Murder at a Funeral

TODAY

TODAY
August 15, 3:00 p.m.

It is almost over: the toughest day of her life, thus far.

Adeline Yates is too preoccupied talking with the caterer to notice where either of her siblings are. But Adeline can only assume. Briar would prefer to be alone, sequestering herself somewhere so that she could cry in privacy. Briar has always been like that, ever since she was a little girl. She felt as though she were a burden to the world, despite being the farthest thing from it. Born with a predisposition to slouch her shoulders and hide her face, Briar Yates was constantly walking on eggshells, ensuring that no one was bothered by her presence. As though simply breathing and existing were a burden in itself. So as Adeline suspects, that is where her sister would be. Off in the shadows somewhere, mourning in privacy.

Gabriel, on the other hand, would be putting on a false front, trying to cater to relatives and beloved friends. That is what he's been doing all day. After growing up with an unstable home-life, Gabriel Yates has become accustomed to assuming the role of man-of-the-house. He took it upon himself to fulfil this duty and take charge whenever possible. And on this day, the fifteenth of August, he is doing exactly that. Twenty-five-years old and already having to deal with one of the toughest tragedies that anyone can go through. They are getting through it together, though. Adeline and Gabriel are the strong ones. The ones to hold up the family when all else is crumbling.

Adeline, the eldest of the three Yates children, felt from a young age that she was born with an inherent motherly instinct. Although she does not have children herself – yet, anyway – she still feels that strong need to take sovereignty over situations and provide assistance as much as she can. She has been playing the role of Big Sister to Gabriel and Briar since the three of them were young. This situation is no different. And now, they need her the most.

Their mother, Olenna Prescott (née, Yates), had spent the years – which should have been devoted to motherhood – tending to other, more important matters, such as business. That was always a priority to Olenna: business and money. Therefore, she was not around much, and when it came to raising her three children, she left that position to their various nannies. At least they grew up with diversity, Adeline would remark. Most often, the Yates children were left to fend for themselves, brainstorming activities to keep themselves occupied. Reading books, going for tedious walks around the estate, telling each other stories. These served as their main source of entertainment. They became close this way. Learned to depend on each other when necessary.

Then there was Briar. It wasn't that Adeline and Gabriel were insensitive towards their youngest sisters' feelings, but rather, they forgot to take into account just how young she truly was compared to them, and therefore did not easily accommodate to her needs. Adeline and Gabriel loved telling scary stories. So much so that Briar would go to bed crying each night out of fear of what loomed in the darkness. At ages ten and eight, Adeline and Gabriel were accustomed to scary stories. By this age, Adeline was already over all of the childhood mysteries such as Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy. Of course, she didn't spoil the surprise for Gabriel. Until he was nine, that is. Briar on the other hand, was only six, and was yet to understand the workings of the world. Or differentiate between truth and fiction. And thus, would cry alone in her bed each night, too afraid to ask for company. Because, as always, Briar felt like a burden.

This became especially apparent in high school when Briar experienced an array of mental illnesses, ranging from depression, to paranoia, to an eventual suicide attempt. Everyone's hearts ached for young Briar, lost and afraid, unsure how to navigate through this world. She'd always been the most delicate and fragile of the Yates children, a trait she most definitely did not inherit from her strong-headed mother, or opinionated father, Richard Yates. Ah, of all the things she inherited from her beloved parents, it was Olenna's wide eyes, and Richard's admiration for math and reading. Briar would spend hours with her face buried in a book. She loved math – something both Adeline and Gabriel never quite picked up – and loved to challenge herself with difficult equations.