MULTIPLY

afire love

afire love

And now we're left here in the pain

Black suit, black tie, standing in the rain

And now my family is one again

Stapled together with the strangers and a friend

---

Few days after the fire, mom decided to cremate the ruins of my grandfather. There was a funeral for him for our relatives to bid their goodbyes to him.

My mom also decided to bury my grandpa in a private cementary. On the day of the burial, people who knew my grandfather said their eulogy for him.

First ones are his sons and daughter which my mom is included, then his friends who is alive in this time, and finally my grandmother.

There were few people who attended the last ceremony for the burial, they were all in black sunglasses to cover their eyes and black dresses. Young or old, they were in black.  

Alas, my grandma said his eulogy, it was short and eye jerking.

“Manolo, Manolo is a very loving man.” Grandma started. “He never fail to love me as we grow old together.” Then her voice broke down. My mother went beside her to get her down but she turned her down and wanted to continue.

“When he showed the signs of Alzheimer, I panicked and thought that it would be the end of our love story.” She sobbed again.

“It was not. I could not believe that even he had Alzheimer’s he would always have some nice gestures of his love. He would kiss me, give me flowers he would pick on our garden and would say his I love you to me. He would hold my hand and would say that he is the luckiest person if I would marry him. He even proposed 8 times since his Alzheimer took over him. He would always sing to me and hug me and kiss me. I would be missing all of that. Manolo my love, you will be missed by all of the people who had you. I love you Manolo and you will be forever in our hearts.” Then she got down and cry on my mother’s shoulder.

Moments later, my grandfather’s ruins was buried. The rain began to pour and people began to disappear. I stayed there for a while reminiscing the days when he was still alive.

I was drenched because of the rain when I felt somebody held my hand. It was Nina, she was holding an umbrella and took me under it. I held her hands tightly as she asked me that we should be going. I looked her in the eyes and nodded.