When Mark arrived at Stephen's house, Stephen's mother updated him on what happened,he went to Stephen's room and found him crying,he looked terrible, Mark couldn't take it anymore,he run to his the parking garage ,got into his car and cried,he was helpless.
Stephen's parents understood Mark, they were also helpless and didn't know how to comfort their own son, they wouldn't possibly blame Mark but they were worried about their own son at the same time,he hadn't eaten anything but they were helpless and couldn't convince him to eat something.
Mark was still crying when he suddenly remembered that he was supposed to try comfort his friend and not lock himself in the car and cry like a fool,he immediately alighted the car and got in Stephen's house,he met Stephen's parents on his way to Stephen's room but didn't say anything to them,he looked at them and they nodded at him.
He went into the room, there was no need for him to knock because Stephen wouldn't open it,he found Stephen on the exact place he had left him thirty minutes ago,he was helpless,he didn't know what to do,he just stood staring at his friend.
"Mark,why is she that selfish?"Stephen said to him bringing him out of his trance, but he didn't understand what his friend was trying to say,"Mark, she promised that she will spend her entire life with me,we had planned to grow old together and watch our grandchildren together but she wasn't a woman of her own words,she broke the promise,I thought she was a good person but now realize that I was a fool,"Stephen said while sobbing,"I couldn't have believed her,she makes a promise and then leaves just like that,"Stephen continued.
Mark finally understood what Stephen meant,he was blaming Marion for leaving but it wasn't Marion's fault,who would liked dying?"Stephen, Marion loved you so much she wouldn't leave you willing, I know if she was to make a choice , she would want to be with you,"Mark tried to comfort him.
"Mark,you also want to turn against me,you are taking her side,I thought you were my friend,"Mark didn't wish to speak anymore,it would be better to keep his mouth shut or else he could possibly lose his friend.
Finally it was burial day, still Stephen hasn't accept the fact that Marion has left,he was in great denial,he felt like he was in a dream world,he made himself believe that he will wake up and find that it was nothing but just a nightmare.
Many people attended Marion's burial, family, friends as well as Stephen and Marion's workmates but still Stephen refused to believe that she was gone, Stephen still hoped that Marion would appear suddenly and he would mock everyone.
The priest presiding over, asked everyone present to view the body, Stephen hurriedly went to view thinking that it would be someone else's body but unfortunately, it was Marion's body,he had cried form the time the doctor announced Marion's death until he started making himself believe that everything was just a nightmare.
When he saw Marion's body in the coffin his whole body crumbled,his entire body weakened,he would no longer support himself,he fell on the ground but he didn't experience the pain he thought he would experience from the fall.
Mark has been observing Stephen's every step,he was aware of his sudden denial, he didn't know how to make his friend believe that his wife is gone and gone for good, he was behind Stephen, when he saw him look in the coffin a disbelief look appeared on his face.
Stephen whole being was falling to the ground slowly, Mark was quick and caught him before he landed on the ground, the moment Mark caught him , Stephen started screaming and asking Marion what he did wrong for her to leave him but Marion was already gone and couldn't here what Stephen was asking her.
The coffin was about to be lowered to the ground when Stephen broke out of Mark's embrace, he ran towards the coffin and hugged it like his life depended on the hug . Patrick, Pauline and Mark had really a hard time trying to get him to stop hugging the coffin.
All the others who have attended the funeral watched him helpless,Many of them knew Stephen,he was a very cold and approachable person,his single stare would send guusebooms on someone's entire being but they weren't suprised breakdown,who wouldn't do the exact thing that he was going if he lost someone there loved genuinely, two years haven't been over yet from the day they got married,it was really heartbreaking, but it was fate,no one has the power to control it,it doesn't even announce it's visit.
After Marion was buried, Stephen locked himself in his bedroom for days crying,he refused to eat,bath nor sleep,he spent all his time mourning for his dead wife.
Patrick and Pauline tried to persuade him to eat and get rest but it was all in vain, Mark also tried to talk to him but Stephen didn't listen to him, they would only camp near his bedroom and hope that he will come out of his room soon.
This to continued until Patience, Patrick's twin sister who was in the hospital taking care of her husband visited them,she pitied all of them,"how many days has he locked himself up?"she asked them,"from the day Marion was buried,"her twin brother replied.
She was shocked for a moment before she remembered that Stephen's daughter survived,"where is his daughter?"she asked again,"she in in the nursery,she is with her nanny,"Pauline replied to her sister-in-law.
Patience knocked on Stephen's bedroom door she didn't wait for him to reply,"Stephen, I know it wasn't right for Marion to leave,I can understand what you are going through now,but think about you daughter, what If something happens to you, you aren't taking care of yourself, your daughter will grow without both parents, what will you tell Marion...,"she didn't finish what she was saying, when the door was opened.
"Where is Stephanie?"he asked no one in particular, they looked at each other and wondered who Stephanie was,"Where is my daughter?"he questioned, they now understood who Stephanie was.
When Marion got pregnant and went for a pregnancy scan, she discovered that she was carrying a girl, she has decided to name her Stephanie, Stephen went to the nursery and spent time with his daughter,he was happy but also tired.
Stephen,if you want to take care of your daughter, your should also take care of yourself,you have to eat and have some rest first,"his Auntie advised him,"sure auntie,"he replied, Patience have asked Pauline to request the chef to make porridge for Stephen when he opened his bedroom door.
Stephen ate the porridge,went to his room and took a shower,he wanted to rest ,he didn't think that he will be able to sleep but to his suprise he slept for seven hours, everyone was overwhelmed, they thanked Patience .
From that day on, Stephen with the help of his parents has been raising and taking care of Stephanie his daughter,he was his motivation.