Chapter 75

At the very instant Charmaine died, Adele had gone from being the most happily content child in the world to the most devastated. She emitted ear piercing shrieks while violently crying; as her tiny body trembled in a seizure-like fashion. This was the first time that she had ever shed tears; and for a while, it seemed as if they weren't ever going to stop flowing. And the crying became so intense that she began silently gasping, as her mouth continued to rapidly open and shut without any sound coming from it; turning from a worrisome crimson red to an alarming shade of blue. Adele had never experienced such an overwhelmingly painful sensation like that ever again in her life…until right now. As the sudden heart rendering, gut wrenching pain surges through her body, Adele's knees buckle out from under her; and she lets out a prolonged, bellowing scream. Soon, the scream blends with an agonizing cry of despairing loss as she falls the rest of the way to the floor; instinctively assuming the most vulnerable postures of all…the fetal position. She begins crying violently and almost immediately starts to hyperventilate. This was the kind of reaction Estelle was anticipating; and she rushes to Adele and attempts to lift her up. "Alright, Suga'bear; come on…get up." While hyperventilating, Adele panics as she forces herself to speak. "I…I…I can't…I can't breathe…Grandma." A sagacious Estelle assures her granddaughter, "Now, Suga'bear…if you talkin'… then you breathin'. You just need some fresh air. Come wit' your ol' Grandma outside to the porch, now." After a little bit of effort on her part, Estelle manages to get Adele on her feet. She holds onto her granddaughter to support and keep her upright as they head for the front door. And once outside, Estelle guides Adele down to take a seat on the top porch step. She sits beside her granddaughter, and comfortingly wraps both arms around her; as Adele continues crying hysterically. Adele forcibly sobs, "Nadine's dead, Grandma! She's dead!" Estelle responds in a soothing voice, "I know, Suga'bear…but you need to calm down." "She's dead! She's dead!" In an attempt to ease Adele, Estelle gently rocks her back and forth in her arms while softly patting her back. "Hush now, Suga'bear…calm down. Calm down." "But she's dead, Grandma…Nadine's dead! I won't ever see her again." "I know, Suga'bear; but…" "She's dead…and I can't see her no more." Adele briefly hyperventilates before claiming, "I'm scared, Grandma…I'm scared." "Scared of what, Suga'bear?" "I'm scared I'm gonna forget her, Grandma. I don't wanna forget Nadine, Grandma." "Forget Nadine? Adele Charmaine Wilson…don't you go talkin' that foolishness…you ain't never gonna forget Nadine, Suga'bear. Whatever made you think that you could possibly ever forget her?" "She's dead, Grandma; and I'm not ever gonna see her no more. What if I forget what she looks like? What if…" Estelle brings Adele closer in to her; gently resting her chin on top of Adele's head. "Listen to me now, Suga'bear…you will never forget Nadine." Sounding uncertain, Adele inquires, "Are you sure, Grandma?" "Um-huh." "How do you know that, Grandma?" "Suga'bear…do you remember when you was eight-years-old…and you, me and Grandpa Joe went to the State Fair? Remember how at night we went and saw the fireworks? You sure did love ‘em…remember, Suga'bear?" Adele begins to calm down, even displaying a slight smile on her face, as she starts envisioning them in her mind. "Yeah…it looked like magic…how they lit up the sky." "Yes…just like magic…lightin' up the sky." Estelle kisses the top of her head. "Them there fireworks…they kinda like your friendship with Nadine. Now; they didn't last very long…did they, Suga'bear?" Adele slowly shakes her head. Estelle continues… "But while they lasted…they was so colorful…so brilliantly bright…so amazing…" Estelle turns Adele's head and looks her directly in the eyes. "Like magic. Can you see them, Suga'bear…right now…can you see them in your mind?" Adele nods. Estelle explains… "And just like them fireworks…you ain't never gonna forget Nadine. You'll always be able to see her…" Estelle lightly taps on Adele's temple. "Up here, Suga'bear… Nadine will always be up here for you…whenever you want to see her. All you'se gotta do is think about her…and she'll be here." A big smile stretches across Adele's face as she tightly embraces Estelle while continuing watching that wondrous, pyrotechnic display in her head.