The Journal [A Sequel To Maya's Diary]

Chapter Twenty-three

   Today is Daniel's burial and memorial service and I don't know how I should feel about it. I failed him. I knew who was responsible for his murder yet I did nothing about it. I love you Daniel.... I love you so much, but whenever I'm with Edward I feel different. It's like even though I hate him, I still love him in a way I can't explain. I don't know what to do about it.

I am the resurrection and the life, anyone who believes in me will never die.
                               [John 11:25]

The funeral service began immediately after people began trooping in and settling down respectively in the grand hall at the Bryant's mansion. The chandeliers swung on their own frequency and the lights glistened from their little bulbs, brightening up the entire hall. The choral group at the corner, produced a unanimous melodic rhythm; a slow music specific for the atmosphere. Daniel's body had been laid in a polished wooden brown casket with flowers around it and a large framed picture of him beside it. People bore their bouquet of flowers and dropped them around while their eyes carefully observed the shrunken state at which the white lifeless body remained.

Everyone appeared in black; an obvious symbolism of death and loss. Maya wore a black floral dress with a jacket she hung on her shoulders, leaving her arms to swing freely. Her hair was rolled into a bun which she tucked in with a hat made mostly of a net that fell on one side of her face, partly shielding her from the sun rays. She went with Leone as her escort, who on his part, appeared on a black suit and intended making his visit a grand opportunity to finally catch the culprit. She locked her arms around his and both of them each having a rose, dropped it by the casket.

During the service, Leone bent over to pick up the order of service booklet that was blown away by the rotatory motion of the fan just above them, when Maya who sat right next to him caught a glimpse of Edward who arrived with two other men she presumed were also members of the cult. Her eyes got stuck with his and after some seconds, it blinked and settled on Sofia's blonde curls instead.

Everyone stood up at the entrance of the priest and flipped through the pages of the booklet when he began, "It is our solemn duty to carry out, in the traditional manner of God's faithful people, the burial of this mortal body. As we do so, we all trust fully to God from whom all creation have life. May he in due time by his power, bring resurrection with the saints, the body of our brother, Bryant Daniel which in his frailty we now bury. May God unite his soul with those of all the saints and faithful departed. May he be given a merciful judgement do that his soul may be redeemed from death, freed from punishment, reconciled to the father, carried on the arms of the gold shepherd, he may deserve to enter fully into everlasting happiness in the eternal king together with all the saints," the officiating priest read out from his portion in the booklet and raised it up slowly.

"Amen," chorused all of them in unison and they gradually fell back to their seats.

Sofia ran out through the side door and Maya saw an opportunity for a chat. She walked past an array of seats filled with people and called out Sofia's name repeatedly. The Bryant's mansion was undeniably huge. It was then she realised how humble Daniel had been all these while. She walked up the stairs, carefully assisted by the banister and opened up the first door in the hallway which was supposedly his parents'. She tried another and heard light sobs at the end of the room.

"Sofia.. "

Sofia turned and her face had mascara marks washed down to her cheeks with tears. Her lips had a beautiful red lip gloss sparkle just like Maya's. Maya closed the door shut and walked a few steps closer to sit right next to her.

"Taylor, you came?"

"Of course," she replied, opening her arms for a hug which Sofia readily accepted.