Meanwhile, in Strangerville…
Kai’s Uncle Merit and his long-time girlfriend, Roni, sit at home just after midnight – seemingly too tired to go to bed.
Veronica: You’re quiet tonight.
Merit: I’ve run out of things to say.
Veronica: *deep sigh*
Roni gets up and takes a few steps closer.
Veronica: Are you upset with me?
Merit: *turns off the TV* No. *gets up and walks over to her* Have I ever been?
Veronica: Yes. You just hide it well.
Merit: *admits that it’s true* Well, I’m not right now.
Veronica: *suddenly kneels * Well, I’ve got something to say.
Roni pulls out a ring. Merit stares at it, perplexed. He’s asked Roni to marry him hundreds of times, but she’s turned him down each time. What’s changed?
Veronica: I don’t like it when you’re upset with me. And – I don’t want you to leave me, Merit. I’ll marry you.
Merit: *covers the ring with his hand* No, Roni. Not like this. Not because you’re afraid that I’ll leave.
Roni stands up slowly, weighed down and crushed by the rejection.
Veronica: I feel like a fool.
Merit: You shouldn’t. You know I love you, and I’d marry you in a heartbeat. But I want you to be ready.
Roni covers her face, creating a shield between Merit and her emotions.
Veronica: I don’t know if I’ll ever be.
Merit: Then I’ll continue waiting.
Merit: Look at me.
Roni meets Merit’s eyes.
Merit: I love you, angel. I’m not going anywhere, married or not. Okay?
Veronica: Okay.
As Roni says that, a new flood of tears begins to fill her eyes, and her face crumbles under her emotions.
Merit: What’s really going on, Roni?
Roni pauses briefly, takes a deep breath, then manages a smile despite her fears.
Veronica: I’m pregnant, Merit.
Her voice is quiet – barely audible, but Merit hears her. Still, he runs it through his mind a few times to make sure he’s heard right.
Merit: Pregnant? Is that why –
Roni nods to confirm his suspicions. She tried to propose because of the baby. Merit pulls her close, and Roni holds him tight in a clutch – a drowning person’s grip.
Merit: *whispers in her ear to reassure her* You’re my family, Roni. I’m not going anywhere.
The day starts excellent. I wake up exhilarated about my upcoming date with Melisa. Then, right in the middle of class – I receive some devastating news. My Pop-pop has passed away, and suddenly nothing that I was happy about moments ago seems to matter. My world has crashed in around me in a merciless blow. He was so healthy – so lively the last time I saw him. I would have bet my life that he’d be around for a long time. So how could he be gone? I cannot believe that he’s gone.
I leave campus and go straight to Windenburg. Ma is arriving home from work just as I’m walking up to the house. We hug and shed some tears together.
Kai: I got here as soon as I could. What happened?
Ma is trying her best to be strong, but I can tell that she’s barely holding on.
Prosperity: He got sick suddenly. I guess he never fully adjusted to the cold. I should never have insisted that he moved here.
Kai: Don’t blame yourself, ma. He was happy here with us.
Ma nods her head slowly as if trying to decide if my words are true.
Prosperity: Okay. I promise not to blame myself if you promise not to let this affect your schoolwork. Deal?
I’m not in a suitable frame of mind to promise that. School is the last thing I’m thinking of, but I promise anyway, for ma’s sake.
Grief feels like an unwanted companion, but one that you can’t get rid of quickly. I’m in a sunken place, and I don’t have the strength to try and dig my way out of it. I enter the backyard and walk over to Pop’s place – part of me expecting to see him there watching tv or working out. How can it be? I can’t imagine not being able to see him or talk to him again. If I had known that the day I left for college would be the last time I saw him, I would have hugged him tighter and never let him go.
Ma enters the backyard a few moments later, probably to check on me. Or maybe she is also hoping to get one last glimpse of him. But she doesn’t stick around. Instead, she enters the house.
I continue to sit there feeling so much, but at the same time feeling nothing at all. My emotions are just as confused as my mind. What do I do now? Eventually, I get up and make my way over to my bike. I made ma a promise, and I’ll do my best to stick to it. It’s time to go back to school.
(Generation 3 Chapter Summaries)
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