Xangsburgh

Introduction

Crunching the snow as it rolled along, the Jeep Ranger travelled through the misty morning air as it crept through South Memorial Cemetery. Dimitri always thought it was strange that they named it the "South" Memorial Cemetery, as it was the only one Xangsburgh had.

He wound his way up the hill the cemetery was set upon and stopped fifty feet from the tomb he was heading for, parking next to a massive tree. It looked like the tree in Forest Gump that Forest and Jenny climbed. Kids came all the way from town to climb this tree. Dimitri himself did so when he was younger. When he was eight, he had fallen off that tree and sprained his wrist. The way the tree appeared in that lighting, Dimitri knew it belonged in the cemetery.

He walked past the tree, placing his hand on it as he did, and kept going up the hill to where there was a large tomb.

The tomb was ten feet tall and about nine feet wide and surrounded by an iron fence. There were roses painted on the sides, and a large rosy pink cross on the door. In the cross, which was inset a little, there was the inscription:

Molly Allison Dutchmen

August 5, 1993 - December 17, 2008

You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence."

Acts 2:28

Dimitri approached the tomb with a rose in his hand, and opened the gate to let himself in. Feeling the cold air brush his face, he shivered and walked up to the tomb. He reached out and touched it with his palm, feeling the icy reminder of the air around him, then leaned against the door and slid to the ground.

Even though the sky was still a misty fog, he looked up at it

as though it weren't. He was trying to avoid looking at the tomb and was hoping that this had all been a bad dream, and he would wake up. But he knew that if this were a dream, It sure was a long one, and very realistic.

When he realized that there was no use looking up, he looked down at his feet.

Taking a deep breath, he said, "Aly."

He felt a chill down his back saying her name after so long.

"It's been a year since . . ."

He couldn't say it.

"Things are different without you. I'm so lonely. Jules tells me I should get out spend time with people. I know he is just trying to help, but I can't help getting annoyed with him. I don't feel welcome anywhere. The only places I go are church and work, and even there, I can feel everyone looking at me. They have long stopped asking if I'm all right. I can tell they didn't believe me when I would say yes. It's just so. . ." His voice cracked. "Strange."

He put his face in his hands as his palms pooled up. A freezing gust dried his eyes, and he took a deep breath so he could continue.

"The house is empty. Hallie asks why I don't just move if it reminds me of you so much. But that's just it. The house reminds me of you. If I were to move, it would feel like I was trying to forget you. I never want to forget you."

Dimitri looked down at the red rose in his hand. "I got this for you. They are your favourites." He stood up and kissed the rose, as though the rose was his last link to his dearly loved one. Then he set it down, leaning it against the door of the tomb. Dimitri stood there in silence with his head bowed for a few minutes as the freezing air moved around him, making him feel colder.

But he didn't care. He wasn't going to be talked out of this by the weather.

After a few minutes, he looked up and, with tears in his eyes, and his voice shaking, said, "I still do, and always will, love you, Aly." Then he kissed his hand and touched the tomb door.

And with that, he turned around and walked out of the gate, flinching at how cold the metal was, and closed it back. He past the tree where he had sprung his wrist as a child, and back to his Jeep Ranger, tears trailing down his face.