the funeral

    the quietness at the reception was almost eerie, you could feel the tension in the room. if one of them started crying, the rest would too. you loved your mother, you were very close with her. your father wasn't around, and your mother was very stressed, but she clearly loved you. you appreciated what she did for you. however, she fell ill. the doctors couldn't figure out what was wrong with her, so the best they could do was prolong it. you stared at the casket, the detailing so small and fine you would have to get really close to see it clearly.

you looked around at your mourning family, faces solemn and sad. almost everyone was there. it was almost amazing to see everyone there, the family hadn't all been in the same room in a long time, not to this extent at least. there were lilies and roses in vases, giving the otherwise grey and bland room a little color. the room smelt clean, but also a little musty. it was kind of stuffy in the room, and it felt a little too hot.

first was the lunch, there was some soup and some sandwiches, some salad. it wasn't as quiet as before, and a little bit of the tension was relieved, however not totally gone. there was a quiet murmur of conversation. the room was cold and you could feel goosebumps rise on your arms and legs. you didnt have much of an appetite, and it seemed the same for everyone else. when the time comes, people make their speeches. tears were shed, and a few sad smiles were shared.

the casket was now open, revealing your mother in a dark dress. her eyes were closed, and you could see they put some makeup on her. you study her features, her cheeks now sunken in and her skin a much paler color than it was once before. as much as they tried to hide it with makeup, there were dark circles under her eyes. you feel yourself shake, overwhelmed with emotion. you wish she never got sick, you wish it was you instead.

your hand meets the edge of the casket. you shakily inhale as you lean in close, a tear rolling down your cheek, you whisper:

"womp womp womp..."