Purple Roses

Chapter 35 - Somewhere Only We Know

It's been three weeks since it all happened... James and Mum made a good recovery, Mum still needs a bit more rest before she goes back to work, but James seems to be doing well, albeit still a bit upset from what happened, which we all are.

They managed to recover Oscar, he's been cremated, just like Luca and Dad were. Mum handed them to me yesterday, she said she couldn't bear to look at it and I should be the one to bury it.

I know the place. How could I not?

I begin the stroll, the sun is shining bright in the sky. Almost everyone rejoiced at the news of the freedom of the Shadownites... but... Oscar.

That's the reality of the world. People die every day, but for most people, it's just a normal day. Everyone is out, taking in the hot summer sun. Chatting and laughing. Then there's me, silently walking through the streets carrying a little tub full of ashes and a shovel.

Almost nobody even notices me, all blissfully ignorant, enjoying their day.

I eventually reach the forest path. I must have been on this path a million times in my life, so many memories of picnics and bike riding and everything.

I find the specific little makeshift path that Oscar and Luca made. I stagger up it and when I reach the top I once again come across the tree. The old tire is still hanging strong. The old oak still smiling up at me.

The dirt that I placed over Luca is still fresh. I did not want to be digging another one.

Alas, I have to. Dig, dig, dig. Every time I plunge the cold metal into the soil, another memory flashes through my mind.

In what feels like forever, the hole is finally dug out. I carefully place the tub into the hole. I decide to do what Oscar did with Luca, I rip a purple rose from the nearby grass and I chuck it in before I begin filling the hole back up.

When it's done. I spy two rocks sitting near the tree. I haul both of them and place them both at the top of each pile of dirt. A makeshift tombstone, unmarked, yet also saying so much.

I place the shovel down and kneel in front of Oscar's little makeshift grave.

For what feels like the first time in forever, I just sob. I can't remember the last time I cried, let alone cried hard. I just let out all the emotions that have built up over all of these months. The last thing I did with Oscar was yell at him, I practically blamed him for all the things that happened- he must hate me, what kind of person am I? Did we even do the right thing?

I don't understand why people think violence is the way, how they think that cutting people down is right.

All I know is that both of these people which I see before me on these tombstones were very brave and very noble.

I'm proud that they are my family.

I gaze up to see parts of the massive, evil wall in the distance being demolished already. The end of an era of violence and bloodshed. I really want to make a promise to myself, right here, right now.

I want to dedicate the rest of my life to looking after Mum and James, while obviously doing my own stuff of course, those cars won't fix themselves, might even move onto aircraft, I'd love to build them. Either way, I want to make sure they're both alright. I know they're physically fine now, but I know they are all still hurting. I didn't think this would be so bittersweet, at least not when Luca and James first walked through the door, and even though it may have led to some absolutely tragic moments, I'm happy they both walked in that door, because it led to the collapse of the empire. That's a legacy most only dream of having.