Another parent.
Mom… now Dad.
Last time, the rain fell, and I stood by Mom’s grave until I was drenched. I couldn’t leave. I did the same thing now, unable to leave with the other guests who were departing from the cemetery.
My eyes were fixed on the grave. The dirt had been laid, and Dad buried. He had a beautiful ceremony with close to a thousand people in attendance. It was like a state funeral.
The closest went to watch the burial. That included all his men who were left after the battle, and me.
There were so many people around me, but I felt all alone. So very alone.
It was worse than when Mom died.
This was worse.
It was worse because they were both gone. Because it felt like I’d just found Dad only to lose him. I’d just started to understand him, just started to forgive him. As I’d hung from that rope, I’d willed myself to make it, so I could take care of him for the rest of his life, however long he had left. I saw me doing that and having more time to make up for lost time. I didn’t realize that I would have to say goodbye then.
I’d said goodbye forever to him and Millicent, both in the same day.
Millicent’s funeral was on Sunday.
I’d also had to practically say goodbye to Luc no less than twenty-four hours later.
I couldn’t believe that after all we’d been through, this was the result.
A whole week had passed since Luc’s sentencing. He’d been transferred to the Metropolitan Correctional Center, and we still weren’t allowed to see him.
We had visitation planned for two days’ time, but it felt like forever.
Two days, then once a month.
Once a month for the next three years and one month.
God…
This was hard.
It was all hard.
Someone put an arm around me. I looked up at Marcus and nodded. I’d cried so much over the last few days that I had nothing left in me. I was an empty well of nothingness.
“Come on, pet. It’s time to go.” He glanced up at the rain as it came down heavier.
“I can’t leave. Not yet. I don’t want to say goodbye.”
“Pa, I’ll stay with her,” Claudius offered.
Gigi came up to us, followed by Max and Sinclaire.
“I can stay too,” she said, reaching out to take my hand.
“Us too,” Max offered, and Sinclaire nodded.
“Well, I guess I’m staying too,” Marcus intoned, pressing his thin lips together. He held his umbrella over my head. “Raphael would have my head if I allowed his girl to catch a cold.”
That did it. Hearing that made me cry the tears I didn’t think I had left.
I practically collapsed into his arms, crying all that was left of me, for everything.
