WE BELONG

Aria walked slowly through the rapidly muddying grass, leaning on her daughter, Emily, for stability. Distracted by her own whirling memories, she barely registered the rain falling on to the headstones around her, turning them a dark grey to match the sky above. The small black scarf wrapped around her head and giant the umbrella held up by Jake, her daughter’s new boyfriend; did little to keep the rain off her face. Aria hoped it would help hide the inevitable tears.

They stopped under a temporary awning, with the rest of the gathered crowd. A young girl stood up and offered Aria her seat, as thunder rolled loudly overhead. Aria sat, tucking away stray strands of her thinning hair; still unable to bring herself to look up at the picture at the front of the crowd.

***

“RUN, ARIA RUN!” Shay cackled as she sprinted past.

Aria tripped over a root and laughed as she stumbled and fell. Laying spread-eagled in the grass, she turned her head to see Ms Robinson strolling towards them, squinting at Shay in the distance.

“Young lady,” Ms Robinson hollered at her daughter, “if you jump in that lake, you will be walking home.”

Shay visibly slowed down but kept running towards the water, unable to help herself. Aria huffed out a laugh and smiled up at Ms Robinson, who had stopped next to where she lay in the grass. Ms Robinson rolled her eyes good naturedly and comforted baby George, in her arms; looking back up to her barely teenage daughter.

“Shay,” she called, smiling like she knew her daughter’s weakness, “keep running and you’ll be on diaper duty for a month.”

Aria watched Shay stumble momentarily before stopping and turning around, deep frown on her face and hands on her hips. Ms Robinson’s smile slowly morphed into a grin as she waved for Shay to come back and help pack up. Shay walked back towards them, dragging her feet until she reached Aria, still laying in the grass. Shay dropped to the ground next to her and lay down, turning her head to pout at Aria.

“Imagine if I had gotten like, a disease, from that lake,” she pouted, “that would have been such a cool story at school.”

“Yes, what a cool story,” Ms Robinson deadpanned as she turned around to walk back to the car.

Aria couldn’t help the laugh that burst out of her, as Shay smacked her repeatedly, outraged by the betrayal of her best friend siding with her mother.

***

Emily gently rested a hand on her mother’s shoulder and squeezed, as Jake worked his way through the crowd to the front. Aria forced her head up, eyes forward. The face looking back at her from the picture frame at the front of the crowd, was not the 20-something Shay that Aria remembered but somehow, there was no mistaking her for anyone else. The light from her smile and the fire in her eyes hadn’t changed in over 30 years. Aria smiled back at the woman in the picture, wiping tears from her face.

***



“It’s so bloody unfair that they don’t think we’re old enough to drink yet,” Aria mumbled into her pillow in frustration, “but we’re old enough to know what career we want for the rest of our goddamn lives.” 

Shay sat beside her, scrolling through university applications on her laptop, “I don’t even know what I want for lunch tomorrow.”

Aria smiled, because she always smiled at Shay; but her frustration quickly returned. She huffed and flipped herself around on her bed, disturbing all the university flyers and schoolbooks around them, in the process. She crossed her hand on her stomach and stared up at the glow-in-the-dark stars on her ceiling.

They were only 7 when a heavy rain had made sure Shay and herself were stuck indoors for a playdate. They had climbed up the ladder of her loft bed and started sticking those stars everywhere they could reach. Aria was convinced she was going to get into trouble, but the smile on Shay’s face under the dull florescent glow of the stickers, made it all seem worth it. Her mum only smiled and nodded when she saw their creation, “Gorgeous work girls,” she had whispered.

Aria smiled at the memory and turned on her side, propping her head up on her hand, “Promise we’ll stay friends even if we don’t live near each other?”

Shay smiled and tilted her head to the right slightly, “That’s not even a question, A. Distance ain’t no thang.”

Aria couldn’t help laughing again, feeling a little lighter and turning back to her computer to finish her assignment.

***

“My sister wasn’t the kind of person to ever let anyone or anything get in the way of what she wanted – silly things like the law and the police didn’t stand a chance against her,” George smiled, and Aria had to laugh with the rest of the mourners; unable to stop flashing back to the countless times they got in trouble. Her eyes were stinging and scratchy, but no tears came as she stared at baby George. Except baby George was no longer a baby - older, stronger and more handsome – where he reminisced his sister’s life, voice shaking.

George caught her eye and locked on as he continued, “She was headstrong and bold, but she cared deeply and never ever forgot a friend.”

***

Aria stood on the sidewalk sniffling as she clung tightly to the girl in her arms, feeling Shay’s tears dampening the material of her t-shirt on her shoulder. “We’ll talk all the time, A,” Shay mumbled as they pulled apart, Shay thumbed away a tear on Aria’s face, and flashed her a watery smile.

“I’ll visit you and you’ll visit me; and everything will be exactly the same,” Aria confirmed nodding. “I won’t even know that you live halfway across the world.”

Aria caught sight of Shay’s husband standing beside them, where he had finished loading the car. “You’ll take good care of each other, won’t you Paul?”

Paul smiled his signature kind smile, “Of course, I’m too scared of you to let anything bad happen to her.”

Aria laughed and pulled away from the lingering hug, flipping him off, as she reached for a small jewellery box in her pocket, “This is for you,” she sniffled, handing the box to Shay.

Inside sat a brand new, elegant, gold bracelet. ‘Distance ain’t no thang,’ read the engraving.

Shay laughed and launched herself into Aria’s arms.

They never would have let go had they known it would be the last time they would be in the same room.

***

Aria was distracted enough by the memories rattling around in her head, that she didn’t notice Jake take the microphone, until he spoke. Her eyes snapped into focus, “I can’t put into words how much I love her. Mum was my first best friend and the only friend that always put me first,” he began.

Aria looked up at her daughter, who was staring at Jake with a sad smile on her lips and tears in her eyes. Suddenly Aria’s ears were ringing.

***

Aria smiled at Shay on her computer screen where she looked tired but happy in a hospital gown. “Can I see him again?” she asked.

Shay nodded through a quiet laugh and reached for the baby in the cot beside her, bringing him closer to the camera. Aria could physically feel the happiness in her gut.

“He has your eyes,” she cooed, “and Paul’s nose.” Shay grinned, like the proud new mother that she was.

“Sorry I can’t be there,” Aria whispered as she watched the baby’s eyes drift shut.

“Don’t be stupid,” Shay whispered back, “you’ve done more than enough already.” Aria shook her head slightly but let it go.

“Do you have a name yet?” Aria laughed quietly.

“Jake.”

***

Aria sat quietly at the back; black scarf now wrapped around her wrist when she noticed Paul approaching her. She stood slowly, smile weak as her eyes began to sting again. “Hi,” she whispered, as he got closer.

He stared at her a short moment, before pulling her into a strong hug. “I’m sorry,” they both whispered, together.

Paul laughed weakly as they broke apart, pulling a small jewellery box from his pocket. “You should have this,” he smiled, as he handed her the box.

Inside sat a well-worn, elegant, gold bracelet. ‘Distance ain’t no thang,’ read the engraving.

THE END