𝐔𝐍𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃 [18+]

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐈

MADISON

"'Live a life full of merits and accomplishments, but not without happiness and love.'

"Something my father used to repeat on and on. And even if he didn't live a long healthy life like some do, it's not necessary for me to say he still lived to his words. He was the most ambitious yet kind-hearted person I've ever met. And it's with honor to say that he lived with a life full of merits and accomplishments, but not without happiness and love"

I try not to let my sorrow show, not let my tears escape from their cages, as everybody stands and applauds for my speech. Eyes full of sadness and grief taking a good look at my stableness as I say my words for my dead father, even though I am the saddest of all in this room.

My life has cramped and crushed that past month. I had finished a year long relationship with a guy I really liked; I had been fired over a not so well paid job, but a good one; and my father had died over prostate cancer. My life had gone down hill. And here I was now, paying my respects to my father—keeping all of my shit together—for him.

My mom decided for the funeral to take place outdoors. Even though I thought and told her it would be better for it to be indoors, complaining that this was a private thing, I now understood why she wanted it to be like this.

My father was a sunset lover, we would often wake up early in the morning to see the sun come out; and then stay hours in the water—while the morning sky opened—until our fingertips were left wrinkled like old people. I was sure my dad's face shone brighter than the sun rising as he saw everything happened.

We were the complete opposite except for our appearance, both with blond hair and green eyes, standing out from Mum's brown hair and eyes. But he was the optimistic one, the positive one, the cheerful one. He always got a smile out of everyone's face, just the look of his white teeth showing in that gold wining smile and funny comments made everybody happy. Including me.

All those memories flood in my mind as I stand there in the stage—giving my speech—with the sun setting just in front of me. There, I saw how my dad would love this view, how his smile would change all the sappy faces in the room into happy ones. But I knew that wasn't happening, not with my dad not present anymore.

"Honey, that speech was amazing" A moss of dark brunette hair hugs me as I finished going down the stairs to the stage. "Dad would've loved it." I look up to see my Mum with glistening eyes as she watches me proudly.

"Thanks mom" I pat her shoulder. Even though I know she hugs me to give me comfort, she is the one that's having it, as I feel tears soaking my black dress.

"You did amazing Madison, I know Jake would've loved it." A husky voice says behind me.

"Oh yeah dear, I found Carson here on the crowd" Mum lifts her head from my chest and wipes her makeup-smudged face as if she hadn't been crying like frantic. I turn around to see my dad's business partner with a comforting smile on his face. He looks much older than what I remembered. His hair now showing a few white strands in the edges of his black hair and some wrinkles are fairly noticeable. He was about my dad's age, early 50s. Dad and him were very close so I can see a glimpse of sadness covered by his smile.

"I'm glad you invited me, Melisa. Jake was one of the best people I knew" I could see by his words he really meant it. Dad would be missed by not only his family but also by all the people who adored or befriend him.

"I brought Aaron, if it's not a problem. I know Jake loved him as a son." Carson gestures to a dark haired man standing on a far corner on his own. Aaron was Carson's first child, a couple of years older than me. We were never that close but I still recall him. Last time I saw him was when I was ten and he left to university in England.