Chapter 28: Haunting Memories

(1 year ago. Carter’s POV)

“Alright Maya, you have 15 minutes before I leave without you,” I warned her from the living room. “Just because you graduated from high school and moved in here with me doesn’t make you my boss,” She joked as he emerged from her room. She looked amazing; I couldn’t find words to tell her though. “Stop staring and let’s go,” she joked. I just laughed and hugged her. “I love you,” I told her. “I love you too,” she smiled as she buried her head into my chest.

“You know if you don’t drive the speed limit we will be late, and you know your sister would kill us,” she groaned from the passenger seat. “Maya, she will be fine,” I assured her. She just sighed as she looked out the window. My sister was having a party for my brother’s birthday, my family had always been close but when it came to my brother with special needs we were super close. We made sure every holiday and birthday were extra special for him.

“Well, it’s about time you got here!” My mom exclaimed as we walked through the door. “Sorry, but we all know how slow of a driver Carter is,” Maya laughed as she hugged my mom. I let out of a chuckle and continued into the room. All of our family and friends were there. My aunts and uncles and cousins from both sides even came in from out of town.

“Well, bro, how is living with the girl?” My older brother, Dawson, asked. “Pretty good, actually,” I told him.  I watched as Maya and my sister whirled around the room making sure everything was ready to go. “Alright, mister, I saw those pictures when do I get one?” My mom came up and asked.

“Maya, has them in the car, but I think she was going to wait to put them in the save the dates,” I told her. “When is the wedding again?” she asked me. “That’s a secret,” Maya came up and said with a laugh. “Really this again?” My mom groaned. “I was kidding,” Maya laughed. “Then when is it?” My mom protested. “Mom, we need your help with Will,” Dawson came and interrupted.

“Alright,” She said and walked away. “You can’t do that to her every time,” I reminded Maya.  She just smiled at me and I brought her in for a hug. “You are such a dork,” I reminded her as I kissed the top of her head. “I know, but I’m your dork,” she replied. “Yes, and you always will be,” I assured her.

(2 months later- Maya’s POV)

I was getting ready to go out with Carter for our anniversary but I was getting worried since I had talked to him much. We had our little fight on Monday, but I thought we were okay. You never know with Carter. He has a real good way of hiding his emotions.

Maya: Come over and help me!!

Bri: I’ll be right over!

I loved that I could always count on Bri and even better she lived super close to me.  I laid out my top three outfits on my bed so that she could help me pick one out. I made us some Mac and Cheese to eat while I got ready just like we always had did.  “Babe! I’m home!” I heard Bri laugh as she walked through the door. “About time you got home! Our lunch is getting cold!” I joked.  She laughed as she walked into the kitchen. “Sponge Bob! My favorite!” she exclaimed.

We got our food and headed to my room. “So these are your top three?” She asked me. “Yup, I can’t tell what one I like best!” I whined.  “I think the floral dress with the jean jacket is the way to go,” Bri confirmed after looking over the outfits for awhile. “Alright, now will you please do my hair, I’m too lazy,” I whined.

I had been waiting for Carter for what seemed like forever. I had called him and texted him, so many times I probably looked like a stalker.  Luckily he is use to it, but still he should have been here by now.

Soon there was a knock on the door and I practically ran to open it, but when I saw the police officer at my door looking heartbroken I knew I wouldn’t be spending my anniversary the way I thought I would.

“Are you Maya Hudson?” The officer asked me. “Ye…yes…please come in,” I offered. I stepped aside and let the officer come in soon another followed behind him. “Is everything okay?” I asked him. “Well, no,” the other officer said. “What’s going on?” I asked worried for the answer. “We got a call about a young man jump off the bridge about an hour ago, and it was Carter, I’m sorry, he’s dead,” The officer said. My heart broke into tiny pieces I didn’t know how to react. “No, he’s not dead! He can’t be! Today is our three year anniversary! He had something special planned!” I cried.

