Fiona's POV:
Today's the day.
The day of Grandma Helen's funeral.
My chest felt like it had been stabbed with a sword... A cold feeling enveloping my insides and making me go insane. But, still, I put on a smile as we arrived at the small Catholic church.
Dad wore a black suit with a pink tie patterned with small flamingos. He didn't usually dress up for ocassions so that was his only one. I'd have to buy him one for Christmas this year...
Terrie, as always, was way too over-dressed. She wore tall silver heels and a tight fitting black dress with some mascara. God. That made my veins bubble with anger. How could she dress like...like some kind of whore at my Grandma's funeral?! I don't care if that's how she always dresses! Dad wore a suit even though he's practically allergic to any kind of formal wear what so ever!
I try and calm myself down by picking at the hem of my black dress. I didn't understand why people wore black at funerals. Why not wear something brighter? I'm sure Grandma Helen wouldn't like us looking so upset and dark.
The three of us hop out of dad's Ford and make our way towards the inside of the small white church. "Fiona? Are you okay?" Dad asks me as we step inside. I take a slow, deep breath and ask him, "Dad. People give speeches at funerals right? They talk about how they thought of the person?" Dad nods his head slowly and I let out a sigh of relief. I was going to make sure this funeral made Grandma Helen happy...
After what felt like hours of the preacher going on I decided to tune out. I was so nervous. After a few more minutes the preacher finally finishes, "And now if you wish family members may come up to talk a little about Ms. Helen Smith Granville. Granville? I'd forgotten that was her married name... I think Katherine mentioned a teacher named that in one of her letters.
Slowly I look around to see everyone's heads bent low. Was no one going to speak on Helen's behalf? "Well then I guess-" I cut the preacher off, standing up from my place, and walking over towards the podium. I look straight ahead to help get rid of my nerves until I reach it.
"May...May I speak?" I ask. The preacher nods and moves away from the small stage where the podium is located. I stand before it and look on to the small crowd that have come to seen Grandma Helen. They all stared at me.
Their eyes are glimmering. Are they holding back tears?
Slowly I clear my throat and begin, "Grandma Helen-No.Gramms." I would call her by the nickname she was so happy to hear right before she died.
"I don't really know that much about her now," I confess. The words just spill out, naturally, "But, if she's anything like she was when I was young, she...wouldn't be happy with all this," A few people look at me with a confused stare and I have to clear my throat once more. "She'd want us to be happy today. To rejoice that she has finally left behind the pain she felt her last months of living. That she has ascended into heaven!" I say.
"Gramms was always so kind. She put others before herself and would always try to make you laugh even though she may not feel very well herself...." I trail off, my chest contracting painfully. "She'd... want us to remember her...with smiles." The church grows quiet and my eyes begin to blur. Don't cry. Don't cry. I look up slowly to see the crowds faces.
They. Were crying.
Tears. Falling down their faces without anything holding them back. I smile sadly at them all and feel a single tear roll down my face. "Smile" I whisper, and then I walk back to sit beside a moved Dad and Terrie. Terrie had grabbed the nearest thing to blow her nose into which, just so happened to be, dad's flamingo tie. I laugh at the sight and soon, everyone joins in.
As I laugh I feel something cold press into my shoulder. Looking up, I see a faint blue figure smiling at me sadly. Her long hair falls down almost to the floor from where she floats in the air. Her eyes are dark and deep, as though she has been through many hardships. And through her back are a pair of bright angelic wings, fluttering slightly, as though to keep her in air.
"Mom..."
Her hands hold mine carefully. "I'm so glad. I'm so glad." She repeats over and over again. Blue tinted tears fall down in drops down her face. "Mom?" I ask lightly. She looked so fragile in her angelic state. Like even a small breath could blow her away.
She pulls away slowly and rummages with her wings for a bit. When her hands come back to hold mine I feel her drop two things lightly into my hands before she begins to shimmer. And then fade.
I look down at my hands to see a feather from her wings. The feather seemed so graceful and delicate yet fierce and strong too. It was very confusing so I put it down, into my dresses pocket. The other object was a small marble. It was a faint yellow color. Why would she give me a marble?
It felt as though there was so much sorrow and passion and love in it. How could I tell that? And why was there now a twinge of sadness piercing my chest once more? Quickly, I stuff the marble away into my pocket also and walk back to the Ford Escape.
Dad and Terrie already sit in the front seats. "Hey" I wave as I step inside, closing the door. They remain silent and the only sound in the air is me struggling to put on my seatbelt. "Fiona Helen Richards..." Dad starts. "That...was wonderful," I stare at the back of his seat in confusion, "What was?" I ask. "Your little speech back there. Remember loved ones with happiness, right?" I nod and then realize he can't see my face.
"Your mother..."
I jolt with a start. Mom? What about mom? But, he doesn't say anything more and I slump back into my seat sadly. We were going to stay in Forkstoll for a few more days and I was determined to find out what had happened to Alex and mom in this small town.
