Random Oneshots

ii. C#2: When Are You Coming Back?

https://m.youtube.com/shorts/jfocOXLcSJM

I didn't understand.
Why was everyone so sad?
I looked back at everyone behind us because we sat at the front. I saw people crying. Everyone was wearing black, and they were super quiet.
"Booooring!" I giggled quietly.

Mommy shushed me while the people carried the box up the steps.
Why did they have to carry it up? It looked hard.

They put it down on the grass at the front next to an old man with a big beard. He was wearing black too.
I wanted to laugh, but I knew mommy wouldn't like it, so I stayed quiet.

The old man said things about passing on and Death. What was Death? It sounded fun! Anywhere daddy went was fun.
I liked the parts where he said daddy was nice and kind, though. That was great!

Where was daddy, anyway? He should be here to listen to the nice old man, right?

It was a long time before everyone left. My and mommy stayed, though. People said sorry a lot. I wonder what they were sorry for.

Daddy still wasn't here.
"Mommy, where's daddy?" I asked, tugging on her hand.
She said, "Sweetie, daddy's over there." She pointed at the grassy area.

I ran over quickly, giggling. I spun in a circle, but I couldn't see daddy anywhere.
"Daddy, are we playing hide and seek?" I giggled. He didn't say anything. "That's not fair! You didn't tell me!" I laughed.

I searched for him for a long time, but I couldn't find him. Daddy was good at hide and seek. "Aww, I don't want to play anymore. I can't find you! Daddy, can we get ice cream now?"

He didn't answer. I got confused. "Oh, it's fine if you don't want ice cream then. I-"
I was cut off by a loud sob. It came from mommy.

I ran over as quickly as my little legs would allow. "Mommy, what's wrong?"

"There's nothing wrong, sweetie." She smiled at me through tears.
"Then why won't daddy talk to me?"
She sniffled. "Sweetie, why don't you talk to him first, and then he can talk to you later?"

I nodded and ran back into the grass. Big round stones were sticking out of it.

"Daddy! Look! This stone has your name on it! That's so cool!" I pointed. I wheeled around. "Mommy, can I have my own stone someday?"

Mommy looked sadder. "Only when you're grown-up, sweetie. And you've achieved everything you want in life. Then I'll get you a stone."

I nodded quickly before turning around again.
"Anyway, daddy, mommy says you don't want to talk right now. That's okay. I'll talk to you until you want to!"

I sat in front of the stone. "I don't know where you are, daddy, so I'll talk to you here, okay?"

Daddy didn't say anything.

"Well...I hope you have a nice time at Death. I think it sounds like a very nice place. Will you come back here when you get back?"
My questions remained unanswered, but I didn't really mind. I knew he could hear them.

"Death sounds fun, daddy. Why couldn't you take me with you?"

I thought about what mommy had said.
"Ooh, daddy! Do you think I can get my own stone someday? Mommy said I could."
I shuffled closer to the stone.
"Daddy, yesterday, mommy said you're not coming back. I don't believe her. You promised, you said you would always come back. That's why I know you'll be back here one day."

There was no answer.

"Well, I get it. I'll stay here every day, so then when you come back  I'll be here. I love you, daddy."

The third day. "Don't tell mommy I told you this...I think mommy's sad. I think mommy wanted to go with you to Death, too. When are you coming back?"

The first week. "Daddy, I hope you come back soon. Mommy's been crying a lot. I think she misses you."

The second month. "Daddy, why won't you come back? I guess you're just too busy having fun."

The fourth month. "Daddy...hurry up! I know Death is fun, but I'm fun too, right? It's sad here without you. It's been so long. When you come back, will you get ice cream with me?"

The last day – 7 months and 9 days after the funeral.

"Daddy...I think mommy was right." I sniffled. "You're not coming back, are you?"

He didn't respond.