The Spirit's Lament

Chapter one ==> A room filled with grief

 

I promised to myself that i will never walk on this streets again, but here i'am breaking my promise as i'm going down the road. Memories flood back like shadows, haunting me at every turn. Each corner i pass feels like a dagger, a painful reminder of the laughter and love that once filled this streets, now twisted into echoes of  hurt.

Here it is, the most painful challenge that i was trying so hard to avoid, passing by my old house. The burned walls amplified the ache in my heart, and i stood still for few seconds looking at it: „when did this beautiful house turned into ruins?" i whisper.
So hard to look at, so heartbreaking...i know that i will never come back here after the funeral.

I see my best friend Molly across the street waving at me, she's dressed all black with a hood on her head. I can tell that she's in pain, her usually vibrant eyes are now clouded with sorrow, her hair, normally flowing and radiant, now hangs limb and dull and her face features contorted in anguish: - You made it! Molly says and hugs me. - I'm so sorry for your loss...i say not knowing what else can be said on such moments.

Her house turned into a funeral home with candles everywhere and roses all over the windows along with black curtains. The casket that rests with her sister's body is placed in the corner of the room surrounded by people:

- How are you holding up? i ask.
- It's just how it is..the cycle of  life, Molly says as she takes a plastic cup and adds water from the dispenser.
- How about Anna?
- My mum's not doing well, the truth is, she hasn't left her room yet.
- Do you want me to talk with her? i ask.
- No it's okay, she just needs some time alone to grieve.

„Alex, come here right away!" a annoyed voice can be heard in the crowd.
 
- She yells at my cousin, he's just too energic for a funeral and she can't put him to sleep, Molly says as she takes a bite from a croissant that was left on the table:
 
- Who are all these people? i ask looking around.
  - Just family, that one in a red shirt it's my uncle, and the old lady in the corner drinking wine it's my nan, and the cherry on top, the woman who yelled a minute ago it's my aunt. 

„I've known Molly since we were little, but her family tree is huge but i've never seen this people in my life.„ i say to myself.

- I have to go check on my mum, would you be okay alone? Molly asks and stands up.
- Yes sure go ahead! i say.

Everyone was grieving in their own way, some were crying and some laughing as they remember the beautiful soul of Jenna and how beautiful and energetic she was.

I find my way to the casket in the crowd and the smell of  burned candles and roses fills the air around me, heavy with the weight of melancholy.

Jenna's body lay down, dressed as a bride, her pale skin contrasting with her purple lips.
The soft lighting cast gentle shadows across her face, while the hands were folded around her chest adorned with a single white rose.
„Poor Jenna, you left us so soon" „It's like she's alseep" people were saying around me.

I look at her for a long period of time, i only met Jenna few times because she was an introvert but as far as i can tell, she was indeed, a very good girl „may your soul rest in peace" i say and place a rose in her casket.

-No! Mother!! A boy yelled from outside.
I rushed to see what was going on and i see Molly hugging her cousin:
  - It's ok Mathew!
  - What's going on, Molly? i ask reclining down to see what was going on.

Molly moved aside and i see her black cat dead on the porch:
  - How did that even happened?? I ask.
- I have no idea, maybe it fell from the balcony.
I felt a weird wind coming from inside so i look back at Jenna's casket and say - We need to clean the porch, there are blood stains on the stairs! - Come on Mathew, Molly says, let's take you inside.

I grab the mop and start cleaning after the cat was removed, and as the silence absorbs the room i hear footsteps approaching me:
  - Cassie, hi! Anna says and hugs me.
- Hello! How are you holding on? I ask her and stoped to catch my breath.
- Very hard ...i found the courage to come downstairs but seeing my daughter there...Anna starts to cry and i hand her a tissue: - I'm so sorry...if you need my help i'm here...

Anna looks horrible, her hair is messy and her eyes are covered in dark circles „poor woman" i think to myself:
- I'm sorry Anna but i have to go, it's getting late, i said grabbing my coat from the table.
- Where are you going? Anna asks
- At the hotel.
- I don't even want to hear, you came from Ashgrove all the way to Crystal Bay just for my daughter's funeral, Anna says grabbing my coat from my hands, you're staying here!

I wasn't really thrilled about sleeping in the same house with Jenna's dead body downstairs but i can't refuse Anna, she's in pain and maybe my presence here will help.
I nod my head in approval and force a smile in the corner of my mouth:
  - I will stay here then, thanks Anna!