Post by moonwick on Oct 21, 2006 2:25:59 GMT -5
The funeral took place on Wednesday, October 18th. As Jade watched the woman who had been her only known living relative descend into the cold and hardened ground, she thought she would shatter into a million little pieces. Lantlas, who had journeyed all the way to Minneapolis despite the fact that he had never met Jade’s grandmother, stood firmly at the young woman’s side, holding her together just as Nana had on countless occasions. All the grieving spectators dressed in black were as miserable as the weather above them that day. The skies were gray and thunder danced noisily around the mournful, where tension lay thick and ready to spill in liquid form from the looming clouds. Jade was also tense. She found herself unable to shed a single teardrop, though her heart longed for that release. Nana slept in peace at last, next to the rest of the family.
For days, Jade had silently wandered around, numb inside and neglecting to eat or sleep. Lantlas grew concerned, fearing that her spirit had died along with her grandmother. The young woman was usually so open with her feelings; this sudden lack of emotion troubled him and he didn’t know how long it would last or what to do.
After the reception, the two traveled home by plane. Nana had left the house to Jade in her final will, but it was still too soon for the granddaughter to cross the threshold; the pain of loss was fresh and intense. Lantlas sat on the bed next to her, holding her close and stroking her hair for an hour or so in complete silence. Finally, a clap of thunder shook the window panes and broke the stillness of the room, followed by the splattering of musical raindrops upon the thick glass as heavy afternoon clouds shed their weight. Jade, too, finally cracked at last, turning her head and burying her face in the cloth of Lantlas’ shirt.
“I just wanted to be strong for her…in case she was…watching from somewhere in the sky,” she choked out, as sobs shook her body. “I wanted her to be proud of me.”
“She is proud of you, Jade, because you are strong. But you’re also human. It’s okay to cry sometimes, sweetheart. I’m here,” he answered soothingly. He rocked her as she cried, feeling both sympathetic and relieved, until she fell asleep in his arms, exhausted. The storm had passed.
When she woke up later that evening around seven o’clock, Jade was very much herself again. She seemed to accept all that had happened, just as Nana would have wanted her to. Her grandmother had always taught her that instead of mourning one’s death, Jade should celebrate the life the person had lived. Even while she slept, Jade could hear Nana’s words. They healed her broken heart, though she would always miss her grandmother. The young woman already found herself smiling again before the night was over, thanks to Emerald’s contagious laughter and Lantlas’ caring embrace. Nana would not want her to be sad. There was still so much to be happy about. Jade knew she was not alone. She still had Lantlas and Emerald, as well as everyone at PCW, her friends, and her neighbors. Jade knew that Nana would always remain with her, too, in spirit.
The hours grew late and the rooms grew quiet, especially after Katelyn arrived to pick up Emerald for a pajama party. Lantlas paced around, as if he was nervous about something.
“What’s wrong, hon?” she asked, watching him.
He crossed the room and took her hands in his own. “Do you feel like going for a walk?”
Jade smiled, and he added quickly, “You don’t have to if you don’t feel like it. I know it’s been a hard day for you. We could go some other time...”
“No, it’s alright. I could use a little fresh air,” she answered, sensing that he wanted to talk. She hugged him gently. “By the way…thanks for being there with me today. It means a lot.”
Lantlas took her hand as they walked toward the door. “I’ll always be there, sweetheart.”
Jade rolled over and glanced at the glowing green digits of her alarm clock. 5:32 a.m. She couldn’t sleep. Lantlas was asleep beside her, breathing slowly and as softly as a whisper. Her eyes welled up with happy tears as she listened to the one she would spend the rest of her life with. To love and be loved in return is the greatest feeling a person can experience, as we all know. A beam of moonlight broke through the window, catching the ring on her finger. Jade turned her face and kissed Lantlas softly on the cheek, careful not to wake him. She had never known it was possible to feel so much love for one person.
There were other feelings swirling madly around inside of her, too. It had been a week of intensity. Horrible grief, unconditional love, magnificent bliss, and crushing fear fought for her attention all at once. It was the upcoming match with Grimm that she feared most. Would she be able to defeat an opponent who had enough skill to face Lantlas in the ring? What frightened her even more was the thought of how beaten up she would be by the end of the match. Would all of her tangled emotions hinder her on Tuesday, or would they help her? She was anxious and excited and scared for her life all at the same time. But what if there was actually a chance that Jade could win? Her triumph would be glorious. By winning, she would also prove something to herself: that maybe she really was strong. Not just physically, but mentally. It would take a lot of inner strength to win this match, considering everything that had been happening lately. But Jade looked at her husband-to-be, then closed her eyes and saw the face of her grandmother, and knew she would never, ever be alone, that she would always love and be loved in return. And love, dear readers, is the strongest weapon of them all.
