by Anne Schraff
Tarah and Cooper were ushered into the church, and Darcy’s parents and sister walked together into the building. As Darcy turned to follow them in, she heard hurried footsteps on the sidewalk behind her. She looked back and saw Brisana Meeks rushing up the walkway.
“I’m sorry about your grandmother,” Brisana said, out of breath.
Even though they had not always gotten along, Darcy was grateful Brisana came to support her. It seemed as if years had passed since the school year ended and they had last spoken. Darcy remembered how she had yelled when Brisana tried to warn her about Brian Mason. Now Darcy knew Brisana had been right. She knew she owed her old friend an apology, but that would come at another time.
“Thanks for being here for me, Brisana,” Darcy said.
The sight of Grandma’s shiny silver coffin sitting in the front of the church stunned her. It took all Darcy’s effort just to steady herself so she could join her family in the front pew.
At the end of the service, Reverend Simmons, himself a friend of Grandma’s, invited people to say a few words about her. Darcy glanced at her family and saw that Mom, Jamee and Aunt Charlotte were too grief-stricken to speak, and Dad’s head was hung low in mourning.
Unsure of what she would say, Darcy felt compelled to pay a tribute to Grandma. Nervously, she got up from the pew and took a step into the center aisle. The church sat quietly as she approached the platform.
She stood just a few feet from her grandmother’s open coffin, and she felt her eyes drawn to Grandma as she spoke. Years of memories, of happy and sad times with Grandma flashed through her mind. Leaning in close to the microphone, Darcy closed her eyes and began to speak.
“When I think of things to say about my Grandma, no words seem good enough to describe her,” Darcy began. “Years ago, when my parents split up, Grandma was the one who held us together. When my mother struggled to support us by herself, Grandma was the one that made sure we ate dinner and got our homework done. Whenever I needed someone to talk to, Grandma was always there for me. She taught me to believe in myself. And whenever I made a mistake, she was there to catch me. ” Darcy inhaled and fought back tears.
“I’ve made some mistakes lately, mistakes that have hurt my family and my friends. ” As she spoke, Darcy glanced at her family, Cooper, Tarah, and Brisana. Then she turned to the crowd in the church, who seemed to be hanging on her every word. She noticed a few latecomers enter and sit in the empty back pews. Holding back her tears, Darcy took a deep breath and continued.
“But Grandma taught me that love is greater than any mistakes we make. She showed me through her love that families can come back together, that love is sometimes hard work, but it pays off. I don’t have Grandma’s lap to cry on anymore, but her lessons, her love, and her spirit are with me. Grandma used to say that God sends people into your life to teach you something, and when they go, it’s your turn to teach the lesson to others. I know I will use what Grandma taught me to help others. Each time I do, I know Grandma will be smiling. And I know she is smiling down on us all right now. ”
Darcy stepped down from the podium and returned to her seat. Her mother hugged her as she sat down, and Darcy felt that her grandmother was watching over them. Even in death, Grandma helped the family heal and grow closer.
When Reverend Simmons concluded the service, Darcy and her family led the funeral procession out of the church.
As she stepped outside, Darcy looked into the bright blue sky and heard birds singing. For a moment, a wave of sorrow washed over her, and she wished Grandma was there to hear the song. But another part of her felt Grandma was there. It was her song.
Then Darcy noticed a familiar-looking young man making his way through the crowd. Her knees felt weak as he approached, and without a word, she threw her arms around him.
“Hakeem! I can’t believe you’re here!” Darcy exclaimed. “How—”
“Tarah called and told me what happened, and I wanted to be here for you, Darcy,” Hakeem explained. “My uncle paid for my plane ticket. I’ll have to work it off this summer, but it’s okay because I have nothing else to do in Detroit,” he joked, pausing briefly. “Darcy, there was no way I wouldn’t be here for you. I’m just sorry I was late. ”
“No, Hakeem,” Darcy replied, wiping her eyes. “You were right on time. ”
Hakeem smiled, and Darcy led him slowly away from the church. “You look different,” he said as they walked.
“I am different,” Darcy replied.
Those words were among the truest Darcy had ever spoken. So much had happened since Hakeem left. So many things had changed. In the past month, Darcy had been completely transformed. She had grown and learned lessons which would forever shape her life.
Her experiences taught her what was timeless and unchanging, lessons of family, of loyalty, of friendship. Darcy would never be the same. Of this she was certain. But looking into Hakeem’s kind, dark eyes, she knew there was no way of explaining it all to him or anyone else right now.
Instead, she took a deep breath, said a silent prayer, and grabbed Hakeem’s hand.
Amidst a symphony of bird song and church bells, they walked together in silence, their warm fingers gently entwined.
