Raven took one last look at herself before walking out of her bedroom to go to David, who was waiting in the living room. She wore a plain knee length black skirt, paired with a long sleeved black blouse and black low heels. Her hair was pin straight and she hadn't bothered to do makeup. Raven's eyes brimmed with tears as she walked to the living room to find David in similar attire.
He stood up when he saw her enter the room. David walked towards Raven and stood a mere two inches away from her. Raven looked up at David, a single tear streaming down her face. David brushed it away instinctively and she collapsed against him, asking one question over and over: why? She needed to know why Phoenix could be gone, and what actually happened to Phoenix. There was no viewing, just a funeral which let her know that whatever had happened to Phoenix was tragic and beyond painful for him.
"That's not a question I can answer."
"But you were notified... they didn't tell you what happened?" Raven choked out, tears flowing in a steady stream down her face.
"There's no next of kin for Phoenix, and since I'm not family no one could tell me anything. I had to make the identification." David said lowly, shaking his head, tears threatening to fall, the weight of his lies growing heavier on his shoulders with each passing second.
"I wouldn't feel any better if I knew.... I just wish he wasn't gone. Not like this."
"I know...we'll get through this. He wouldn't want us to fall apart over the what ifs." David said, his heart racing as if it were about to explode. He hated lying, and lying to Raven was something he didn't know how to do. He wanted so badly to tell her the truth but knew he couldn't. He was a dead man if he told her that Phoenix wasn't dead, but rather stuck in London because he wasn't properly conditioned to the job.
" You're right... I just can't believe he's gone. The last thing we did was argue."
"Love, he knows that you only argued with him because you loved him and just wanted him to stay home after being away."
" You're right...we should get going."
David nodded in agreement and led the way to his car, opening the front passenger door for Raven. He went around the car and got into the passenger seat and drove to the church. As he drove, Raven reached over and held his right hand tightly, trying to remain composed. Guilt overwhelmed David in that moment, knowing that he was lying to Raven and devastating her more with each moment that he kept this awful lie alive.
They arrived at the church and the funeral procession went by in a blur, Raven clinging to him in the church discreetly. She didn't want the attention that this being seen would bring, but she needed the emotional support. After the service at the church, it was time to drive to the cemetery. Raven and David walked out of the church and were greeted by Trace McVey, an office employee Phoenix was fond of. Trace shook David's hand vigorously, and then turned to Raven. He took her hand in his, and offered his deepest condolences. She nodded and mumbled a thank you as he turned to walk away.
Raven walked to the car quickly, trying to maintain her composure. As she waited, out of the corner of her eye she saw David talking to a tall, well built man. He wore dress pants and a creamy white sweater. His glasses had black frames with square lenses. The conversation was brief, and David seemed to materialize into the driver's seat of the car.
"Who was that?" she asked quietly staring out the window, her face expressionless.
"That was Scott. He works in the office. Why do you ask?" David looked over at Raven and felt a twinge of jealousy burn in his chest.
"What does he do?"
" He's just an office assistant, mainly files paperwork." David says flatly. David started the car and started to drive to the cemetery.
" I was just wondering. I've never seen him before." Raven mumbled, turning to look at David.
David drove to the cemetery silently, rain coming down heavily making it hard to see. Any other time, Raven would have been terrified. She would have pleaded, "Please be careful" any other time, but not today. She stared into the windshield, praying for things to be different. David drove for an eternity it seemed, and they were finally at the cemetery. He shut the car off and they sat parked for a moment. He turned to Raven and took her hand lightly in his, "It's time."
"David I'm not ready...this can't be real" Raven whispers, eyes welling up with tears again.
"I'm so sorry."
They got out of the car and walked to the grave, arms linked. They stood among the many who listened on as the eulogy was given. Raven was composed through this, but then it was time to lower the casket into the grave. Her heart broke as the casket was lowered, the other attendees throwing a handful of dirt into the grave. When their time came, she buried her face in David's suit jacket and fought down a scream of pure agony as her and David released their handfuls of dirt. They walked away from the burial site, getting back into the car silently.
"Love..."
"Please don't ask me if I'm alright David...please. Just take me home."
"Raven don't push me away like this." David says, driving slowly in the direction of Raven's house.
"David I just lost the love of my life... how am I supposed to feel, David?"
"You're right... I'm sorry."
They rode the rest of the way in silence, and when they pulled up to the house Raven threw her arms around David.
"Thank you for everything David."
"Of course." In an instant, Raven was gone and David slumped over the steering wheel. He broke down, tormented by the pain he had caused.
He drove to his house and laid on the couch, collapsing from exhaustion.-
YOU ARE READING
Deception
القصة القصيرة"Love, relax. Christ, what has gotten into you?" He says, his hands gripping your shoulders tightly, trying to calm you down. He pulls you close, your head buried in his chest. You cried out, refusing to believe that he was here. You pushed him awa...
