The darkness. You can see nothing from the dark, but surely, there's much to observe within it. The black smoke, which drifted in the shadows, hid beneath the lights and lurked from the deepest corners, waiting for the right moment to engulf you.
The spirit of death, where do they go? Is there any place to go after the body expires? Will the soul perish with the body too? How long will they linger in this world? Do you believe in life after death? Do you believe in heaven or hell? Has anyone ever witnessed that and returned to tell the tale?
The ghost, how can they free themselves from a bond after losing their life? How can they find peace if the death was unjust? Ask the dark matter, where would you take me to?
.....
The sun shines softly. It breaks through the wide-open window, passing through the white checkered curtains and entering the room.
A gentle breeze blows, lifting the lightweight double-layer curtains that flutter calmly. The sound of the wind, with all its whispers, is faintly heard, accompanied by the morning birds chirping and the flapping of wings as they dart from one branch to another.
The wide window open invites the sun and the fresh air to snuck in. The room is located on the second floor of an old building at the end of a large road. Yet, the complex is rarely traversed by vehicles, making the atmosphere so peaceful even though the sky has been bright for some time. However, that day, like the other ordinary days here at the complex, since dawn, vehicles have arrived with people dressed in black, stepping out with sorrowful faces. The wind blew some cold flower petals from the bouquet lined up from the main entrance to the building. Show the huge condolences from the relatives and friends of the deceased.
One by one, dozens of people enter the classic old building, which has one large hall for events and two smaller buildings at the back. One of them is the two-story building where the room is located.
The soft wind flew right into the room, swaying the beautiful curtains and smoothing the bright brown wavy hair which was almost transparent in the light. The naughty wind poked the flawless white cheek from the wide smile, from soft peach-colored lips. With white teeth neatly arranged, and a pair of rabbit-like teeth formed beautifully from a warm and calm smile.
"Here, it's done."
His hair is slightly wavy, and somewhat long, reaching just behind his ears. His pale white skin is smooth, with a pair of light brown eyes that glisten in the sunlight. A slender nose and full plumpy lips. The sunlight danced with the invisible golden dust that flew around his beaming face. So lovely.
Someone, something, sitting behind the light, in the shadow right in front of him. An elderly woman, with completely white hair, smiling so wide to look at what has the young man done to her.
"Oh, this is very nice, young man. Thank you for finishing it," the old woman says in a deep voice. She smiles widely. Her wrinkled lips do not diminish the beauty of her bright smile, which shines like the sun.
"Dawn! Are you ready?" The voice from outside the room made Dawn, the young man, turn his head. He smiled widely upon seeing a beautiful woman looking into his room.
"Em, just a moment."
The woman was Emily Cardian, his little aunt. There was a fifteen-year age gap between them, and she was still single.
Emily was already dressed neatly, wearing a white shirt with a black bow tie and a fitted knee-length skirt. Her long, curly hair was tied back low at the nape of her neck, with a simple white pearl clip on top of her head.
"Don't take too long; the guests are starting to arrive."
Dawn smiled with shining eyes. He nodded.
"Of course, Em, I'm ready, just a moment."
Emily then stepped away from the bedroom door. Dawn turned back to the guest he had just seen, but she was no longer there. The knitted bunny hat, which he had helped finish, lay on the table. A pair of white wool baby shoes with a black bunny head that was very adorable. Dawn picked up the two tiny and cute shoes, likely for a newborn. They had found them in the old woman's hand when she fell, and the family decided to place them with her.
Meanwhile, inside one of the funeral rooms in the front building, the same old woman lay peacefully inside a beautifully carved white coffin, as if she were smiling happily. One by one, family members came to see her face for the last time, holding back tears until they broke down, unable to stop crying.
Dawn stood not far in front of the coffin, holding the two knitted shoes in his hands when a young woman and her husband walked by. They both looked at Dawn, who stood as if blocking their way. The young woman noticed what was in Dawn's hands. The tall, thin young man opened his palm to show the pair of knitted shoes he had just finished.
"Here, I was asked to deliver this," said Dawn. A young couple who looked very mournful furrowed their brows. They looked at Dawn and then at each other. Was this young person in front of them joking?
"This."
Dawn smiled.
"Pardon me, my hand wasn't painstaking enough, it isn't perfect. I did my best to make it just right. This is for your first son, Charlie. Your mother has been knitting it for the past two months, but because her eyesight isn't good, she always feels sleepy whenever she is about to finish it. And in the end, she left a little bit unfinished at the head…"
Dawn hadn't even finished his words when the young woman broke down, unable to hold back her tears that flowed freely again. Her hands trembled as she reached for the tiny shoes from Dawn's hands.
"Mom," there was an initial C on the back of the shoe. Indeed, the left shoe's doll head was slightly different from the right, though it wasn't very noticeable unless you looked closely. The woman took the two tiny shoes and hugged them.
"Mom, you haven't even seen your grandchild. What now?" she cried hysterically again. Her husband, the man beside her, had to hold her tightly as her body collapsed on the floor from her grief.
"My dear, be patient, calm yourself,"
Dawn just stood in his place. He didn't feel sad or anything at all. He didn't know what it felt like, what sadness was.
On the other hand, Emily, who served the guests food and drinks, turned around.
All eyes turned to the front where the woman crying and sitting on the floor. Dawn just stood not far from her. Emily glanced at Pops, her father, standing on the other side of the large room. The old man looked at Emily and then at Dawn. It seemed both were already accustomed to what had been happening with Dawn all this time. It was no longer something strange.
...
"Death, might not always be the end.."