“So.” She typed a few things in her computer. “Will you be doing a viewing and service?”
“No, I just want him to get cremated.”
“Okay.” She typed in the computer. “Your husband has been ID’ed as Jovanis Durell Page. Date of birth is December 2nd, 1992. Is that correct?”
“Yes.”
Henrietta picked up a manilla folder and grabbed a few sheets of paper. She clipped them to the clipboard, grabbed a pen, and passed it to Irish. “This here is an identity verification form that I need you to fill out. This is to signify that the body has been properly identified and is ready to be cremated.”
Irish began filling out the form. She was so frazzled that her handwriting was shaky. All morning, she’d prepared herself for this and now she felt like she was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Jovanis was gone, that much she knew but filling out this paperwork made everything a reality.
“So, while you fill that out, I’ll continue asking questions. Now, what do you want him to wear?”
Irish and Cali shared a confused expression.
“They wear clothes during cremation?” Cali asked.
Henrietta nodded. “Yes, ma’am, or you can choose to have him wear a standard gown that we provide.”
Irish felt a headache emerging. All of this was too much. As if she was encountering an out-of-body experience. She still found it hard to believe she was planning Jovanis’ cremation process.
“Um…” Irish swallowed hard, feeling a heat flash coat her body. “I-I guess uh—”
“You can just put him in the standard gown,” Cali answered for her.
Irish was so thankful for her interception since she’d suddenly drew a blank.
“Great.”
Henrietta typed some more. She then stood. “Let me go grab his things. I’ll be right back.”
Her heels tapped against the hardwood floor as she made her exit out the room. Irish filled out the form, fighting back the images of his lifeless body laying in her arms.
“You okay?” Cali questioned.
Irish shook her head, not having the will to lie. “No, I’m fucked up.”
Rubbing her back in a soothing motion, she assured, “I know this is probably the most difficult thing you’ve ever had to do, but you have people who are going to hold you up.”
A faint smile covered her mouth. “Thanks ‘cause I’m going to need it.”
Henrietta entered the room carrying a bag. “This here are the items that were recovered from the body.”
Irish put the clipboard on the desk and grabbed the bag with Jovanis’ possessions. Her eyes became cloudy, distorting her vision until tears cascaded down her cheeks. She pulled out Jovanis’ beloved Rolex, his diamond earrings, and Saint Laurent wallet.
“Thank you.”
Henrietta smiled at her. “Of course. We’re here to ensure that you don't have to worry about a thing when it comes to this. Now that this is filled out, we can start the process of cremation. It will last anywhere from one and a half to two hours. Oncedone, the remains will be left to cool then grounded down and placed in an urn. When that happens, we will call you to pick them up.”
Irish bobbed her head, still looking at Jovanis’ belongings. “Um, his mother will pick them up. Let me write her number down.”
She wrote the number on top of the form she had filled out.
“Alright, I’ll put that in the file.” Henrietta smiled.
“Okay, thank you so much.” Cali stood.
Irish followed suit and the two shook Henrietta’s hand. The woman then escorted Cali and Irish to the exit.
