THE COLOUR OF LOVE (Wattpadprize14)Completed

Chapter 36 - Funeral

Cherrie stood by her mother’s side holding and supporting her trembling body.  Watching her father’s coffin being lowered into the ground was the most traumatic scene she had ever witnessed.

As the coffin touched bottom her mother let out a heart wrenching cry, that made her shiver down to her bones.

With tears rolling down her cheeks unguarded, and free she clutched the quivering body of her mother, as she gently guided her to the edge of the grave side, helping her toss a handful of sand and a single red rose onto the coffin.

While the choir sang the 23rd Psalm, a movement caught Cherrie’s attention just on the outskirts of the gathering around her father’s grave.  It was just a blurry movement but for some unknown reason it held her attention for a split second.

As the song came to an end Cherrie heard her name whispered on the wind. She looked across the head stones in the cemetery and the blurred vision hovered for a moment. Why did this vision seem oddly familiar?  Again she heard her name whispered on the wind.

Family thronged around them, hugging them and offering their help if and when needed, and the whisper Cherrie heard was gone and so too was the vision.

She held her mother close and guided her towards the car. Cherrie felt empty and lost. Her father had always been there for her as a child. Growing up he was her constant guide through all her difficult times, he supported and encouraged her, even though, at times he didn’t always agree with everything she wished to do.

Her parents were the most loving couple she had ever known and now there was a gap in their lives which would never be filled. The emptiness that surrounded them when they walked into the house was the coldest feeling Cherrie had ever felt.

As friends and family streamed in through the front door to share in the celebration of their father’s life as he had requested, Cherrie could not bring herself to readily enjoy this wake.  She hoped the smile she wore did not look as false as it felt. The cold feeling iced around her heart making her feel light headed.

A gentle wind blew in through the window and gently brushed through her hair.  A feeling of unexplained warmth surrounded her and again she heard her name whispered.  Was she losing her mind or was it just the grief.

She quickly left the room for some fresh air to clear her head, and outside in the garden, amongst the trees she was convinced she saw someone. She called out but no one answered her.

Shrugging her shoulders she turned round to go back inside.

‘Cherrie, I’m here for you’.

She stopped in her tracks and listened again.  Was that Cole’s voice she heard?

“Cole, is that you?” She whispered.

Cherrie stood motionless listening for his voice again. Was she dreaming, or had she really heard his voice?

A gentle breeze blew through her hair and the coldness she had felt lifted making her feel warm and loved.

“Cole, I know it’s you, I can feel your presence. Where are you?” 

“Cherrie, Cherrie Honey, are you alright?” her mother called out.

 “Yes Mom, just needed some fresh air.” Cherrie said, as she walked back inside.

“Honey, who were you talking to?” her mother asked.

“Nobody, Mom, I was just voicing my thoughts aloud.” Cherrie said hugging her mother.

“Cherrie as soon as everyone has gone let’s sit and chat about the future.”

“Mom, there is no need to talk about anything right now.  We have all the time in the world to discuss things.”

“Cherrie, I don’t want you to think you have to stay here, with me forever. You have your future to think of too. You can’t spend your life looking after me.”

“Mom, please, let’s not talk about this now. There will be time enough to discuss the future, but right now I am staying here with you.  I have no plans to go anywhere at the moment.”

Cherrie’s mother smiled and giving her daughter a hug, they walked arm in arm back into the living room.

After everyone left Cherrie helped her mother clear up and they quietly made their way upstairs to bed. Cherrie lay silently by her mother’s side gently stroking her hair until she fell asleep.

As Cherrie drifted off to sleep she felt a warm breeze sweep softly round her, bringing her unexpected comfort.

‘Cherrie, I am here.’

“Cole, Cole is that you?”

‘Cherrie, your father needs you to be strong for your mother now.’

“Cole, where are you?”

‘We will find each other.’

“Cole I will never give up looking for you, never.”

‘I will find you Cherrie, I will.’

Cherrie woke suddenly with the full moon shining brightly through the windows. Her mother wept silently by her side.

“Oh Mom, I am here. I will always be here for you Mom.” Cherrie whispered as she cradled her mother in her arms.

“Cherrie, how can I go on without your Dad?”

“Mom, we will do it together.”

“He left me too soon ….. I was not ready ….. Why?” her mother sobbed.

“Ohh Mom, we will remember Dad’s happy moments, all the wonderful times we shared. That will give us the strength we need.”

“I don’t know if I can ….. Cherrie ….. I don’t think I can ….. Go on living without …. You’re Dad.” Cherrie’s mother sobbed uncontrollably, burying her head into Cherrie’s shoulder.

Cherrie hugged her mother close and stroking her head she whispered softly, “Mom, I am here, I will never leave you on your own.”

Cherrie rocked her mother gently in her arms and softly hummed the lullaby her mother always sang to her when she cried, ‘hush little darling, don’t you cry ……’

As Cherrie continued to hum her mother’s sobs subsided and slowly she began to relax. As her mother’s breathing became softer she gently lay back on the pillows with her mother in her arms, pressing soft kisses on her forehead and stroking her hair, she whispered softly, “I love you Mom.”

“I love you too,” her mother whispered and closed her eyes, nestling into her daughter’s arms.

Cherrie smiled, “We’ll be okay Mom. Together, we will be okay.”