Classes had ended and Tiana had gone up to the girls' dormitory, telling Tonya she'd meet her at dinner. Tonya wasn't thrilled that her assignment had left her alone, but she knew better than to think that they'd be spending every moment together.
Tiana bent down next to her bed and reached underneath, pulling out a small red shoebox. She blew away the thin layer of dust that rested on top of the box. She plopped down cross-legged on her bed and with a small sigh, removed the lid. Her eyes remained fixed on the contents for a moment. No matter how many times she had opened the box since her parents died, she was always overwhelmed by feelings of loss, for the box held everything she had left of her mom and dad. When they had died, social services had brought her and Trevor back to their house to pack their bags. Everything left inside the house would be donated to charity. So as the social worker yelled for her to hurry up, Tiana ran through her house, grabbing anything and everything she could to remind her of her parents. Hairbrushes, playing cards, jewelry, eye glasses. Anything she could find.
Tiana managed a weak smile as she peered inside. She pulled out a string of pearls and held them close. She could still remember watching her mother standing in front of her bedroom mirror, clasping the pearl necklace around her neck. The reflection of the lights above made the necklace appear much brighter. Tiana remembered how she always envied her mother's pearl necklace and she begged and begged to let her wear them, but her mother always said, "These will be yours one day, and then you can wear them, but right now, they're mommy's." Tiana shed a tear as she remembered. No, she would never wear them. As much as she had always wanted to, they belonged to her mommy, and they always would. Even in death.
As Tiana continued through the memories, the dormitory door opened and Tiana heard heavy footsteps. She didn't look up, because she assumed it would just be one of the girls, but as the footsteps grew closer, Tiana looked up to see her brother, staring down at her.
"Trevor!" She said, almost fearfully, but she quickly changed the subject, as she avoided eye contact. But she noticed the shiner around his eye. "Man, Josh really nailed you." Tiana stared at his black eye, but he ignored her.
"What are you doing?" He asked loudly, causing Tiana to flinch.
"Trev, I'm just..."
"What do I keep telling you? They are dead! We are never going to see them again! Tia, you're such a baby, just grow up and stop torturing yourself! Why remember them? They've forgotten us!" Trevor was screaming again and Tiana fought very hard to hide her tears from her angry brother.
Meanwhile, Tonya was walking down the hallway toward the dormitory. She had just finished taking a walk through the gardens, needing to get a bit of fresh air. She also wanted to avoid the other kids. The teasing was too much to handle. Even for an angel. Maybe Tiana wants to hang out a bit before dinner. As she turned down the hall toward the girls' dormitory, she saw Andrew, mopping the floor. He whistled as he mopped and Tonya tried to hold in her laughter, but it escaped. Andrew turned to see Tonya cup her hand over her mouth quickly.
"What?" He asked, catching a hint of a smile. Tonya shook her head.
"Nothing." She muttered as she shifted her gaze, still smiling. Andrew had to grin.
"Come on. It's me. What's so funny?" He asked again. Tonya started laughing again, as she pointed to Andrew's mop.
"It's just a funny sight, that's all. Here's the Angel of Death, and he's mopping a floor." She laughed again as Andrew raised an eyebrow.
"Watch it, little angel." He said, as Tonya stopped. Andrew put his mop in the bucket.
"So, how's your assignment coming?" He asked, changing the subject. Tonya shrugged.
"Well, it's not even been a full day yet. She really hasn't said a word." She replied, sounding a little disappointed.
"God's timing is always perfect kiddo. You'll see." Andrew said.
"I know. Well, it's just a good thing Trevor isn't my assignment. He makes me so mad! You should have heard the awful things he said about me in class today. He hates me. Then again, they all do."
"Even Tiana?"
"No." Tonya smiled. "Tiana's different. She's special."
"They're all special in God's eyes. You just remember that, even when they're mean to you."
"I know they are, but it's hard to remember that when they treat you like dirt, even though you've done nothing wrong. I've never been teased before, Andrew. It...kinda hurts." Tonya admitted. Andrew smiled and put a hand on her shoulder.
"Don't worry. God will use you. Remember, rejoice in your sufferings, because suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint." Andrew said, quoting Scripture. Tonya smiled.
"I know. Thanks Andrew. You always know how to cheer me up." She said as Andrew nodded modestly. "Well, I guess I'd better go see how Tiana is doing." She said bye to the Angel of Death and headed to the girls' dorm. She entered the room, hearing the awful words coming from Trevor, who was still yelling down at Tiana. Tonya sighed to herself as she listened.
