The Day of Your Funeral
Hair, eyes, and lashes
Chestnut brown
Deep purple with glitter
Was Monday’s gown
Hands overlapped
Nails polished and trim
Roses surround her
As eyes in tears swim
Puddles and whimpers
Framed photos, a dim light
She now walks gold streets
Jasper, emerald, sparkling white
No more pulse
But all around, her heart beats
A symbol of generosity
No human can defeat
All love, all zest
Her legacy as big as her smile
We’ll say so long for now
And embrace in a while
Lauren was the only one who knew how I liked my hair braided. By the time she was done, my hair was a masterpiece. She knew I didn’t like tight braids, so they’d always be loose. Then we’d get coffee at Starbucks or eat Chick-fil-A (she preferred the original chicken sandwich while I ate the spicy one). She never would order any sauce, and I’d always complain about it. “You’re missing out on the CFA sauce,” I’d say. “It’s the best.” Then I’d say, “Let’s go spend some of my money.”
She’d smile that contagious, gorgeous smile and say, “Okay!” And we’d go to Target or Dollar Tree or wherever and goof off. She was like my little sister. When I moved into my first home and stayed there for the first night, she was there. I told her, “This guest room is for my nephews and niece, but it’s totally your room too. You can always sleep here.” The last time she stayed at my house, she was so sleepy she couldn’t even keep her eyes open. And her eyes were so beautiful. They were like doe eyes. We were watching Dodgeball that night, and she was curled up in a little ball at the end of the sofa, dozing off. Wednesday would lick her face, trying to wake her up.
The last time I saw Lauren, she tweezed my eyebrows for me and braided my hair. She would’ve graduated from cosmetology school in January. She wanted to start her own salon, and she would’ve had the busiest salon in the state — I just know it.
But on Tuesday, December 11, 2018, Lauren closed those big brown eyes of hers and opened them in heaven and saw her Savior. When people ask, “What can I do? I’m here if you need me,” I usually just smile and say thanks. But today, I want to take you up on that offer. Her parents, Lisa Hux Hull and Jeff Hull, are not only burdened with the task of putting their sweet 17-year-old daughter to rest, but they also must face the financial burden of her funeral, plot, and headstone. If you would consider donating to Lauren’s fund, it would personally mean the world to me. I don’t care if it’s $1 or $100 — that mere act of kindness can change how Lisa and Jeff handle this funeral. Thank you to everyone who has been there for them and for my family as well. Your generosity will not go unnoticed.
https://www.gofundme.com/manage/laying-lauren-de-la-rose-to-rest
An expert editor, seasoned writer, and author-centric marketer, Shayla Raquel works one-on-one with authors and business owners every day. A lifelong lover of books, she has edited over 300 books and has launched several Amazon bestsellers for her clients.
Her award-winning blog teaches new and established authors how to write, publish, and market their books.
She is the author of the Pre-Publishing Checklist, The Rotting (in Shivers in the Night), and The Suicide Tree. In her not-so-free time, she acts as organizer for the Yukon Writers’ Society, volunteers at the Oklahoma County Jail, and obsesses over squirrels. She lives in Oklahoma with her two dogs, Chanel and Wednesday.
