New Feelings

Death and Life

As I heard rumbling upstairs, I woke from my grief. At a snap of my fingers, my visage switched to Sam. As I lay on the chair facing William, I could feel the emotions harder than ever. As I stared at the lifeless body, the stream would not stop, yet no sound came out.

Adele, in a surprisingly calm manner, came towards us. Looking at her father, she grasped the cold, white hand, putting it on her cheek, kissing it and laying it down. Seeing the smile on his face, she kissed him on the forehead before whispering to him.

"Seems you have found peace. I'll always love you... Forever..."

Turning towards me, I saw her red eyes as tear after tear drowned her pained expression. Sitting on my lap, she took my head into her arms, laying it down on her chest. Without realising, I started crying loudly, as she joined me in mourning...

...it had been two weeks. The sky was as grey and rainy as that evening. The funeral was a quiet one. William's children had decided to do a small funeral, with them and only their closest friends... I had also been invited... I knew not what to feel, as in my eyes, I knew the man for a second, while it was long enough to be considered close to them.

People went around paying their homages to the good man... I stepped towards him. Seeing his face in the open casket had turned me once more to a wave of grief as my tears started racing each other, hidden only by the heavy rain. Next to me, Adele took her place, both standing and staring at the wooden box. As it was lowered, she grasped my hand, squeezing it tightly, despite us barely exchanging words.

"Thank you... for being there... in those years, he wasn't alone. As well... as well as that night..." she whispered through tears.

"I have nothing to be thanked about... I sometimes feel like he was the one helping me, and I feel guilty about that... When it should've been the other way around."

"You helped each other... And that's enough for me..." she looked up at me as a spark of light broke through the clouds shining on her face. An angel, I thought.

As we stood there, looking at each other, the clouds slowly dissipated, the smell of wet grass filling the air around us as the sun shone through, lifting the spirits around us. She smiled at me, tightening her grip.

"It seems my father agrees with me. Now, what say you join me for dinner tomorrow? I'd like to know more about how he was."

Surprised, I was left speechless at the sudden mood change she displayed. By that point, everyone left except her brother and his family, who looked quietly at the tombstone.

I had a mix of emotions I never experienced before, but I remembered my friend's request... So I took a leap of faith.

"...Sure. I'd like that." I said, squeezing her hand back.

We both turned towards the tombstone, joining James in remembrance. Everyone turned in for a quiet, peaceful evening at the cabin, talking tales about William.

The following day I met up with Adele as promised. I still remember the cherry colour dress she was wearing, stunning. We had dinner at a good restaurant in the nearby city, a quiet, small, but pleasant location. Before we knew it, the hours faded in. That evening turned into another and then another.

Before I knew it, I was at her mercy, in love for the first time. Married to this spectacular woman. I joined her for her final year at her university. We had moved back afterwards into the old man's cabin. Every day was blessed, and I was grateful, as that period filled the sadness of my real work during the night. I was fulfilled. Vacations, home time talking hours about the smallest things, movies, touches, each passing moment was perfect. Even family reunions were great. I grew fond of everyone. My nephew was one of the smartest kids I ever saw, always wanting to learn more and enjoying every moment with us.

Everything seemed heavenly, for me, at the time until mother nature decided to take its course. Shaking me to the core and reminding me once more of the balance and distance each element of this existence needed to have...