Chapter 62: EPILOGUE
You know that feeling of why today? Why not tomorrow? That's exactly how I am feeling right now.
Tomorrow is our graduation and death with it's vicious snare struted in and took away the one person who needed life most at this point.
We all stood under the pouring rain paying respect to Damon's mother. The priest prayed for her soul as we all watched her casket dropped into the grave. Damon's eyes looks so empty.
He hasn't cried or spoken ever since he found her dead body in her room. Yes. She died in her sleep just last night. I could still remember the look in his eyes when we found out she wasn't breathing anymore. His eyes looked dead. Like he has lost everything.
I held him through out the night hoping and waiting for him to cry just once. But he didn't neither did he speak a word. He just looked lifeless. My heart hurts everytime I see that look of hopelessness and disappointment in his eyes.
He was looking forward to seeing her warm smile when she sees him in his graduation gown. That was the only reason he came back to school in the first place.
I held his hand tightly sending a promise and a message that I will always be right here. The priest left after the grave was covered but we all still stood under the pouring rain as a sign of respect.
We all got to know her at different point. Though the meeting was short but she warmed her way into our hearts. I still have the fresh memory of her patting my head as I laid my head on her lap and she told me childhood stories of Damon. She would always smile when she speaks of him.
The shaking of her hand and body never stopped her for a second.
Even when the entire group came over to Damon's house she would seat with us as Pearl and Luke cracks silly jokes to make her smile.
This past two weeks has been the best I could ever ask for.
I watched as Damon dies in silence helpless not knowing what to do. Nate held his other hand patting his shoulder.
"We are all here for you Damon. You're not alone" He said.
"Yes Damon. We are family" Jacob smiled taking Nate's hand. My heart warmed at their sweet gesture.
"We are always with you Damon. Remember that" Luke said holding Jacobs hand.
"Yes Damon. You have got a new family" Pearl smiled taking Luke's hand.
Tears rolled down my eyes as I forced myself to smile. I held Pearl's outstretched hand as we all stood in a circle around the grave.
"Damon you are not alone. You will never be alone. We are all here with you, your friends, your family and Me. I will always stand by you. Always remember that you will never ever be alone." I said smiling at him with teary eyes. He raised his head,his eyes connected to mine.
For the first time ever, tears rolled down his eyes. His resolve weakened. I watched my Damon break down in front of me in heavy sobs. He fell to the floor and cried out.
I knelt down holding his shoulders as he sobbed loudly.
"W-why m-mom...why now? I-I did what y-you wanted! I went to school and now you won't even be here to see me graduate" His voice broke taking my heart along with it.
He turned to me with red eyes and hair dripping with water. He held my shoulders sadness in his eyes .
"She left me Lan. She broke her promise. She left me here all alone!!" He cried out hugging me tight.
I wrapped my arms around him comforting him.
"That's where you're wrong Damon..." I pulled him back and held his wet cheeks a small smile on my lips.
"...she left you with friends who have become family. She didn't leave you alone. She gave you a new beginning with a new family" I told him.
"Yes Damon. You're not alone" Nate said kneeling down as well. He wrapped his hand around Damon's shoulder smiling at him. Everyone else followed making it a group hug.
Our heads joined together but not just our heads but our hearts united as one.
"Thank...thank you all so much" Damon said sobbing.
"Hey stop crying big baby. See we are all soaking wet just for you" Luke said making everyone chuckle including Damon.
I held his cheeks wiping the traces of tears that had mixed with the rain.
"Now let's go before we catch a cold. Tomorrow we will all go to that school and kick everyone's asses with our certificate!!" Pearl yelled earning a bundle of laughter from everyone.
.....
It's today. It is finally today. I stared at myself in the mirror in the boys washroom not believing my eyes.
I am graduating. I am about to step into the not so beautiful world but am glad that I won't be taking that step alone but with people who have become my family in such a short time.
"Hey Lan! Let's go! Everyone's waiting!" Pearl opened the door ushering me out.
I nodded and walked out of the toilet with her.
"I am so excited you know. I will finally leave this hellhole. I will definitely tell the principal to kiss my fat ass when I give my speech" She giggled. I couldn't help but shake my head in disappointment.
She doesn't seem to surprise me anymore.
We held hands as we walked through the hallway heading for the gym class. That's where everything is happening.
"Oh my God!" Pearl gasped covering her mouth. I stared at her confused by her reaction.
"Slap me if I am wrong but is that not Mark?" She said pointing at a figure ahead of us with his back to us.
I stared at the person who seemed to be heading the same way we were. Could that really be Mark?
He was dressed in a white shirt and blue jeans.
Last we heard about him, his mother took him out of the country. No one heard from him in two weeks. We all thought we'd never see him again.
