Gracie had just received the news of her parents' passing which she was finding hard to believe.

"No, it's not possible! They just went on a trip, I don't believe it, please tell me it's not true!" She cried out in agony

The person who had come to deliver the news was unsure of how to respond to her, no matter what he had to say she would not be getting the answer she wanted to hear, keeping quiet seemed to be the best option.

Gracie kept crying still finding it hard to believe such a tragic event would occur, seeing the face of the person who had told her about the demise of her parents only brought more tears to her eyes, it was proof that her parents were no more.

Drake, the person who had come to deliver the news broke the silence.

"Your parents' funeral has already been done, they were cremated in their hometown which was where they died, their cause of death was a car accident, and your relatives decided to hold the funeral and cremate them saying it was tradition to hold the funeral the same day a family member dies".

Gracie had stopped crying by the time Drake had started to speak, her not being able to attend her parents' funeral only made her feel worse than she was already feeling.

"The Columbarium where your parents' ashes are kept is located in your hometown, I can take you there if you want to, I know the death of your parents must be a terrible experience but I just want you to know that you have me now, I'm your uncle twice removed, Drake"

"My uncle? Twice removed? my parents never mentioned anything about an uncle who also was twice removed, come to think of it I don't know any information about any of my relatives"

The declaration of Drake being her uncle distracted her from the pain she was feeling, he seemed to notice that as well.

"Ah yes, you see I'm from your father's side of the family his cousin, he doesn't get along with his cousins of the same generation"

Gracie didn't know what to do with the information her uncle had just told her. She was the only child of her parents and with them being no more she had no other person she could call family.

"Are you going to take me in?" her innocent yet broken gaze melted the heart of her uncle.

That was the main purpose of coming to her house yet the answer was not easy to let out. It felt as though she wanted to remain alone in her parents' house but that was not something he could let her do. 'Someone's gotta take her in' he thought.

He crouched down to her, met her eyes and let out the words he wanted to say.

"I know how you feel, maybe not completely but I know. Your parents are not coming back, someone has to take care of you and I'm willing to take on the responsibility, you are still young and you've got your whole life ahead of you, so whether you like it or not, you have to come with me that way your parents can be at peace wherever they are"

The mention of her parents made her tear up. Her uncle had a point, staying in the house would only remind her of how lonely she's become.

"so where are you taking me, my hometown?"

"Your parents are in your hometown, but that is not where I live, it's not far from your hometown anyway so you can visit them whenever you desire"

Knowing her uncle's home was not far from where her parents were made her feel at ease.

"Okay, I will come with you but first I want to see my parents before going to your home"

After discussing with her uncle how things would be at her new home, his house,  Gracie went to pack her things.

She took her time, fully aware that this might be the last time she would ever be in her childhood home. With tears in her eyes, she silently said goodbye to the place that had shaped her, filled with countless memories she would cherish forever.

"Let me help you with your bags, they look quite heavy" her uncle suggested

"Thank you but I think I can manage"

For some reason, she wanted to carry her bags on her own. Carrying it felt like she could take the pain of whatever the world was going to throw at her.

The vehicle her uncle came with was a pickup truck, he assumed she would have a lot of bags to carry which was why he specifically picked the vehicle, and he was right.

After helping her to put her bags in the trunk, they drove off. The drive was silent and Drake wanted to change that, the atmosphere also felt awkward.

"Are you hungry?"

Gracie didn't have an appetite; hearing the news of her parents' deaths made the mere mention of food feel like a cruel reminder of the life she once knew, one filled with laughter and shared meals that now felt impossibly distant. The thought of eating seemed trivial and hollow, overshadowed by the weight of her grief. She let out a small 'no' enough for her uncle to hear.

Not wanting to push her, he chose to let the conversation come to a quiet close.

"We're here!"

Her uncle gestured to the columbarium they had just arrived at.

"I will take you to your parents"

As she stepped out of the car, she steeled herself for the sight that awaited her—a stark confirmation that she was not dreaming and that her parents were truly gone.

With each heavy step she took toward her parents, her breath grew unsteady. Following her uncle, who finally stopped at an entrance, she knew deep down that this was not a dream.

"This is where your parents are now, you can visit anytime you want"

Her uncle gestured toward a glass-fronted niche in the columbarium, where their ashes were lovingly preserved in an urn.

"Can I be alone with my parents?"

She spoke with a tone that clearly conveyed her desire to be alone, and her uncle had no choice but to respect her wish.

She went close to the glass and before going, her uncle gave her a key which could open the glass.

Even though she held the key, she couldn't bring herself to open the glass—not now. All she wanted was to speak with them.

Wiping away her inevitable tears, she began to speak to her parents, sharing how profoundly she missed them and how much her life had changed since their passing.

She promised to visit often, to keep them updated on her journey—both the highs and the lows. Whenever she needed to vent, she would come to them, seeking comfort in their memory.

After speaking with her parents, she felt a lot better than she expected, she decided to live a life that would make her parents proud and not let their deaths be in vain.