Bentley's World

Chapter Twenty-three: New Year

December 31, 2020
Brentwood, CA📍
1145 am

"Is that the last of it?" Ma asked throwing the photo album in the trash bag filled up with  Shareef's hoodies, shirts, notes and other things he gave me.

My eyes schemed the closet one more time for any trace of him but found none, "yep."

"Shall we?" Ma asked picking the full trash bag

Ma and I silently journied outside to the far back of the house where there was the fire pit.

Yes, I was burning everything of Shareef's and any trace of him in my room and in my life. Ma handed me the bag and I dumped all the items into the pit. Once I was done she handed me the metal container filled with gasoline. Emptying the fuel on all the items until they were drenched I took a step back pulling out the lighter from my back pocket.

This was it.

Letting out a breath, I switched on the lighter paused momentarily staring at the flame before throwing it into the pit.

A fire immediately broke out forcing me to take a few more steps back. I watched all the stuff quickly disintegrate into black and grey debris.

"It's over baby," Ma softly said placing a hand on my back

That's when it all came crashing down.

I discombulated into my mother's arms.  I didn't cry my soul out, I wept my soul out lying on the grass choking on saliva and swallowing snot running from my nose.

My heart pounded against my chest as my breathing got shallower yet bitter hot tears still streamed down my cheeks endlessly.

Ma tried to get me to breathe and calm down but I was now loosing it as I clutched onto her feeling my eyes start to get droopy

"Bentley if you don't stop crying I'll slap you so hard you'll wish you never met that boy," she warned gripping my face to keep me still

"Look me in the eye," she silently urged forcing me to open my eyes and direct them towards hers, "Now breathe in," she encouraged and I inhaled deeply

"Now breathe out," she soothed and I exhaled

After a couple more series of breathe in and breathe outs, I was feeling better again.

"Gosh, I've never seen such ugly crying in my life," Ma spoke after a while of silence as we traisped back to the house

"Ma, take this to the grave with you," was all I said cause even I was surprised by what had just happened and would have rather preferred to act like it never happened

"One thing I can tell you is there was nothing you could have done from stopping this from happening. You can't really stop someone from cheating," Ma randomly said out of the blue

I sighed, "But it sucks ma"

She silently chuckled, "Trust me when I say I know baby but it's not the end of the world. He will never find anyone like you out there because you're so rare and precious, Zara."

I smiled because I really needed affirmation and reassurance.

"You're still so young and have many days ahead of you. You'll meet another guy or more guys, more trials and errors then you'll eventually meet the one for you b–"

I stopped and gave her a look, "The one? You had me up until that part," I snorted

She stopped a few steps away from me and rolled her eyes playfully, "It sounds sumn but one day you'll tell me. But right now It's time to boss up and level up, let go of him and take this time to heal and focus on yourself remember Zara Ley is waiting for you." She hummed