A Journey Through Love and Loss

Last Night

Ruth's POV

The last night of Avery's wake dawned with the same heavy atmosphere as before. Tyler still hadn't approached her coffin, his grief a palpable force that kept him distant. Tyrone, on the other hand, had already seen his mommy and had been inconsolable, crying and calling out for her to wake up.

Mrs. Sandoval held Tyrone close, gently rocking him as he wept. "Mommy, wake up," he kept saying, his small voice breaking our hearts.

Tyler sat nearby, wearing dark sunglasses to hide his eyes. Silent tears streamed down his face as he watched his son, the pain in his chest growing with every sob. It was clear to all of us how deeply he was suffering. Hindi siya nagsasalita pero ramdam namin kung gaano kabigat para sa kanya ang nakikita niya.

The room was filled with friends and family, all dressed in black as a sign of respect for Avery. Mark, Caleb, Lucas, Analea, and Thalia sat quietly, their faces etched with sorrow.

Analea and I sat together, talking softly about Avery.

"Ruth, I'm so sorry for everything," Analea said, her voice choked with emotion. "I know I can't undo what I've done, but I hope you and Avery can forgive me."

I looked at her, seeing the genuine regret in her eyes. "Avery has already forgiven you, Analea," I said gently. "She wouldn't want us to hold into anger. Life is too short for that."

Analea nodded, tears spilling down her cheeks. "It's just so unfair. Avery was so full of life. She had so much more to give."

I sighed, feeling the weight of her words. "We can never know how much time we have. That's why we need to make the most of it and be kind to each other."

As we spoke, the room grew more crowded with visitors paying their respects. The press gathered outside, hoping for a statement from the Sandovals, but they were kept at bay to avoid any disruptions.

Tyler remained in his seat, still unable to face Avery's coffin. Tyrone, now sitting with Secretary KC, looked exhausted and his eyes were red and swollen from crying.

On the large white screen at the front of the room, a slideshow of Avery's life played. Photos of her childhood, her teenage years, and her wedding to Tyler in London flashed by. There were pictures of Christmas celebrations, New Year's Eve with Tyrone, family moments at the golf course, happy days at the farmhouse, and cherished memories from New York.

Soft sobs filled the room as everyone watched the slideshow, lost in their memories of Avery. I found myself missing her more with each passing moment, remembering all the times we shared.

As the evening approached, it was time for family and friends to speak in front of everyone. Mr. and Mrs. Sandoval were the first to speak.

Mr. Sandoval's voice was choked with emotion as he spoke. "Avery was more than a daughter-in-law to us. She brought so much joy and love into our lives. We will miss her every day."

Mrs. Sandoval's voice trembled as she began, "Avery was like a daughter to us. From the moment she married Tyler, she became part of our family. I saw myself in her, and she took such good care of Tyler and Tyrone."

Next, Avery's parents took their turn. Mr. Miranda's voice broke as he spoke. "Avery sacrificed so much for us, for our company. She was our only child, and now she's gone."

Mrs. Miranda was crying and could hardly speak properly. "F-From childhood, I witnessed how kind-hearted Avery was... She would do anything for her family. I thought everything would be fine after her surgery and that we would still have a lot of time together. I never expected this to happen. A-And I'm sorry, Avery, that your daddy and I weren't there for you during the times you needed us most."