“A friend of the family.” It was the truth, maybe not to the whole family but to the one that matteredmost.
“You know Alexa?” I had been looking around for a sign of other life, maybe someone else who could help me, but the moment he said Alexa’s name, my head shot right back tohim.
“Where is she?” I couldn’t hide the pain in my voice any longer. He knew who she was. “Please, just tell me where sheis.”
I had resorted to begging, and I just didn’t care. He looked me up and down again, trying to size up my intentions, but thankfully he gavein.
“Follow me.” He set his rake off to the side, leaning it against a tree. The day was hot, and I wiped away sweat that was dripping down my face. I followed the man around the large building, leading to a small path that led away from the otherplots.
“She’s been here since yesterday.” I was startled by his words. She was still here since yesterday? She hadn’t left? He gestured towards a tree that was coming into our view. There was a small headstone next to it, with a bench that housed a small figure.Alexa.
“What do you mean she’s been here since yesterday?” The man stopped us far enough away from her, letting us talk without disturbing her resting for. “When Alexa lost her father, she came here almost every day after he was buried. The drive took her only a few hours from where she lived in California with her mother. The rest of her father’s family are buried under that tree aswell.”
I looked around to see a few other plots that were scattered in no particularorder.
“One night, she slept on top of his grave, and after the second time it happened, everyone here banded together to get something to make it easier for Alexa. That bench has been there for years, and never once since we put it in has she usedit.”
He looked towards me for the answer this time, and I didn’t have it for him. I only knew a portion of why Alexa came here, but it would be up to her to tell me therest.
“Son.” The man put his hand onto my shoulder, steading us both. “Please put her backtogether.”
I closed my eyes and then looked back to where Alexa lay. She was curled into a ball, with a blanket tossed over her. She looked so small and fragile, broken, and I knew what he was asking me. Heal her heart, and I hoped what I was about to do would do exactlythat.
“I plan to, sir.” I walked away from him and towards the woman who I wanted to spend the rest of my lifewith.
