Location: Charming Cemetery
Mentioned: @gravesrafael
Also briefly mentioned: @marcusortiz @romanmaddox @strayxdevil
“Buenas tardes, tia. Buenas tardes, tio,” Sam said, as she placed the flowers onto their graves. She took off her sunglasses because she knew there wasn’t anybody around who’d judge her for the bags under her eyes or how bloodshot her eyes actually were. Sleep wasn’t coming to her easily now that she was still sleeping on her side of the bed, feeling like it was still half-empty. It had been days since the break up and time wasn’t moving in the same way. For the past few days, all Sam had done was cry into her ice cream as she watched shitty reality television shows, opting to focus on their shitty relationship problems instead of her own, only getting out of the house to call Opie back in.
Cry. Eat. Get mad at reality show stars. Think about Raf. Repeat.
It was a vicious cycle and it was the first time she broke it when she finally dusted herself off, actually took a long shower and drove to the flower shop to get this bouquet. She figured her conversation -- or confession -- was overdue and Sam had to swallow thickly as she sat down in front of Rafael’s parents’ tombstones. “Lo siento,” Sam said, immediately bowing as she closed her eyes and shook her head.
“Lo siento. I... I know I promised you both that I... that I’ll take care of him, but I-I don’t... I don’t know if... if I’m the person for the job. I don’t... I don’t think he’d want me to be,” Sam said in a small voice, hating how she could hear the way her voice was wobbling. She really wanted to be strong for this, but even the mere thought of Raf was enough to make her crumple down. This was the most fragile state Sam ever felt herself to be in and she thought she understand what a broken heart was when Raf broke up with her over the prison phone, but this? This was much worse. This was her knowing he was working a couple of streets away. He was here but he wasn’t hers.
For all she knew, he was probably fucking a different sweetbutt every night.
The bitter thought came at her so suddenly and Sam had to shake her head because even with what she saw, she couldn’t think of Raf that way because that wasn’t him. It fucking terrified her to know that she didn’t really know him as much as she thought she did. Maybe she was just trying so hard to paint him in the light that was familiar to her that she was blinding herself to the truth. Maybe Raf wasn’t who she thought she was?
Wiping the tears away from her cheeks, Sam focused on the flowers instead. She had read somewhere that bringing flowers to a grave was the same as having a shrine for the deceased in their home. It reminded her of the table Sam and Raf had in their home where they had pictures of Rafael’s parents and Seth. There were candles on there too and Sam made sure the flowers planted on that table were fresh every morning.
Some even said that the tradition started during the Greeks, when they placed flowers on the graves of Greek warriors. It was believed that if the flowers took root and blossomed on the graves, the souls of the warriors were sending a message that they had found happiness in the next world. She wished it was still like that, that she could have some way of communicating with the dead to make sure that they were okay. Before coming to Rafael’s parents’ graves, she had placed a bouquet over at Seth’s grave too, even did a ceremonial shot and left one for him, which is something she always did whenever she visited him.
More than anything, though, Sam just wanted a conversation. Funny how that was the exact same thing she had wanted from their son, which had barreled into something that brought her to tears every time she thought about it. She wished she could still talk to his parents, laugh with them, eat his ma’s cooking and listen to his dad complain. Even though she knew Rafael’s relationship with his father was strained, it was obvious that his dad cared for him so much. He and Raf probably just shared the trait of not really knowing how to express that care for other people well.
“I wish things were different,” Sam whispered before swallowing thickly. “I love your son. I’ve never loved anybody the way I loved Raf, and I... I wanna make sure he’s okay as much as you do but I--” Sam paused as she heard the crack in her voice, knowing a fresh wave of tears was bound to come. “I don’t think he wants to be around me anymore. I don’t... I don’t even think he wants me anymore,” Sam admitted, feeling as if someone literally ripped her heart out from her chest just because it was hurting so much.
How? How could anyone find the words to explain how lost she felt without him? How stupid she felt for trusting someone with her entire heart because now, here she was grasping at anything to keep herself afloat. She didn’t know how he was doing but she could only hope that he was faring better than she was, because as angry as she was with him, she had only ever been concerned about him, and if this was her rock bottom then there was no fire in her heart to wish the same upon him. “I can’t really blame him, you know?” Sam said, exhaling shakily as she let the tears fall down her cheeks. “He... he said I made him feel like.... like-- I don’t even know. But he’s angry at me. Apparently, I like to play the victim card a lot,” Sam said, a mirthless chuckle escaping her lips.
“And... maybe... maybe he’s right, you know? I may have fucked a lot of things up but I... I really thought I was getting this relationship right. I... I tried to be patient and there were fights here and there but I... God, I was trying so hard and maybe... maybe he took that as me belittling his efforts or... or something. Maybe I... I didn’t try hard enough? I don’t... I don’t know,” Sam whispered as she hugged her knees close to her chest, remembering how angry he was at that clubhouse as he yelled at her, remembering the way his hands were on that sweetbutt’s thighs and she had to suppress a yell that was bubbling in her chest. The sight of it still made her want to punch somebody. Mix that in with being sleep-deprived as hell and it just made Sam want to pop another sleeping pill so she can escape all this pain.
“I’ve got friends in the MC,” Sam said with a little shake of her head, reminding herself why she came here in the first place. “It goes without saying that they already look out for each other because... that’s what they do, you know? But I can... I can talk to Marcus. Roman’s there too. Stray too. They’ll... they’ll take care of him. I know they will. I--” God, just how many times can a person feel choked up talking one person? Dammit. “I’m sorry,” Sam breathed out as she bowed her head in shame. “I made you both a promise and I don’t... I don’t know if I can hold it up but... I’ll... I’ll do whatever it takes, okay? He’ll be safe. You know, tio, I always told you he’s smarter than he seems, so much stronger than you give him credit for. He’ll... he’ll be okay without... without me,” Sam murmured, clearing her throat as she stood up and dusted herself off. “I’m sure he already is,” she said, unable to hide the bitterness from her voice as the thought of that sweetbutt on his lap popped up again, causing her to close her eyes tightly.
“I should... I should head back to work. They’re probably wondering where I am,” Sam said, adjusting her bag strap before taking a deep breath and placing her hand on the tombstone. “I hope you’re enjoying heaven up there. Make all the wood carvings for me, tio. Tia... I hope he’s appreciating your cooking up there as much as...” Sam’s voice faltered. “As much as Raf appreciates your cooking down here. He’s... he’s trying your recipes and he... I think he’s got another talent up his sleeve,” Sam said, an affectionate smile forming on her lips, which didn’t really go well with the tears in her eyes. “Te quiero, tio. Te quiero, tia. I’ll come visit you agian soon.”











