Hallucinations (rewriting post-physical publication)

Chapter 27 - 23 Days

Here's the math (the countdown's changing a little):

34 days, minus 11 days, equals 23 days.

Raymond's funeral.

Thursday, May 16th, 2019.

Two miles away from the river.

In a very small, very lonely cemetery.

His casket is black with gold hinges and latches.

Just like Kathy's; the lid is never opened.

It will remain firmly shut forever.

His service is not as emotional as Kathy's, but only just.

White lily flowers bury the casket once it is lowered into the ground.

Six feet under.

The lily flowers are buried underneath the freshly shoveled dirt layered onto the burial grounds.

The scent of the freshly cut lilies linger in the crisp May air.

Once the service ends, I make my way over to Ryamond's parents.

I have never met them before but Raymond's dad looks exactly like Raymond did.

His mom has the same brown eyes and brown hair like her husband and Raymond, but other than that, she is out of similarities from the two of them.

His mom is wearing a dark blue dress with silver beads around the hem of the skirt. She has a necklace of pearls around her neck and has tears brimming around her eyes.

His dad is wearing a light gray suit with no tie. His eyes are dry but his composure is crumbling.

I approach them and, unexpectedly, his mom embraces me.

I don't want to be rude and set a negative first impression, so I gently wrap my arms around her waist.

Once she releases me, her husband approaches me and holds out his hand. I know I am meant to shake it, so I do. His hands are cold and firm.

I look up at the two of them and blink multiple times before saying; "I am very sorry for your loss. I did not know Raymond very well, but I do know that he treated Kathy very well".

His mom nods along as if listening to a precious prayer.

I glance at his dad and he catches my eye, and quickly nods before turning away, his shoulders shaking.

Raymond's mom introduces herself as Isabella Maylie and her husband as Ray Maylie. Short for Raymond.

I realize now that I never even knew Raymond's last name.

Raymond Maylie. No words to that.

Raymond was named after his father. No words to that either.

I introduce myself as Nina Montez and again, tell them I am sorry for their loss.

I find myself short of words, and lower my head and peer at my hands through my eyelashes. I wring my hands together. Unsure of what to do or say next.

I feel a soft, lithe hand place itself on my left shoulder. I look up, sideways at Isabella and see her smile sadly at me.

I hear her say; "It's okay".

I smile sadly too, and I nod several times.

And this time; I know it is.

I know it is okay.

We are only born to die.

No one lives forever.

Not even the best in the world.

I look back at her hand on my shoulder.

I examine the tiny golden swirls that must have been so carefully made on top of the layer of the light blue nail polish.

I look up at her and say "I like your nails".

She takes her hand off of my shoulder and examines her own hand and rests it on her hip.

She looks into my eyes and says; "Me too".

I hear Ray scoff in annoyance and Isabella turns to him and says; "Everyone knows that guys don't belong in girl talk conversations, so go and sit down by your son's casket".

She points at the spot in the dirt where the black casket was buried and gives him a smile of sympathy.

He screws his face up at her and then pecks her on the lips.

She flicks her hair over her shoulder and watches as her husband makes his way over to Raymond's burial spot.

Once he is gone, she turns back to me and smiles at me again.

"Nina?" she asks me.

"Yes?" I ask her.

Her smile fades slightly.

Then she says two sentences I was hoping to not hear on the day of Raymond's funeral.

"Raymond wanted me to tell you that he knows," she pauses to take a breath and finishes by saying; "He knew Nina, he knew about the death days".

I look at her in shock.

She gives me a sympathetic look

And she walks away.