11 Good Bye Mother

The day which we bury my mother finally came, so we all got dressed and went to make preparations for the event to come. Everyone my mother knew came. There were so many people it was frustrating just being there. I had gotten tired of people approaching me to offer their support and even asked John just to keep them away at some point. We had the service at her church and after drove to the cemetery with her body to bury it.

Rasta had gotten a van that could accommodate my wheelchair so we followed behind the crowd. When we got there we had some guys carry her coffin to the gravesite and then the pastor said some prayers as they lowered her into the ground. Opal jumped onto the coffin crying out that she didn't want her to go, so some people had to quickly grab her and restrain her from taking those actions again.

Everyone was crying at this sight including me because I had to live through this experience again. I made a promise that I would take care of the family from now on to my mother. After they buried her we left and went to the site where we would enjoy some food and celebrate her life. My whole family couldn't even enjoy the event we just sat there and watched my mother's friends eating, drinking and dancing around.

After the event, we took pictures and headed home. I got through the following days just waiting for the timer in my mind to end. One day during the week I received a message in my head saying due to the injury I'm only allowed to take 5 shots that are guaranteed to make it. I was shocked by this news because it puts a handicap on my overpowered skills. I asked the reason but of course, it doesn't say anything and just goes back to the timer.

At this point, I'm beyond pissed and ready to go off on anyone and anything. I felt like nothing was going right in my life. Like why would this God send me back in time to my younger self and give me all kinds of happiness and joy and then take it away so easily, at this point I'm confused and scared of what's to come next? Rasta storms in my room asking me what's wrong and see me crying so he hugs me and tells me everything is ok.

I calm down and ask if Opal is ok because she still walks around gloomy and still hasn't gone back to school so I feel for her. He tells me she will be ok just give her some time and I agree. I was really missing my wife from the past but I had no idea where she was during this time because she should be six during this time and I recall her saying she was in West Africa at that time.

I was wondering if I should head out there to find her but I quickly got rid of that thought. Two years later...

I'm almost 13 years old about to go to the hospital to get checked out. Doctors said they don't know how I healed from my accident but I did it and looking to make a full recovery. Rasta by my side was happy that I recovered and said: \"I knew you would be back\".

When we opened the door everyone shouted \"surprise\"! and I was truly surprised to see everyone there. We had moved into a bigger house that could accommodate the whole family after the mother's death. I looked around and saw my father and stepmom were there too. I was excited to see everyone again since it's been a while. Shawn, John and the crew from my old neighborhood and even my basketball team from middle school all came.

They had become region champions thanks to Momba but lost in the Nationals to the unstoppable three Durant, Russell and Harden which didn't surprise me. I quickly threw away the crutches and \"shout I'm back guys\" making everyone laugh. I hadn't been to school all those years so it was nice to see them again. I had grown from 5'2 to 5'8 within those years and was still growing.

I had also gained weight due to not being able to do any cardio work but I was able to build a lot of muscles in my arms due to pushing the wheels on my wheelchair every day. I went around the party greeting and hugging everyone. Opal had finally come out of the trauma of losing her mother in those years and she had also felt bad that I sacrificed my legs to save her son when she saw me walking up to her to give her a hug she was crying with a big smile and I told her to keep her head up and never give up mother will be proud to see her smile again.

The party went on until everyone left and it was just me Rasta, Opal and Flo left in the house we went to the living room to watch a movie and talk about me going into high school the next day. I told them I'm going to start training soon because I plan on applying to the JV basketball team during the winter and Flo immediately said no and that I should take a break for at least a year before going back but I denied her and told her that I was on break when I wasn't playing these past two years so I'm ready to go. During that time I had lost my sponsor and the checks I used to get from my school but now it was time to get on a bigger stage.