Caprice Of Apollo

Kiss The Rain

       "Diana?" I heard my name being called but I was too tired to respond. It's probably due to my outburst yesterday. "Diana?!" This time Aunt Aria's voice was laced with worry. "DIANA- There you are! Dear God I was worried you ran off somewhere." She fixed my hair and tucked the loose strands behind my ear. Aunt Aria took a closer look at my puffy eyes and tear stained face. "Oh Diana..." Auntie Aria trailed off "Yiru. Where's Yiru." I woke up without my best friend beside me. What did you expect me to say first?"Yiru showed me where you are. Goodness child, I told you to rest. Well, you are Bri's daughter so the only way you two can relax is by playing your instruments." She chuckled and I gave her a weak smile. *woof* We faced the doorway and saw Yiru with his leash in his mouth. 

       "Yiru's right. You should get ready" We stood up and exited the music room, but before I could enter my own Aunt Aria stopped and faced me. "I requested a piano for Bri's wake. I know she wants you to play for her before we say goodbye." I stopped in my tracks and thought about what piece I should play. I looked outside and it's another rainy day. "Thank you, Auntie." She nodded and left me to get ready.

       Once we arrived at my mom's wake, I saw a group of men wheel in the piano Aunt Aria requested. I looked around the room, it was filled with mom's friends, colleagues, her students and their parents. In the middle stood my mom's casket surrounded by flowers. Aunt Aria was assisting the staff as to where to place the piano. It wasn't like ours. The piano was smaller and seems like it's never used. My mom and I would call it a sad piano. I took a seat and Yiru sat beside me. The visitors approached me one by one. Seeing their sympathetic faces and pitiful eyes made me feel small. I don't want their pity, I just want my mom.

       The funeral started with people sharing their eulogies, then mom's students played a little something in honor of her. I just sat there and listened to them play. They did an amazing job but if mom were here she'd say "It was spectacular, but you're missing the most important part about playing. Have fun and portray your emotions through the music. FEEL the music." I can picture her wide grin while saying that. "Diana? Do you wanna say anything?" Auntie Aria asked. I felt the eyes of people in the room staring at me. I opened my mouth to speak but widened my eyes when nothing came out. I couldn't utter a single word.

       Yiru sat up and licked my cheek, snapping me out of my trance. I took a deep breath and made my way to the piano. Like what Hans Christian Andersen said "Where words fail, music speaks." My mom and I loved to play in the rain. Dancing, stomping in puddles, forgetting about the world around us and letting the raindrops kiss our cheek. *Inhale* "1..2..3" I counted under my breath, a little technique my mother taught me to calm my nerves. *exhale* I started playing "Kiss The Rain" not caring about the people in the room with me and just imagining my mom beside me. This is probably the first time I played with so much emotion.

       When I finished, the visitors were either holding back their tears or bawling their eyes out. I felt something run down my face and realized that the cloud in my head was too heavy to hold the rain of my heart so my tears were now pouring like the heavy rain of a never ending storm. I looked at my aunt and saw her with a proud smile, tears also streaming down her face. Did my emotions really go plus ultra to make them cry? I sat down once again and Yiru snuggled to my side. By the time everyone calmed down, the ceremony came to an end and it was time to bury my mother.

       Before we left the funeral home I took one last look at the piano and it seemed a little bit happier after creating beautiful sounds and melodies. With one last sad smile we hopped in the car and headed for the memorial. The ride felt like an eternity. I just wanted to hug my mother and feel her warmth again. The white ribbons on the handles and side mirrors of the cars danced with the fierce wind. I didn't want to look ahead. The hearse was right in front of us. Looking would just make the journey feel longer than it really is. How I wish this was just a dream. But the stinging feeling of the tears threatening to flow again and the pain I feel in my puffy eyes is enough evidence to prove my worst nightmare.

       The memorial was quiet and surrounded by dark, gloomy colors. The only thing that gives the place a pop of color are the flowers placed by the graves. Marching to the 6ft deep, freshly dug hole I looked to my auntie and gave her a faint hearted nod and lifted Yiru up. The men lowered my mom's casket then gave us roses for her. She loved roses. "Roses are amazing. They're beautiful so people, being people, will pick them. But! The rose is also a fighter. Defending themselves with their sharp thorns. You, my beautiful daughter, must be like a rose. Be strong and don't let anyone stop you from growing to your greatest potential." Mommy Bri was inspirational and bubbly. That's why I love her so much. Throwing the rose on top of her casket they continued to bury her. I'm never seeing her again. This is goodbye.

       A few weeks later, mom's grave was already neatly organized. The soil was patted smooth and we placed flowers around it. We also finally got to install the intricately designed tombstone. "Brianna Caprice. Your song will live on." Aunt Aria read aloud. "You are so poetic. JUST LIKE HER. It's giving me the chills." "Art thou shooketh?" We laughed after my remark. Before we headed off I glanced at my dear mother's new neighbor. "Lilibeth Apollo."