breeze blow past me. "I really wish you guys were there for me. Lady Neela flew all the way from Bangalore to see Hadji graduate. Estella is here as well. I—I really miss you. Graduation isn't going to be the same with out you here, watching me." I sat down in between. "I know you're proud of me. But…" I sighed. "Hadji and Jess are going to a graduation party afterwards, but I'm not sure I will. I mean, yeah, it would be fun. I just don't see the point. I'm not entirely done with school. I still plan to go to college and such. I love you, Mom and Dad. I wish you were both still here. I wanted you to be at my wedding; no I'm not engaged. I wanted to call you when my first child was born." I felt a tear fall from my eyes. "Look, I gotta go. I need to pick up my cap and gown." I stood and wiped the dirt from my rear. I knelt down and placed both hands on their headstones. "I love you so much. I really do."
It was now a week before graduation, and I was even more depressed. I picked up my keys and headed out the door.
"Where you heading?" Race asked me as I got in my car. Race used to be my dad's bodyguard, now he has chosen to stay here and raise me and Hadji, along with his daughter.
"I have some stuff I need to take care of real quick." I said. "I won't be gone long."
He knew exactly where I was going but didn't say anything.
I headed down to the freeway and took that a couple of miles. Then turned on to a worn paved road. I parked the car and headed up the hill to my parents' graves. They were buried side by side.
I sat there for a moment, gathering my thoughts.
"Hey Mom and Dad." I said to the marble slabs that held their names. "I'm sorry I haven't been able to come out here more often. I've been real busy with school. Hadji, Jessie and I are graduating next Tuesday." I felt a breeze blow past me. "I really wish you guys were there for me. Lady Neela flew all the way from Bangalore to see Hadji graduate. Estella is here as well. I—I really miss you. Graduation isn't going to be the same with out you here, watching me." I sat down in between. "I know you're proud of me. But…" I sighed. "Hadji and Jess are going to a graduation party afterwards, but I'm not sure I will. I mean, yeah, it would be fun. I just don't see the point. I'm not entirely done with school. I still plan to go to college and such. I love you, Mom and Dad. I wish you were both still here. I wanted you to be at my wedding; no I'm not engaged. I wanted to call you when my first child was born." I felt a tear fall from my eyes. "Look, I gotta go. I need to pick up my cap and gown." I stood and wiped the dirt from my rear. I knelt down and placed both hands on their headstones. "I love you so much. I really do."