The One

For Whom the Bells Toll

Hi There. So, this is my new work, hope you enjoy.

She is the narrator of this chapter. Meet Rain.

Story Begins

Wayne hated Church. Now don't get me wrong, I am not saying that he hate God or is an atheist. For as long as I remember, my cousin Wayne hated Church. Actually he hated the need of maintaining silence and the preaching of priests regarding it. Wayne preferred noise and when asked to keep mum in the Church, he became rebellious. I remember how at the age of nine he made such a ruckus at the Church that our parents finally agreed to let him be, they never forced him again to take part in Sunday prayer. As for me I liked Churches, not just because of the soothing sounds of sermons and silent atmosphere,  but also because it gave me a chance to get away from Wayne. As a child, I love him but I just wanted to be free from his noisy,  bossy ways. So I preferred this solitude Church granted me. That's why when Wayne demanded for me to stay home with him and play, I told him to knock it off. This led to a fight as he told me that he tried to do me a favor by saving me from becoming a boring goody two- shoes. I told him that  I like going to Church and if he believe that I need his favor , it's his mistake. He again started a fight, shouting and screaming. But what I remembered from the whole tantrum , even after all this years,  that he seemed adamant in saying that he knows the best for me, and I must listen to him because I needed his help to make decisions, for I couldn't be trusted with them, even if I made them for myself.

That statement always haunted me, ringing in my ears, following in my footsteps and it took me  a while to realize that Wayne truly believed his own ideas regarding me. The way he tried to control my life , my friend circle, my vacations, even  my education; truly astounded me. But he did it subconsciously,  believing him to to caring and worried about, its this thing that made it worse. I couldn't comment or complain for he always kept telling me how he worried about me and he didn't lied. He firmly believed that thought making me feel ungrateful and uncomfortable, unable to refuse. It frightened me, my dependent situation,  I started falling in depression , at a loss to how to deal with his good wishes. My family supported him, they too wished and asked for me to be thankful for him and his care. It truly sent me towards a downward spiral,  things fell apart and my centre couldn't hold anymore.

But it all changed when I met them them.

But I believe that I deviated from my first thought, subconsciously of course.  Do you know how one thing could led to others and ultimately you found yourself far away from the starting point. It happens all the time with me, at least in my mind , but... .
Oh, see here I go again. So, where were we?
Ah, yes. Wayne's  hate of Church.  Till now, after nine years after that ruckus, he never stepped back in the Church. But today he couldn't refuse.  Why, you may ask? Well, today being our family's funeral makes it hard for him to refuse.
Our family means his parents and my father along with my brother. My brother Gale finished his college and completed his masters. My father and Wayne's parents decided to surprise him with a visit and to throw a party at home. They went to his college while me and Wayne stayed home to handle the preparation for Gale's homecoming.

They called us, five days ago, to tell us that they got caught in the traffic. It might take them four or five more hours. We shouldn't wait for them and order dinner.

We waited without ordering.

They never came back.

All I remembered of the whole night could be summed up in one word - nervous. The later days could also be defined in a single word - numb.

I never felt attached to my family, specially after my grandfather's death. My mother too remained a mystery to me. She, as they told me , fell into depression and committed suicide. I never remembered much of her, until I came to know the truth about everything. Still my family , except Wayne who loved causing me trouble,  kept me at arm's length. I felt unattached to my father and brother and they never gave me a reason to feel otherwise.  After my mother's death,  my father realized what a chore it would be to raise me. He took my brother and left for his new job, in the neighbor city, leaving me with his brother and his father. My uncle and aunt worked together to pay bills, thus it became my grandfather's duty to raise me and Wayne. His death,
when I turned ten, wounded me. Wayne's parents gave him the needed support,  while I..

Oh, look! Here we go again. I am sorry for boring you. It's just their death, though we remained almost strangers, made me realize that I am finally alone, in this world,  except for Wayne.

Oh! Yes. The bells call for attention. Now, the service ends, it's time for burial. I couldn't dally anymore, no more daydreams till the ceremony ends.

The bells ring again.
I loved the sound of bells, loud and beckoning. Its almost soothing,  metallic and sonorous,  grounding people in reality,  bringing them out of their thoughts. Have you ever thought of it? How bells, no matter where and when could bring us back to our senses? The bells of Church,  of Temple,  of school,  of even mobile; they all possess the ability of breaking whatever trance we find ourselves into.

Ah!!
Yes, yes! No more weird thoughts.  The bells toll for attention.  It's time.