"Why do you keep remembering them? Why look through a dinky shoebox? They're gone! Grow up!" He screamed. Tonya could almost feel the pain that Tiana must have been feeling at that very moment. Tiana had no one left in the word, except for her brother, and he treated her so badly. She must have felt so alone. So isolated. Maybe that's why she holds so closely to her parent's memory. She feels that's all that's left. And Trevor is trying to take that away from her too. Tonya thought as Trevor looked up and saw Tonya standing in the doorway. She looked away as he rolled his eyes and stormed out of the room, pushing Tonya out of his way. Tonya ignored Trevor but stared carefully at Tiana, who hadn't even looked up. Tiana swallowed hard, as if to avoid crying again. She didn't like to cry in front of people. She sniffled and carefully placed the lid back on her box. Tonya sat next to Tiana on her bed.
"Hey, are you alright?" Tonya asked softly as Tiana closed her eyes. A tear rolled down her soft cheek, but she quickly brushed it away.
"Yeah, I'm fine." Tiana said quickly. Tonya knew she wasn't supposed to push, but she wasn't about to give up on this young girl. Not when she was as upset as she was.
"I heard your brother yelling at you." She said quietly, trying to sound as concerned as she felt. Tiana shook her head.
"He's always yelling at me. He hasn't said anything nice to me since they died." She said, never once looking up at her new friend. Tonya listened, her eyes never leaving Tiana. There was silence. Neither girl spoke. Tonya didn't want to push any further, but she felt as though was finally beginning to open up a little and she didn't want to lose what had already been started. Tonya looked at the box that Tiana was still clutching.
"What's in the box?" She asked, as Tiana smiled, ever so slightly.
"Memories. All I have left of my parents." She replied sadly.
"It must be nice to remember your parents through things they left behind." Tonya tried to be encouraging. Tiana looked up finally from her box with misty eyes.
"Do you still remember your parents?" She asked, almost beginning for an answer. She needed to know that she wasn't alone in her feelings. Tonya smiled and answered honestly.
"Everyday." She replied, as she thought about her Heavenly Father, who she knew was the ultimate Parent and source of unconditional love. Tiana looked back at her box for a moment before she spoke again.
"Trevor thinks...he wants me to forget about them like he did. He...says that we shouldn't remember them because they don't remember us; wherever they are. I used to believe they were in Heaven with God, but Trevor doesn't believe that." She said, her voice cracking, as she fought back the tears. Tonya's heart broke for this young girl, as she moved closer to the broken-hearted teen.
"Tiana you can't do that. You can't forget! They haven't forgotten you." She said, pushing her own tears back. She didn't want to cry. She needed to be strong. Tiana looked up, her eyes full of anger and pain.
"How would you know? You don't know that for sure!" She yelled.
"Yes I do Tiana and I know that you cannot forget about them. It will destroy you, like it is slowly doing to your brother."
"Destroy me? That's what's happening to me now! Every night I cry myself to sleep, remembering how it used to be, when we were a happy family! This pain is destroying me! Forgetting them will release the pain!" Tiana stood as she screamed out, tears rolling down her cheek. Tonya swallowed hard and stood as well.
"No Tiana! It will only get worse if you just forget about all the love your parents had for you. I can guarantee that." She said quietly, trying to maintain composure, but it only seemed as though her words were being ignored by Tiana. Tiana looked at the box she was holding and narrowed her eyes as she tightened her grip on it.
"No, Trevor is right. I have to stop this. I have to forget. It's better that way." She slowly walked to the trash bin and stood over it for a moment, as though pondering over her motives. Tonya followed and gently grasped Tiana's arm.
"Please don't do it. Don't forget. You need to remember." She pleaded, desperately, but Tiana only pulled away from Tonya and dropped the small box full of years of memories into the trash bin. She stared into the bin for a few seconds, as if shocked by what she had just done.
"Tiana, please." Tonya knew she was starting to be a bit pushy, but this situation was going from bad to worse in a matter of seconds. She felt as though she were failing her assignment terribly.
"Leave me alone Tonya." Tiana whispered, her eyes never leaving the box in the trash can.
"Tiana, I -"
"Just leave me alone!" With that, Tiana ran from the room, slamming the door behind her. Tonya's eyes filled up with tears as she watched Tiana run from the room. She sat on her bed and finally allowed herself to cry.
"Oh Father." She cried out. "What do I do now?"