Secrets of the Pier

Chapter Four: Something "Off"

It was nearing nighttime, and I was in my room, the place where I spent the majority of my day. I was growing really tired of this whole mourning process, so I tiptoed downstairs to sneak some junk food in before bed. Of course, my parents had to be plopped right at the kitchen table with wine glasses in their hands. I was about to return to my room and call it a night but then something about their conversation made the hair stand up on the back of my neck.

"Don't you think there's something a bit off about Chris?" My mom faced my dad.

"What, just because he wants to get Ava cremated? Lynn, lots of people get their loved ones cremated. It's not that out of the ordinary." My dad leaned back in his chair.

My mom looked down. "Ted, could you ever picture us... you know... cremating Rachel? Because I certainly couldn't..."

"Well, of course not. But maybe that's just how it is over there."

My mom rolled her eyes. "Oh please, you're telling me that that just isn't a little weird. And then that coupled with the fact that he wants to do it so soon. I heard he was planning on a couple of days. There's something very off about that."

My dad paused for a second. "Listen, I'm just trying to give them the benefit of the doubt. I mean, they just lost their only daughter. I don't think anyone is prepared to deal with that. And maybe that's just a way of coping with the loss. I mean our daughter lost her memories as a way of coping for christ's sake."

I quickly spun on my heel and snuck back upstairs. That was my cue to leave. When I was finally safe, I leaned against the door of my room and my mouth dropped open. I couldn't believe what I had just heard. Their cremating Ava- my best friend. And in two days?! I had to say goodbye. All I wanted was to say goodbye. And that meant taking action as soon as possible.