Silent Cry

CH51 - Strength

3rd Person's POV

Flowers were thrown left and right as the coffin slowly goes down the ground. Sound of sobs, weeps, and loud cries are heard around. Gabbie is holding her mother who cannot be calmed as she is draining herself with her nonstop tears coming out.

Gabbie was sitting silently as she stare at nowhere. She cannot even realize that her tears are flowing on their own and wetting her cheeks. She doesn't understand any of the happenings. It was too fast and she can't ride on it. She must be walking too slow.

Where did she lack? What part did she overlook? Was she tripping over something important?

She was thinking hard until she felt a skin tapping her left hand. Her right is currently hugging her mother. She realized then that Xander stayed on her other side and didn't go far at least once. He is now holding her hand as he looked her with comforting eyes. Gabbie is still wearing her expressionless face since the funeral started and it begins to worry Xander so much. Not showing emotion is more dangerous since it will get loaded inside until it will burst. Gabbie is like that right now though her tears have not paused with their continuous fall.

Xander pressed his hand on her and then grabbed it to share more strength. "I'm here," he voiced in almost a whisper volume but it was so loud in Gabbie's understanding. She wanted to smile at him to make him less concerned but she just couldn't and she hated herself more because of that. Xander looked like losing it because of too much agony towards his wife.

After the funeral, Gabbie didn't leave her family and asked Xander to make her stay again with them for a few days. The man was so anxious about the request since he doesn't want to remove his eyes on her, especially in her current condition. But he just clung to his trust that her family will take good care of her. He agreed but he insisted to drive the family home.

He held Gabbie's hand until reaching their door. Gwyneth and Garry went inside first. Gabbie faced the man before going in. "Thank you," she stated in her powerless voice. She massed up some strength to finally draw a smile.

Xander hugged the woman with much care, a hug that can transfer a strength to hold on. "Remember I'm always here for you, my love. Please be strong, for your family." And for me, is what he wanted to add. He just cannot bear seeing Gabbie this down.

The girl hugged him back and buried her head on his shoulder. "I know you're worried about me and don't want me away. But even though you're not by my side, thinking of you makes me stronger already. You are my strength, Xander." She then looked up to him only to see his eyes now getting bubbly. He looked at Gabbie like he is not believing what she said but hoped it was true.

"But for now, I'm the only strength of my mother and brother. There is no one left for them to extract strength from. They need me."

"I understand," he said and caressed Gabbie's cheek which still has marks of tears. "I'll wait for you," he ended. Gabbie gave him the smile of assurance before she finally stepped inside.

The house seemed so quiet when she entered. It was like this before but today is even worse. Maybe because the people here lost their brightness that the whole house became so ill-lit.

Garry was the first one to settle in his room. He locked his door and didn't come out for dinner. Gabbie became so worried about him and attempted to knock on his door but Gwyneth stopped her.

"Let him be, he'll be fine," she enunciated as she held Gabbie's hand. The girl obeyed her as she then understood his case.

"Can you spare me some time, Gabbie?" Gwyneth asked after dragging the girl away from Garry's door.