Zack Velory
"
Somebody
call
an
ambulance
!
He's
still
alive
! " A stranger says as he holds the dying boy. "
Hurry
up
!!! (the man commands, growing impatient by the second.)
hey
,
bud stay with me...
.
C'mon tell me your
name
...
let's speak..
" he says, tearfully trying to keep the boy awake, but his efforts were in vein. The ambulance came moments too late and the boy already Asphyxiated due to internal bleeding.
The stranger walked away from the whole ordeal feeling only an emense amount of guilt, anger, and sorrow. Days had passed and it was now September 12, the day of the boy's funeral. The stranger kept his distance well through the process, never really engaging with anyone, just watching it all play out from the comfort of a willow tree.
The priest picks up some dust :" from dust to dust" he says as the 4ft4 coffin slowly descends, as wails of sorrow escape the lips of the boy's mother. Slowly the stranger makes his way towards the descending coffin to say his final goodbye. The sobs increased their volume as the coffin reached its end, every heartbreaking tear watering the ground her only son was to lay in. Diggers start covering the hole, but stop immediately when the boy's mother pushed one down, screaming :"(heavy breathing) ... he's afraid of the dark! You can't do this to him!!" The stranger walks up to the raging woman, places his hand over hers then says:" he found the light to keep him warm, smile... He'll never be afraid again..." he says in an effort to comfort her. She looks up at the well built stranger, and just breaks down, collapsing into his arms and crying her heart out as the diggers continue covering the coffin.
The priest walks up to the two clearly distraught pair, and says with a great sorrowful sigh:" My condolences, Mr and Mrs Nelson, I know it be hard to bury a child, especially your own... (his gaze meets with Mrs Nelson's) look to each other for strength in this time of grief..." the priest takes Mrs Nelson's hand and walks up to who he presumably thinks is Mr Nelson then says:" Once more my condolences, Sir, I know you loved your son deeply... " the stranger wipes a stream of tears from his face, clears his throat then says:" He's not my child. I'm nobody to him. " The priest's eyes widen in suprise:" Yet you feel so much, Sir." the man turns slightly, looks over his shoulder then says:"...because I've done so little... (walks up to the now covered grave)... Sleep sweetly little one, dream of only the best of what the warmth can offer, rest your pure soul gently among the other angels, goodbye bud..."
Everything around him fades into voices of grief in his head telling him he could have done more, telling him it was his fault.... Blaming him for it all...as he takes Mrs Nelson's hand once more and walks with her away from the inevitable sadness... Just allowing the floral scenery of spring to calm their sorrows.
Rain graces the flowers with its presence, quenching the thirst of death, guiding the little spirit with rainbow, all the way to his forever home. In the distance his mother saw the silhouette of her boy leaving the earth while waving goodbye. Her teary eyes forced a smile... Then cried.... And cried...
