MELANIE SANTIAGO
Today is my mother's funeral. I don't believe it. I can't believe it. The strong brave woman I know is no longer here. I feel tears welling up in my eyes, but I have to be strong. My mother would have wanted that for me. She would have wanted so much for me. I put on the black dress I wore for my father's funeral. All the memories of that day coming rushing back. I fall on my bed and cry. I lost everything I love in this world. My parents are dead, my brother is in jail. Who do I have left? I am all alone in the world. No family, nothing. Where do I go from here.
Bella comes to get me. She tells me it's time for the funeral. I walk out of the house, Bella and her mother next to me. The sun is gone rain is beginning to fall. I stand behind my mother's coffin. I touch her for the last time. The pallbearers raise my mother's coffin into the air. They begin the walk to the cemetery. Some many people have come to pay their respects to my mother each one of them had a special place in her heart. She loved them all and they loved her back. I'm so happy that my mother had so many special people in her life. My mother would have been happy that so many people came to her funeral. We are getting close to the cemetery. It's almost time to say one final goodbye to my mother. I don't want to say goodbye. I want her to still be here with me, to hug me, to kiss me, to laugh with me, but most of all I want her to tell me that she loves me. My kind strong mother, the woman who always protect me is gone. She's in heaven with my father.
We arrive in the cemetery. The pallbearers lie my mother's coffin next to my father's grave. They are going to be together forever. I know my father is watching us today and accepting,y mother into heaven. I walk to my mother's coffin, and give her one last kiss and I tell her I love her. Tears are falling from my face as the long line of mourners place flowers on my mother's coffin, and they each give me hug. I wait at the cemetery until the last person leaves. I'm the only one left. I take one last look at my mother and finally break down. I cry for what seems like hours until Bella comes to get me. "Melanie. It's getting late." I look over at Bella tears running down my face. I can't move. I want to say with my mother. I don't want to leave her. Bella comes over to me and wraps her arms around me. "It's going to be okay Mel." I lean into Bella still crying. I give her the biggest hug. Bella helps me up. I turn one last time and I wave goodbye to my mother. I can't stop crying. My world is shattered everything around me is a blur. My once help self is gone. I don't know if I will ever be truly happy.
When I get to Bella's house I walk straight to my room. I lie down and grab the pictures of my family who I miss so much. I see their smiling faces looking back at me. Those were great times. What am I going to do know? I keep telling myself over and over again. I think what I need is to get out of New York to find myself to find who I am. I begin making plans to leave New York. Where do I go? Which boarder state do I go to? I think about going south to Virginia. I always loved going to Virginia with my family. We had so many great times there. I always loved going to the beach. I go and tell Bella and her mother about my plans to leave New York. "Are you sure Mel this is the right decision?" I assure Bella and her mother thesis the right decision for me. This is my one chance to see if I could really make it on my own. I give Bella a hug. She tells me she loves me. I tell her I love and we begin to cry. After we finish crying I leave for my room to go to bed. I have a big day tomorrow. I pray that I have good fortune and my journey to go well. I kiss my family picture and close my eyes.