A game I can't lose

Anniversary

It's been a year. December the 30th, 2021.

12 months since Alejandro Sanz met his end.

In all truth, Jordan never really knew her dad.
It didn't mean that she didn't miss him though.

The last year had a lot going on and at times, Jordan simply pushed her father's memory to the back of her mind.

Of course Jordan was also turning 23 today.
So there would be celebrations as she was staying at the house of Mal's family.

It was conveniently closer to the cemetery where her dad was buried.

So at about half six in the morning, Jordan drove down, to visit a criminal's gravestone.

Convenient indeed.

The air was cold, Jordan was wrapped tight with a woolly scarf and plenty of layers.
A fog had settled, isolating Jordan and her father from everything else.

The tomb read.

Alejandro Pablo Sanz
          6/29/78-12/30/20

                 A forever missed partner and
                                       father

It was pretty basic, Jordan had just realised. Was that deliberate? Or maybe there wasn't much to say.

The tears were now rolling. Jordan had kept this for so long, bottled the inevitable water works.
Maybe she was trying to move on too quickly.

"I see you're here."
Jordan was caught back. Who was joining in a cemetery at this time?

Mallory Pugh. Her fiancée was now in sight, head bowed down in respect.

Jordan turned her head in shame, not wanting to be seen crying.
Although she could be read like a book.

"Hey! It's ok!" Mal whispered, gently tilting her head back to face her and when they shared eye contact, lightly kissed the top of her head.
Grabbing Jordan's hand, she added, "We're in this together."

Glancing to the gravestone, Mal concluded, "You know he would be so proud of you."
"Would he?" Jordan sniffed, still trying to get the tears away.
Mal started wiping them for her, "Of course."
The words were softly spoke.
"We all are."

AUTHORS NOTE: Just to let you know that the next part of the book is probably the last. I hate saying this but my heart's not really in this anymore. If you have any ideas/suggestions, please let me know!