"Mark? Mark!" I called out to him. He halted and turned around. My eyes rounded in surprise.
Where ever Mrs Quinn took him to, it sure did a number on him cause he looked different. His hair was put in a different style than the usual Mark and he looked vibrant and more mature if that was possible.
Pearl and I ran towards him as we accessed him with our eyes. Would it be weird if I said he looked hot? But my Damon is definitely hotter.
"Lan" He spoke. His lips pulled up in a smile.
Some would think I held a grudge against him but I don't and I hope he doesn't as well. I want him as a friend.
"How have you been?" He asked still staring at me with that warm laid back smile.
I reciprocated by smiling back at him. "I have been good but better now that I have seen you. You left without telling anyone" I said.
He smiled sadly "Yes I am sorry about that. Mom said I needed a change of environment. I was still too embarrassed to see you all." He explained.
"It's okay. But hey Mark, you look smoking hot! What did you eat??!! Mind taking me as a girlfriend? I'm sure Luke wouldn't mind" Pearl said eyeing his body.
This girl!
Mark chuckled and shook his head in amusement.
"Nice to see you again Pearl" He smiled.
Our eyes connected again. I turned to stare at Pearl who got the message and walked away.
We stood alone in the hallway the atmosphere quiet.
"Lan, I am sorry. For what I did to you. I still haven't been able to forgive myself for that day. I couldn't believe that I'd ever do that to you" He apologized looking sorry.
I held his hand smiling at him.
"You don't have to apologise to me Mark. I have already forgiven you and I hope you have forgiven me as well"
"Of cause." He replied smiling.
"I am glad you're okay Mark"
"Me too. I am actually taking therapy and it's been elevating so far. The principal allowed me to join the graduation" He explained.
"That's great news. I am so happy you'd join us. You know Pearl is planning on saying some crude words to the principal don't forget to have your phone out" I whispered to him.
He chuckled and nodded.
The smiled dulled from his face. "Lan?"
"Hm?" I stared at him.
"C-can we still be friends?" He asked.
My lips pulled up as I bubbed my head.
"I thought you'd never ask. I will always be your friend Mark. We will always be your friend and your family. From now on we are the seven majestics" I replied.
"Definitely not that name." He laughed out.
I pouted at his blatant rejection of the name.
"Even you too? Everyone is against that name. Why?"
"It sounds weird. Don't worry we will come up with a better one" He replied.
"Lan? Can I hug you?" He asked.
"Always" I replied hugging him.
"This feels nice. I am glad we can be friends" He spoke.
"Me too" I replied.
....
Graduation was over and like promised Pearl when she was given the mic blatantly told the principal to 'kiss her fat ass'. Her words not mine. She earned a fit of cheers from the students and glares from the principal.
I am definitely sure I saw some teachers giggling at the back.
We all stood together in a classroom still in our graduation wears. Pearl wanted us to leave a mark in this school as if her blatant words to the principal wasn't enough, so she came prepared bringing black paint.
So here we are writing our names on the wall in our classroom or should I say ex-classroom.
We finally decided on a name 'The seven legends'. Sound's kinda cliche but everyone loved it. Having Mark here with us made everyone happy even Damon who currently had his hand wrapped around Mark's shoulder.
I am glad they worked out their differences.
"There. Doesn't that look beautiful" Pearl said holding her waist. We all stared at our names drawn together in a heart shape on the wall.
Who knew I'd end up being friends with the people who would never miss a day to tease or bully me. We all ended up being good friends. I guess I have Nate to thank for that. If not for the trip we'd have never been this close.
I stared at Damon who was engaging in a conversation with Mark and Jacob. He looked free and happy. I am glad he could enjoy today without thinking of yesterday.
I always want him this way. Happy.
Mark told us of how his mother had plans of him staying aboard but he wasn't sure he wanted to go anymore. Seeing us all together made him feel at peace and home.
He thought at first that it'd be awkward and uncomfortable for him but it ended being the opposite. It showed him what he wasn't ready to miss out on.
"Group picture!" Pearl yelled pulling out her phone. We all stood together as Pearl took a selfie. Our faces radianting what we all feel. Happiness.
I don't know what the future have installed for all of us but what I am sure of is that we would always be friends no matter where we go. I have met amazing people that I don't ever wanna lose.
Every single one of them have taught me what having friends means. Friends who suddenly became family.
"Are you happy?" Damon whispered in my ear.
"Very" I replied a huge smile on my face.
"Me too" he replied.
"Group hug!!" Luke yelled forcing everyone in a bone crushing hug.
"You're holding me too tight!"
"Do you want to crush my bones with your fat arms!"
"My hair!! Aw!"
Complains flew in the air as we all hugged together tightly but all I could do was smile.
This was more than I could ever ask for.
.
.
.
.___________THE END
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