Matthew: Ps; Raph has been transferred to another precinct during the harassment investigation.
Matthew: I’ve got your back. We all do.
Nuri: We’re all getting worried, Prue… Where are you?
Nuri: I know It’s hard. But you’re not alone in this.
Nuri: Please, let us help.
Ikram: Please come back.
Ikram: Or at least tell us you’re okay.
Ikram: You don’t have to go through this alone.
Evie: Hey Girl, I hope you’re okay.
Evie: You’re lucky I know you’re alive through “find your friend”.
Evie: Unless someone stole your phone…
Evie: Nate’s parents pressured him into emptying the house.
Evie: Don’t worry, I helped him put all of Jack’s and your stuff into his house.
Evie: We’re all waiting and praying for your safe return.
Nate: Come home please…
Nate: You asked me once to be your rock. Let me.
Nate: Just… Come home.
PRUDENCE
I stand on the grass, my feet bare and my sandals dangling from my hand, a lone tear rolling down my cheek.
“I don’t know why I’m here, because you never listen to me anyway,” I say, looking at his smiling face, the large sunflower I hold in my hand partially hiding it. “But you need to know thatI ammad. Mad about all those things you haven’t said to me. Mad about everything you hid and lied about. Mad that I had to learn about all of this in letters, when you could have told me in person, before all this happened.
“Did you think I would not understand? Did you believe I would not support you?” I ask, but get no answers. “Because I love you and I would have, no matter how painful it would’ve been.”
A strangled sob breaches my throat and I close my eyes. My heart is waiting for him to talk back. To explain. To apologize, anything.
He doesn’t.
The wind is picking up and the sound of my flowy baby blue dress flapping around my calves and knees is the only thing I can hear.
“But I forgive you. No matter how broken my soul is, I forgive you, and I love you.”
I take a few steps and kneel on the freshly turned soil, moving a few vases aside on the stone a few inches.
In Loving memory of
Jack Willow,
“Despite knowing they won’t be here for long, they still choose to live their brightest lives—sunflowers.” – Rupi Kaur.
“I’m lost, Jack. I’ve been driving for two weeks, and I don’t know what to do. I fucked up. I freaked out and left Nate and our friends behind. They’ll never forgive me.Ikramwill not forgive me for leaving while he was also grieving you.”
