Page 94 of Beautifully Shattered
“I don’t know. Maybe?” It comes out as a question, but he understands that it really depends on the moment, and he gives me a squeeze.
“Abs.” Lexi’s voice draws my attention, and I glance up to find her standing before us with Dee and Rhys at her sides, holding an unlit lantern. “Are you ready?”
Tears are inevitable today, so I let them fall as I swallow thickly and nod.
The lanterns were Dee’s idea, inspired by her favourite movie,Tangled. When she suggested it, through text, of course, I instantly loved the idea.
For one, I imagined little Bobbi loving that movie too. Perhaps she would have watched it with Dee. Hell, maybe Dee would have even taught her to dance.
Helping me up off the ground, I accept the lantern Lexi passes me, before she turns to the crowd.
“We are going to pass out lanterns and markers to everyone. Please write a word or more on the lantern you receive that youassociate with little Bobbi.” She holds up her lantern, showing everyone what she wrote. “Mine says ‘Loved.’”
Soft murmurs trickle through the crowd as my friends move among them with lanterns and markers, while I turn my focus to the one I’m holding, and with shaky hands I write a couple of words for my little girl.
My Heart.
When Ringo is done writing on his lantern, he clears his throat, gaining my attention, and holds it up for me.
My Daughter & Hope's Sister.
Both of us break then, holding on to each other as people write their own words for my little girl.
After a few minutes, once Ringo and I are able to pull away from each other and focus on what’s happening, the process of lighting the lanterns begins. Marcus, Jared, Ayden, Simon, Garrett and Shaun slowly move through the crowd to assist, a beautiful warm glow lighting up the space around the tree, and once everyone’s lantern is lit, Lexi speaks again.
“Tonight we send our love for Bobbi to the sky.” She lifts her lit lantern, the glow illuminating her beautiful face. “And with them, our grief.”
She turns to me with a sympathetic smile, and I know she’s waiting for me to go first.
A loud sob tears free as I hold up my lantern, my handwritten words clear as I finally let it go.
Ringo follows, and I fall to my knees, my eyes on the dark sky, as more and more lanterns rise up, sending the words to the heavens.
Fighter.
Precious.
Sun.
Cherished.
Light.
The Stars.
It’s the most beautiful sight, especially as the thick clouds part, as if Mother Nature herself knew they needed a clear path.
My friends join me and Ringo on the ground, all of us with our eyes fixed to the glowing lanterns in the sky for so long my neck hurts. But I don’t dare look away as the lights grow smaller and smaller before finally floating out of sight.
When I finally look back down to Earth, my gaze catches Dee’s, the vicious little assassin who keeps her voice locked away.
She shuffles closer until we are face to face, her big brown eyes brimming with tears as she cups my face so gently, it steals my breath. And then, she does something I never in a million years expected.
She leans close, so close that I can feel her breath on my chin, and she speaks, just for me.
“She’ll always be with you, Abbey. So now you need to live fiercely and show her there can be beauty in this world.”
I’m stunned at hearing her soft husky voice, yet I somehow manage to nod before Jared is leaning in to press his lips to her cheek, his gaze full of love as he admires his kickass girl.
