Mrs. Ruby didn't cry like other widows often do at their late husbands' funerals. Instead, she appreciated everyone who attended.
Rose, on the other hand, didn't bother to attend to anyone; she simply stood by her father's coffin, shedding tears and receiving sympathy from her friends and loved ones.
After the funeral, the family returned home just before the heavy rain began. Rose retreated to her room, her primary comfort zone since her father's death, while Grandma Goldie went to the dining room to be served dinner.
Mrs. Ruby, who had been holding herself together all day, finally broke into tears after locking the door to her room. She could no longer contain her emotions. Everything in the room, which she had once shared with her husband, reminded her of him.
***
As Rose entered her room, painful memories of her father flooded back. Overwhelmed, she dashed down the stairs to her grandmother, who had just been served dinner. Rose threw herself onto her grandmother, crying. Grandma Goldie gently patted her back, trying to soothe her.
"Rose, you know he was also my son. This day was always bound to come. What surprises me is that I was here to witness it," she said, her voice steady and tear-free. She had always been a strong mother, having lost both her son and her husband years ago.
After comforting Rose, who now sat beside her, eating, Grandma Goldie said, "I'm sure your mother is up there, sharing her heart with the souvenirs she kept from your father and other cherished memories."
Rose smiled through her tears. "I'm sure she misses him more than I do; they spent so much time together."
"Yes, dear," her grandmother replied briskly. Then she began to stroke Rose's hair, saying, "There are some things you just have to let go of, like your father's death. Don't allow it to weigh you down too much. Just as everyone has a time to enter this world, they also have a time to leave it. You should try to live life to the fullest, sweetie."
After a pause, she continued, "In honor of your father, you must ensure you reach the places he couldn't — where he hoped to go but never did — and live up to his expectations to make him proud."
---
Ruby sat in her room, staring at an album filled with pictures of her and her late husband. She closed her eyes tightly as tears streamed down her cheeks, recalling the last moments they shared before his death.
#. "Elliot! Elliot, I can explain! Please wait!" she pleaded, running after him. But he didn't stop; he kept walking as fast as he could. Ruby finally caught up to him, ready to reach out, when he suddenly halted, gasping for air and clutching his chest. #
A loud knock on the door jolted her back to reality. She jumped from her seat and quickly wiped her tears away.
She opened the door to find Rose standing there. "Mum, I came to check on you. I hope you're okay."
"I'm fine. There's no need to worry about me," she replied, trying to control her tears. Rose looked into her mother's eyes and could tell she had been crying. Although Rose wasn't close to her mother, she understood the deep affection Ruby had for her late husband. Feeling uneasy, Ruby gently attempted to close the door, but Rose stopped it.
"Would you like to have dinner downstairs?" Rose asked softly.
"I'll come downstairs later," Ruby responded, finally closing the door behind her.