the fire between us

chapter 21

⚠️Content Warning: The upcoming chapters will delve into sensitive and potentially distressing themes, including death, funerals, and feelings of loneliness. These topics will be explored in depth and may evoke strong emotions. If you find these subjects challenging or triggering, please take care of yourself and proceed with caution. It's important to prioritize your well-being and seek support if needed. Thank you for your understanding.

This content warning will precede each chapter that includes these themes, so you can make informed decisions about your reading experience. The warning will be removed once these themes are no longer central to the narrative. Thank you for your understanding and for taking care of yourself.⚠️

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After breakfast, the silence in the room becomes almost tangible, each of us lost in our own thoughts, the weight of the day ahead hanging heavily in the air. I sit there, my hands wrapped around the warm mug of tea that Marcus had made for me, feeling the weight of the grief settle even deeper into my chest.

The small comforts—Martinus's hand on my back, Nora's quiet presence, Marcus's calm—are the only things keeping me anchored right now. But I know that this momentary peace is about to shatter. There's something I need to do, something I've been dreading since the call from the hospital.

I take a deep breath, gathering what little strength I have left, and break the silence. "We need to go to Grandma's house," I say, my voice barely more than a whisper, yet it feels like it's echoing around the room. "We need to get her something to wear for the funeral."

The words hang in the air, and for a moment, no one says anything. The enormity of the task ahead, the emotional toll it will take, is something we all understand too well. I feel Martinus's hand tighten slightly on my back, a small, reassuring gesture that tells me he's with me, no matter what.

Nora is the first to speak, her voice soft and full of empathy. "We'll go with you, Y/N. You don't have to do this alone."

Marcus nods in agreement, his expression gentle yet determined. "We'll take it slow, and if it gets to be too much, we'll stop. We're here for you."

I nod, my throat too tight to speak. Their support means everything to me right now, and I know I wouldn't be able to face this without them. I feel a tear slip down my cheek, and before I can brush it away, Martinus is already there, gently wiping it with his thumb.

"We'll get through this," he says, his voice steady and full of quiet strength. "One step at a time, just like we've been doing."

I nod again, taking comfort in his words, even though the thought of walking into Grandma's house, of sorting through her things, feels like an insurmountable task. But I know I have to do it. It's the last thing I can do for her, and I owe her that much.

"Let's go," I finally say, my voice barely above a whisper, but it carries with it the determination I'm trying so hard to muster. "The sooner we start, the sooner we can..."

My voice trails off, unable to finish the sentence, but they understand. Without another word, we all stand, and I take a deep breath, feeling the air fill my lungs. Martinus's hand finds mine, and I hold onto it tightly, drawing strength from his touch.

We sit in the car, the engine humming softly as Marcus pulls out of the driveway. The world outside seems muted, the usual vibrancy of the morning dulled by the heavy blanket of grief that hangs over us. The sky is overcast, fitting for the mood we're all in, the gray clouds mirroring the heaviness in my chest.

I'm in the backseat with Nora beside me, her hand holding mine tightly. The warmth of her touch is grounding, a small comfort in the midst of the emotional storm I'm barely holding at bay. Martinus sits in the passenger seat up front, his gaze fixed on the road ahead, though I can tell his thoughts are with me, just like they've been since the moment this nightmare began.