For days, Jade had silently wandered around, numb inside and neglecting to eat or sleep. Lantlas grew concerned, fearing that her spirit had died along with her grandmother. The young woman was usually so open with her feelings; this sudden lack of emotion troubled him and he didn’t know how long it would last or what to do.
After the reception, the two traveled home by plane. Nana had left the house to Jade in her final will, but it was still too soon for the granddaughter to cross the threshold; the pain of loss was fresh and intense. Lantlas sat on the bed next to her, holding her close and stroking her hair for an hour or so in complete silence. Finally, a clap of thunder shook the window panes and broke the stillness of the room, followed by the splattering of musical raindrops upon the thick glass as heavy afternoon clouds shed their weight. Jade, too, finally cracked at last, turning her head and burying her face in the cloth of Lantlas’ shirt.
“I just wanted to be strong for her…in case she was…watching from somewhere in the sky,” she choked out, as sobs shook her body. “I wanted her to be proud of me.”
“She is proud of you, Jade, because you are strong. But you’re also human. It’s okay to cry sometimes, sweetheart. I’m here,” he answered soothingly. He rocked her as she cried, feeling both sympathetic and relieved, until she fell asleep in his arms, exhausted. The storm had passed.
***
When she woke up later that evening around seven o’clock, Jade was very much herself again. She seemed to accept all that had happened, just as Nana would have wanted her to. Her grandmother had always taught her that instead of mourning one’s death, Jade should celebrate the life the person had lived. Even while she slept, Jade could hear Nana’s words. They healed her broken heart, though she would always miss her grandmother. The young woman already found herself smiling again before the night was over, thanks to Emerald’s contagious laughter and Lantlas’ caring embrace. Nana would not want her to be sad. There was still so much to be happy about. Jade knew she was not alone. She still had Lantlas and Emerald, as well as everyone at PCW, her friends, and her neighbors. Jade knew that Nana would always remain with her, too, in spirit.
The hours grew late and the rooms grew quiet, especially after Katelyn arrived to pick up Emerald for a pajama party. Lantlas paced around, as if he was nervous about something.
“What’s wrong, hon?” she asked, watching him.
He crossed the room and took her hands in his own. “Do you feel like going for a walk?”
Jade smiled, and he added quickly, “You don’t have to if you don’t feel like it. I know it’s been a hard day for you. We could go some other time...”
“No, it’s alright. I could use a little fresh air,” she answered, sensing that he wanted to talk. She hugged him gently. “By the way…thanks for being there with me today. It means a lot.”
Lantlas took her hand as they walked toward the door. “I’ll always be there, sweetheart.”
***
Jade rolled over and glanced at the glowing green digits of her alarm clock. 5:32 a.m. She couldn’t sleep. Lantlas was asleep beside her, breathing slowly and as softly as a whisper. Her eyes welled up with happy tears as she listened to the one she would spend the rest of her life with. To love and be loved in return is the greatest feeling a person can experience, as we all know. A beam of moonlight broke through the window, catching the ring on her finger. Jade turned her face and kissed Lantlas softly on the cheek, careful not to wake him. She had never known it was possible to feel so much love for one person.
There were other feelings swirling madly around inside of her, too. It had been a week of intensity. Horrible grief, unconditional love, magnificent bliss, and crushing fear fought for her attention all at once. It was the upcoming match with Grimm that she feared most. Would she be able to defeat an opponent who had enough skill to face Lantlas in the ring? What frightened her even more was the thought of how beaten up she would be by the end of the match. Would all of her tangled emotions hinder her on Tuesday, or would they help her? She was anxious and excited and scared for her life all at the same time. But what if there was actually a chance that Jade could win? Her triumph would be glorious. By winning, she would also prove something to herself: that maybe she really was strong. Not just physically, but mentally. It would take a lot of inner strength to win this match, considering everything that had been happening lately. But Jade looked at her husband-to-be, then closed her eyes and saw the face of her grandmother, and knew she would never, ever be alone, that she would always love and be loved in return. And love, dear readers, is the strongest weapon of them all.