Waking up was inevitable.
She closed her eyes and rolled to the cold side of the pillow, hoping to steal a few more minutes of sleep. Her body was restless so alas, she sat up and looked blankly around her room.
Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she slung her leg over the edge of her bed, and stood. As she moved closer to the mirror, she notices the enlarged bags under her eyes. Moving over to her dressing table, she picked up her toothbrush, toothpaste and face wash and headed to the shared family bathroom.
Locking the door she brushes her teeth absentmindedly, once she has finished washing her face she pats it with a towel and retreats back to her room. She closes the door and remakes her bed, pulling one corner of cover, to tidy it up.
Sitting in front of her dressing table mirror, she pulls at the blind rope, revealing a large window, streaming natural light. Sighing, she pulls out her makeup draw and chooses her makeup. Simple, yet with a little bit of colour.
She strips off her pajamas and puts them under her pillow. She follows with putting on a bra, and fresh set of underwear. She takes the black dress, hung by its hanger over her wardrobe door off. She slides the material on and slips her black flat shoes on.
Gazing over herself in the mirror she takes the delicate gold locket in her hand and puts it over her head, the locket sits just below her collar bone and starts to un wrap her hair from the pleats previously.
She sits on the edge of her bed, with wavy hair and a heavy heart. Standing as she hears a small knock on her door, her mother stands there with a similar black dress.
The door opened to reveal a slim woman, dark brown hair with some grey streaks, kind green eyes and fair skin. Her smile was outlined with a pale pink lip colour. 'You look lovely Eve' Amber speaks softly. 'Thanks Mom' She replies quietly, rising from her bed, grabbing her phone and jacket as her Mom walks in front, then down the stairs.
Amber unlocks the car and they both climb in. The drive is not uncomfortable, the silence feels more like preparation. Time slows down around them as they finally arrive at the church ceremony. As the car engine shuts off Amber sighs, turning to Eve 'you know as much as I do that, he is at peace, and I know its hard but we are made of strong stuff, just like him, we can get through this.' Holding onto Eve's hand, as she cries a little, she pulls out a packet of tissues from the side door and takes one out for her. Eve pats her eyes carefully, and nods in agreement. 'I know Mom, I know' She whispers, as she feels the tears retreating. Amber opens her door and gets out, followed by Eve.
The car locks, as Eve walks by her Mom's side, they enter the church, where over 50 family and friends have joined together. They walk down the center and straight to the casket. His face, at peace, wearing his finest suit. Amber walks off, to chat with some family, as Eve stares at her Grandfather.
Placing one hand over her grandfathers locket and the other on his hand she feels a strange warmth in her chest. Standing back from the body she bumps into the priest.
'Sorry, father' Eve mutters, 'no need to apologize Eve, It is a sad day for many of the community, you are not alone in your grieving. ' He places his hand on her shoulder and, Eve looks round the room. As Eve takes a seat next to her mother, listening to the Priest's service. There isn't a dry eye as he speaks. Eve, slips her hand into her mothers and holds on.
The service is beautiful, simple and moving. A small group walks behind the casket, as it is to be buried on a family plot. Amber walks behind the priest, followed by Eve and other members of the family. She stands silent watching the lowering of the casket. The prayers and words float by, heard but not listened to. The clouds darken the sky, Eve stands there drained of all emotions, empty, a buzz of her phone in her pocket, brings her back.
She looks at the screen for a moment, Illuminated by her friend Caroline's text message 'Im here if you need me '. Eves mouth twitches into a small smile. People begin leaving the site of the plot Amber and Eve stay till the end an empty graveyard is eerie to be standing in. 'Lets go' Amber says quietly, pulling Eve out of her head. They both walk back to the car. The ride home is as silent as the drive there.
'I must have said "Im fine thank you" to everyone at the service, and I didn't mean it once' Eve confesses. 'The pain isn't going to go away anytime soon, but it will get easier' Amber says parking in front of their house.
Exiting the car, Amber goes straight inside whilst Eve stands in the drive way, trying to breathe, holding back the tears. As she looks up the street a car speeds past a stop sign and swerves, Eve looks in front of her to a tabby cat crossing the road. In an instant her eyes close, not wanting to see what happens. The car crashes further down the road, surrounded by police cars.
Her gaze falls to the tabby cat that hasn't moved from its spot on the road. With no collar attached, she picks up the cat carefully and places her on the grass. Eve pets the cat on its head and tears up a little. She holds the cats paw and the familiar warmth in her chest comes back. Opening her watery eyes the cat shakes its head, its body a little golden and glowing. Eve wipes her eyes and sees that her hands are glowing too.
As the front door to her house opens her Mom shouts her inside, Eve turns, the glowing in her hands gone, and the cat sits by her side, as she walks inside the house the cat follows.'New friend?' Amber mentions curiously, stroking the cats head, 'Yeah, can we keep her?' she replies, giving her Mom puppy dog eyes. 'Okay, then, but shes your responsibility, we can take her to the vet tomorrow and get her checked out though' Amber smiles whilst saying. The tabby cat follows Eve to her room, where she closes her door.
