Lydia

Chapter 16 "Bonds"

Lydia

The bells were ringing mourningly, they could be heared into the whole cemetery accompanied by the priest's words and some people's cries.

I turned my head to look at Persephone, she was still crying desperately for her lost son. Right and left of her were her two daughters, Eugenia and Athena. They were crying too by their mother's side. Maybe they were the only people who were crying there.

When we stopped in front of the grave in order for the undertakers to put the coffin inside it, I turned to see the others.

My parents had sad expressions on their faces, not so much about their son in law, but for me. They wondered how I would manage to survive alone with a child.

My sisters were worried for me too, but they were a little sad too about Andrew. If only they knew what I had been through with him one and a half year..!!

I saw Vicky looking at me encouragingly. She sent me an encouranging wink and a small smile. There she was, giving me strength again.

I had phoned her early in the morning and told her what happened. She was completely shocked as everyone. She came before Persephone's arrival and helped me to cover my bruises with her makeup.

Thank goodness I looked better.

The understakers started putting Andrew inside the grave.

"My son!!" Persephone exclaimed crying

I swivelled around to see Eugenia and Athena trying to hold her back. She probably wanted to run to her son's side.

My sweet Persephone.. my sweet mother.. I thought tearing

It was the first time I teared today and not for my dead husband, but for his mother, my mother in law. That innocent and sweet woman.

When they put him in the grave, I walked in front and threw some flowers in it.

Widow's duties.. I thought ironically

I stepped back without saying anything. Now it was Persephone's time to do the same.

"Goodbye my beloved son.." she mumbled crying

She started walking back but instead of her previous position, she came to my side and hugged me tightly. I hugged her back.

"My daughter.." she cried "We lost him my daughter.. he is gone.. my son is gone.."

"I know mother.." I said "Don't cry please.. everything is gonna be okay.. you will see.."

She didn't say anything. She just cried.

I saw that behind Persephone were standing her two daughters, both looking at their mother sadly. We exchanged a look of sympathy. Actually because of the bad new, me and my sisters in law hadn't found the chance to talk more and get to know each other.

The funeral finally finished after a few minutes. Everyone started coming by my side and expressing their condolences to me and Andrew's mother and sisters.

Actually only a few people had come to the funeral. Except from my family and Andrew's, the only people had come were Vicky, John, Sofia, Phoebe, two neighbours, Helen, George and Rudolph Fischer, the German general with his younger brother. They were Andrew's bosses.

Nobody else came, even his friends or some old co-workers. Everyone had started hating him since he started working for Germans. Nobody wanted to talk to him, even members of his family.

Not that my friends came because they liked him. They had come in order to encourage me and be by my side, especially Vicky.

Also except from the Fischer brothers, nobody else from his new work had came.