LAILAH

I woke up to look at a completely blank ceiling. I wondered where I was and then I remembered what happened. My head was on Ahmit's bare chest. Ahmit looked down at me and smiled.

'What's so funny?' I asked.

'It's just, look at me! I'm lying in a bed after just having sex with a sixteen-year old,' he replied.

'Yeah, funny.'

He laughed and kissed the top of my head. I sat up and pushed the covers off of me. I had my bra on, fortunately. I got up and grabbed a towel from the bathroom and had a shower.

After I had a shower I put on my clothes and looked at my phone.

'Oh! I should go! Uncle Wu's coming,' I said.

'General Wu?' Ahmit asked.

I nodded. 'Training.'

Ahmit got up and sighed.

'What's wrong?'

'I don't think my father will want me staying with him any longer.'

'Well, you could go live in the Linden house.'

'No, it's your house. I couldn't intrude.'

'No! You're not intruding; I'm not even staying there.'

'Are you sure it's okay?'

I nodded.

He smiled and stood up. Thankfully he had his boxers on. He grabbed me by the waist and kissed me. He sat back down with me on his lap.

'You're the best girlfriend ever! You know that?' Ahmit traced my lips with his finger.

'Girlfriend?' I smiled.

'Well what did you think you were?'

I put my arms around his neck and kissed him. Our lips fitted perfectly together, like we were made for each other. I got up and summoned the keys for the Linden place. I handed it to Ahmit and said goodbye.

I walked out of the Hyatt feeling satisfied. I passed a flower shop and stopped. I walked in and bought some fresh Tiger lilies. I paid and walked on. I strode right past my house and to the cemetery. I came to Mama and Papa's grave. I squatted down and set the flowers by the grave.

The grave was beautiful; it was made of beautiful marble and had quotes written in Latin. Et memoriasiscalaaedificarenttelluslacrimis, atquead caelumusque ambulareegoadducam vositerum.If tears could build a stairway and memories a lane, I'd walk right up to heaven and bring you home again.

I sighed. I would do that, I would walk up to heaven and bring them back to me. I said my goodbyes and walked back to the house.