A Number, Not a Name

Gathering Clouds

Three months before:

Milena stared down at her father's coffin in the ground, tears streaming down her cheeks and holding a handkerchief to her mouth as she struggled to hold back her sobs. She stood there frozen, completely enveloped in grief, almost unaware of the people gathered to mourn Norvan and the commital service being delivered by the pastor. Lorenzo's arm was around her as he tried to give her whatever comfort he could provide, wishing he could do anything to take away just a fraction of the pain she was experiencing.

The afternoon sky was cloudy overhead and as time passed the clouds darkened, threatening to rain. The service ended and Norvan's friends and acquaintances came over to Milena to offer their condolences. Milena could make out their lips moving yet couldn't discern their words as she was still caught in a daze. Soon everyone had left the cemetery leaving Milena and Lorenzo alone by Norvan's grave. Milena walked closer to the grave pit and knelt along the edge.

"Oh Daddy. I really wish you were here with me right now" she sobbed. "Why? Why did you have to leave me too." She lowered her head and wept. Lorenzo knelt down beside her and wrapped her in his arms. Milena held onto his arm and leaned her head on his chest. They stayed there for a moment and then she loosened her grip on Lorenzo. She sniffed, "Thank you, Loren. If you don't mind I'd like to be alone, just for a minute to say goodbye."

"Of course. You can have as much time as you need Lena. I'll be waiting by the car."

Milena nodded her head. Lorenzo stood up and began walking to the car. She gently wiped her tears and stood up from the ground. She took a deep breath and spoke. "You taught me a lot Daddy...we had wonderful memories that I'll treasure forever. Thank you for believing in me and for being by my side. No matter what you could always make me feel better" she sniffed and looked away to the side at the rose bushes in the distance. "Roses. I remember when you told me how they were Mom's favorite flower and how every Friday you would give her a bouquet of red roses. Out of all them, she loved red the most since they represented love." Her voice quivered and she took another breath to steady herself. "And you...you taught me what all the colors represented just like she taught you. Yellow for joy. Pink for admiration. Orange for desire. Burgundy for beauty within. Green for peace. Lavender for enchantment...peach for appreciation. Blue for the impossible..." she wept. "And your favorite...white." She looked down at the single white rose she was clutching to her heart. "You said you loved it because it stood for innocence and eternal loyalty and love. And that's all you wanted for me..." she sniffed. "But you never told me that it also stood for the beauty and frailty of life...death." She wiped her eyes again "And now I'm trying to accept that you're not here anymore...and I don't if can or if I'll ever will. What I do know is that I'll never forget your love or how you made me feel. I love you...Goodbye Daddy."

Milena brought the rose to her lips and kissed it. She then dropped it over the grave pit and it landed softly on top of the mahogany coffin. Milena took one last glance at her father's final resting place and then walked away. Her thoughts drifted over the overwhelming events and images of the last week. The sight of her father's lifeless and burned body lying on a metal table in the morgue was constantly etched in her mind. Try as she might to get that nightmarish sight out of her mind she couldn't forget it. Her hours were filled with nothing but pure sadness and anger. She couldn't imagine who would murder her father but she was determined someway, somehow to find out who was behind it. In all of this, she was grateful to have Lorenzo by her side. He was her only sense of comfort in her darkest moment, her only support. It shouldn't be that way. Liana should be here with me burying our father. Instead, I'm here carrying this burden alone.

Milena reached Lorenzo who was holding open the rear right passenger door for her. She entered the car and he shut the door. He climbed in the other back passenger seat and their chauffeur started off for the Blagueur-Ohanyan estate.