XV (Part III)

Harris is just kneeling there, crying while he’s looking at the grave of his childhood best friend. He’s silent but his shoulders are shaking. He reaches down as if he’s hugging Melvin, but only, the earth separates them two.

I keep my mouth shut while I let Harris cry to the realization of him losing his best friend. No one else knows but him the frustration of actually losing an important person from his life. I feel the side of my chest tighten on what I am witnessing. The denial, the frustration, the unbelief that he must be feeling is slowly eating him right now. He must be repressing all this skepticism during our quest to freedom earlier. Holding on to the hope that Steven, Stacey, and I have been lying all along. But alas! We can no longer deny it. The proof of Melvin’s death lies in front of us now. His childhood best friend is really dead. <