The Arrival

Shae and Edkin walked to the funeral home, hand in hand. The snow had began to fall, making the sidewalk slippery. Shae slipped a few times and fell, butt first, to the ground. Each time Edkin would laugh until he too fell over.
By the end of the walk Shae's butt was so soar that the idea of sitting on it made her groan in discontent. However, she was happy that she was able to make Edkin smile along the way.

Edkin held the door open for Shae and placed his hand on the small of her back as to push her into the building. Shae noticed his intentions; she was not the one that needed pushing, he was. When they both made it inside, she grabbed his hand and smiled at him.

"I need to take my coat and gloves off," Edkin pronounced. Shae blushed and pulled her hand away.

"I'm sorry... I wasn't thinking."

"Of course you were, just not with your head." Edkin smiled as he took of his winter clothes and turned them into the coat check in. Shae looked him up and down. The sight of Edkin's toned frame in a suit was stunning. His sun-tanned skin and handy-man muscles were hidden under the black fabric. However, anyone could tell that he was fit and muscular from how he held himself. "Shae, do you need help?"

"Whah?"

"You are standing there just staring. Do you need help taking your coat off?"

"No, I got it thank you." Shae turned as to hide the fact that he pale skin was turning a bright red. She leaned her head down and began to fidget with her zipper.

Suddenly, Edkin's hands touched hers, "Let me," he whispered softly into her ear. He pushed her hand down, bringing the zipper down with it. His hands then slid majestically up her arms up to her shoulders and pulled her jacket off.

"Here you go," he said to the clerk as he handed Shae's jacket over.

"You didn't have to do that. I was fine," Shae said shakily.

"Of course I did. When you blush your hands shake. And what kind of a man would I be if I was not there to hold my love as she shakes?" Edkin asked as he turned Shae around and lifted her head so they could see each other eye to eye. "You are still blushing."

Shae bit her lip. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be. It is perfectly normal." Edkin held her and placed her head on his shoulder. She could feel his breathe shift from a calm pace to almost nothing.

"It is going to be okay," she said the moment she noticed that he was about to start crying.

"Of course it will," he replied. "There is no need to cry, my Shae-ness."

She sighed, "Sure, whatever, Eddy."

Edkin pushed her away gently. "Don't call me Eddy. You know I hate that."

"Don't call me Shae-ness. 'You know I hate that.'" Shae replied slightly mimicking him. Edkin laughed and then grabbed her hand. "Touche. Let's get this over with."


As they walked into the funeral room they were greeted by Heath, whom was leaning against the wall with an apathetic look on his face and a tooth pick in his mouth. Edkin tapped him on the shoulder to get his attention. Heath turned his head to Edkin, placed his hand on Edkin's shoulder and shook his head.

"Its going to be hell finding another point guard, man," Heath joked, though his facial expression did not change. Edkin gave a smirk.

"He indeed was a good player. Our basketball team lost a good player indeed."

Heath turned his attention from Edkin to Shae. He face went from apathetic to sour.

"What is it?" she asked. Heath tilted his head towards the pews. Shae looked towards that direction and saw her sister in the first row with her head down. Her black hair was up a bun.

"She has been asking for you. She refuses to talk to anyone else." Heath said.

Shae turned and looked at Edkin. He nodded and let go of her hand.

"Go to her."

Shae walked down the aile towards the first row. Simone was hunched over with Jeffery's jersey in her lap. Her fingers gently rubbed across the letters on the top. Her mind was plagued of his memories and though she fought back the tears, she refused to let go any of the visions she had, though they made her want to cry.

Shae slide next to her sister on the bench and softly places her hand on Simone's shoulder. Simone slowly lifted her head and looked into Shae's eyes. Shae was filled with fear as she saw Simone's spring blue eyes had turned a distant white.

“Simone?”

“Shae,” Simone forced a smile that lasted only a second. She turned her attention back to the jersey. “Heath gave this to me when I got here. He said that Jeffery was going to give it to me before the next game anyway.”

Shae stayed silent as she watched her sister break in her melancholy stage. Over time people began to fill the pews. A few students from Simone’s class came to comfort her, but she did not break her gaze from the jersey. Shae could understand Simone’s pain, in a sense. She has been in class with Simone since she was able to go to school and she had witnessed Simone’s relationship with Jefferey from the moment it was born. Simone’s sadness was understandable.

“Shae, I can’t love anyone else,” Simone said, breaking her silence.

“No one expects you to right now,” Shea replied. Simone shook her head.

“I mean ever. I can’t see myself loving someone else. I don’t want to love someone else.” Tears began to swell up in Simone’s eyes. Shea reached over to her sister. Before her hand reached Simone’s back, Simone collapsed into Shae’s chest and started crying. Her sobs were heavy and violent, yet quiet.

“Jeffery would not want you to be sad, Simone. He always said that tears never suited your beauty.”

“Just let me cry. I can’t hold the tears in anymore. It hurts too much.”  Simone raised the jersey up to her neck and hold it as if she was holding Jeffery. “I miss him.”

“I know,” Shae whispered as she rubbed her hand on Simone’s hair. “I know”