Falling For You Again | cth (Slow updates)

xi

The weather outside seemed to get gloomier every day, yet there was no sign of rain. It was grey and dark the moment I woke up. The leaves were finally withered, softly landing down on the grass, if only we were in the Mid West or West coast, we would go through the winter season, snow would be flurrying down upon California. Peering over my shoulder, the clock displays 6:47 a.m., I had barely gotten a wink of sleep.

I walk away from the window and make my way to my bathroom. After taking a shower, or a bath since I took a long time, I make my way to my closet and search for the dress to wear for the day. In the far end of my closet, I saw my black dress. I take it off from the hanger and place the clothing on top of my chest, I turn to the mirror and look at myself.

I had very noticeable dark circles under my eyes, my skin was very pale, and my lips are very chapped. With this appearance and wearing this dress, it matched the weather outside perfectly.

I looked like a terrible mess.

Sighing, I continued with my routine, fixing my hair and applying light makeup. Going back to the mirror, I had looked better, but you could still see my dark circles through the concealer and foundation. My lips looked less chapped and I finally had some color in me. I sigh and took off my towel that wrapped around my wet skin, covering my top body, then put on a dress.

I leave my room and met my mom in the car downstairs. The ride was silent and I was thankful for it, I didn't want to talk at all.

After an hour's drive, we arrived at our destination. I looked as people piled into the small building. I don't want to go in, I looked to my side, mom places her hand on my shoulder and rubbed it with her thumb. Her face said, let's go. We both got out of the car and walked into the building together, side by side. I saw a couple of familiar faces and many different faces.

But that is to be expected at a funeral.

"Estrella was my youngest child," Mrs. Reyes started, weakly smiling, "She was just a very curious, adventurous. She would do everything on her own without asking for help. She's always been independent, yet very shy. She never grew up with any friends except our next-door neighbor, the Hood family-"

I wasn't paying attention to Mrs. Reyes, my focus was on her casket. Pure white like her skin, inside her casket, was full of her favorite flower, buttercup colored in lavender. Lavender was her favorite color. Suddenly, I was back to reality when Mrs. Reyes called out my name.

"Cassidy Winters was one of Estrella's friends. During her junior year, my daughter was so happy, you could see the joy in her eyes," Mrs. Reyes asked me with a cracked voice and tears falling down her pale face, "Cassidy, dear, can you come up here and say a-a few things of Estrella?"

My insides twisted, I wasn't a relative, why should I even be up there to speak? However, looking at the tired mother, I couldn't avoid it, she needed someone else to speak.

I slightly nodded and got up to go to the center of the funeral home. I look up and see all of her family staring at me, "I-"

My voice cracks, I haven't talked much since she passed. Clearing my voice, I looked back up again, "I first met Estrella in high school, in the music room. She was cleaning while singing, when she noticed my presence, she ultimately tripped over some wires and fell like the klutz that she is, making even more of a mess in the room."

Low laughter filled the silent, gloomy room, "She spoke to me so ecstatically, it didn't feel like it was our first encounter, it was out of the ordinary for me. After a while, we became very close friends, I knew and so did our friends, knew that she always looked on the bright side, never judged anyone at first sight. She always helped anyone in need no matter what and that made her a great friend. Sure, she was a mature woman, but she never forgot her inner child.