“I’m sorry, ma’am but he’s dead,” the police officer tell me. “DEAD?! He can’t be dead!” I cried. Tears streamed down my face. “He left this for you,” He said handed me an envelope. “It was on the front seat of his car,” he added.  I took the envelope from him. “I know this is hard, but if you need anything or know why he might have done this please call me,” He informed me and handed me his card. I thanked them and then they left.

I looked at the envelope in my hand, I didn’t want to open it. The answers I wanted were inside this envelope, or so I hoped but I didn’t want to know what they might be. I ignored my phone the rest of the night. I had put the envelope on my kitchen counter I refused to open it.

That night I couldn’t sleep, so I decided to go to the kitchen and read the letter.

Maya,

I’m sorry you had to find out this way, and I’m sorry I’m such a hassle in your life, but you won’t have to worry about me anymore. You were right, this is a hard time for you and I’m just making it worse. Today after I jump, you will be free to do whatever you need to do without worrying about me all the time. Please don’t blame yourself for this, because my death isn’t your fault. I caused so my burdens I’m surprised to kept me around this long. I didn’t want to spend our anniversary this way, but as I got ready today I knew you need much more then I will ever be able to give you. I know you will find someone who will be able to give you everything you need plus so much more.  I hope you still go to the concert, I know how much you love them, please don’t go because I’m not there anymore. 

Wait…what concert?

Please always remember I loved you before I even got to the privilege to be your boyfriend. You opened  so many doors in my life and I will never be able to thank you for everything you and your family have done for me.

                             Love,

                             Carter.

A week had gone by and I found myself at Carter’s funeral, it still didn’t feel real. I waited by my phone for him to call me or text me saying he had just got lost and it was someone else’s car by the bridge, but that never happened. I took two weeks off of work just to get myself back together. They seemed to real understand my situation, and most of them were here today.

“Now we will here from Carter’s special girl, Maya.” I took a deep breath and walked to the podium.

 “Hello everyone, on behalf of Carter’s family and myself I thank you for coming here today. It means a lot to us that you all came today. Please bear with me as I struggle through my speech without trying to cry. As many of you know Carter was a foster child half of his life and he went through many struggles to get to a family that would be his forever family. He had Post Traumatic Stress Disorder which made his mind think different then the rest of us. I actually met Carter when we we’re younger kids since my grandmother and his mom were best friends, we use to have play dates, but as we grew older we grew apart, but one day when I had an interview for my first job we met again. If Carter was here right now he’d probably laugh and tell you the story about how we met for the second time isn’t him, but I promise you it is,” tears started to form in my eyes.

“Carter would tell you I taught him a lot, which is probably true, but he taught me a lot as well. Carter had one of the worst childhoods I have ever heard off, but he was still such a warm hearted, very humble guy, and I never understood how he did that. We had a future planned out, and I am sad to know that it will never happen, but I’m glad I got to enjoy high school with him by my side. I hope he knew how much I appreciated him and how much I truly loved him. He was more than just my boyfriend he was my best friend, my better half, and the list could go on forever. Today as I say my finally goodbye to Carter with all of you, I also will take the time to thank him for never doubting me when I had crazy ideas, or for all the times I put him through so much junk and he stayed, and for everything else he has ever done for me. He surly has changed my life for good and I will never be able to forget him.”

I stepped back from the stand and looked at everyone they were in tears. I stepped back up. “Carter once said that no matter where he went life he would always be there to help me and carry me when times get tough, and that has been proven this past week, I know he is watching over all of us and helping us through these dark times.” As I headed back to my spot next to my mom I felt at ease for the first time since Carter had died.  It felt nice, while it lasted.

*Hey guys! I wanted this one to be really good that’s why it took so long to be posted, but I also started my new job and they gave me so many more hours then I had before and I’m not use to it. It is exhausting, but I work with this really cute guy he plays baseball in college, oh my gosh! He’s a babe, anyways! Rate, Vote, Share with your friends follow me on Twitter @thatgabsgirl and I promise to start posting more frequently. If you follow me on twitter you know how crazy my life has been! XOXO thank you all for staying with this story!*