Why do people cry at funerals?
Is it because they lost someone, they loved the most or is it because they are afraid that they will forget the dead person as the time passes?
Death is not indeed so scary how people made it look. A person died means he is deleted from the earth, but no one is trying to agree with this simple fact, so they made it look so painful. I suppose they made it hard since death is a one-time experience. It's not like people can die twice and share what they saw after death or how the afterlife works. Now most people in this modern timeline don't believe in the afterlife theory due to the so-called science so they need proof for everything. If you ask me, I believe that afterlife exists, but I don't want to meet the people whose funeral is holding today in the afterlife because I know who they really are."I, the daughter of Loris Deane and Evelyn Deane, wants to draw your attention for a couple of seconds. Loris and Evelyn were well-known people to you, and I appreciate you all for coming to this funeral, giving the last goodbye to them. They sure left a remarkable spot in your heart, and they were such an angel to you. Rest in peace to them. " The crowd is mourning at the funeral after I finished my speech. It's pathetic how they are every good thing to these people but me. I know they were great with their fellows, cousins and others. They made a great reputation in the public and why not? They wasted all of their time to create the image of admirable position, and the effort made them forget how a family works. The worst part is no one will believe me if I say how hard it was for me to keep them satisfied.The coffin... two coffins are now gone.Most of the people assured me that everything is going to be okay while others are telling me what kind of angelic parents I had. There are also people who came to the funeral just to give a check on me because they felt sorry.
"That damn brat didn't even cry at her parents' funeral.", an old woman mumbles while going to the parking lot. She must be one of my parents' clients because I once saw her at the office, and this is the second time we met but her words are sharp. That's the moment when reality hits me and everything goes blank.
My parents are dead.
It was their funeral where I didn't cry at all, not even for once. Now I've really become a damn brat to the public. I know they expected me to cry or break down so that they could comfort me, but my parents weren't that great for me to cry for them. All I feel is pity for them that they could've been real parents. They made me realize that there is no such thing as a happy family alive on earth. People just say they have a happy family to hide the amount of struggle they are going through. After all, everyone loves to play hide and seek with their emotions. The last thing my father told me before starting their journey to somewhere they didn't tell me because they thought it was useless me knowing their location was how much he loathed my wide smile. The tone which he used was irking also, as if he had taken a bitter gourd smoothie. Living with them was not a trauma but a whole hell. They know they made home a difficulty for me which made me wonder sometimes if they really felt me or not.
Did he know he'd say something awful to his own daughter before his death?
Would he still do it if he knew it was our last interaction?
It was an unexpected wreck that caused their death, but I don't think they have any regrets at all. They must be laughing at me from hell after making my life a mess. My parents who were angelic to others made my life a living hell where I had to have the career they had chosen for me, where I had to obey their every tiny demand, where I had to give away my childhood just to satisfy them, but they never were pleased. My father, Loris Deane, was a person full of arrogance while my mom, Evelyn Deane was a calm and collected person. They both were happy with each other but why don't they like me at all? They never smiled at me or asked my opinion about anything or let me lead my life how I wanted. It'd been a year since I started her life as a CEO of a travel agency and yes, of course, it was also a forced desire of my father. Would a girl on her 23rd birthday ever intend to commence to work on her father's company as a CEO? I doubt it's a "yes". I had to work as an employee there while preparing for my exit examination. As soon as I graduated, he appointed me as a CEO of his beloved company because I gave him the most suitable concept which made Fika, the company, to increase its popularity. I made that concept because I wanted them to be pleased to have me as their daughter, but I didn't know they'd make it my career. Now that they are gone, I thought for a moment that I could be the one I wanted but I'm still the CEO of Fika.
Everyone left after giving me some sorrowful look. I wanted to yell at them that I'm not so miserable as they think, rather I'm confused with my own feelings or emotion, but they are gone. It's great that everyone left otherwise the looks would be too suffocating to bear by anyone in my situation. The churchyard is empty and there's only me and the graves. I want to spill out every single word that is messing inside my head as though it was a tornado but all I can do is stare at the name plates. "Were you ever satisfied with having me?", I didn't want to but that came out of my mouth before I intended to.
"I thought they were pleased.", a deep manly voice spoke behind me. It came from a few inches farther than I heard some footsteps. I looked back and it's my grandfather. I thought everyone left after the burial, but it seems like I was wrong. He stands beside me, and I noticed that his hair is darker than before and his skin is glowing. I speculate he did some skin care stuff but dying hair was unexpected.
"You dyed your hair for the funeral?", I ask him while being shocked.
He gives me a side-eye for only 2 seconds then turns to the grave, "I've aged doesn't mean that I'm old. I should maintain my attractiveness for good."
"It's your son's funeral.", that's a prompt response from me.
"It's your father's funeral.", that's a prompt response from him.
We both go quiet for a long minute, staring at the grave of my parents as well as his son and daughter-in-law. He is still persistent like ever with those dark gray beard and black hair which he dyed before coming to the funeral. I don't want to admit it, but he is good-looking, and he knows it too well. Unlike my parents, my grandfather loves me, but the problem is he never says it out loud. He is annoying, we both give each other the silent treatment, we argue in the politest way and the thing we both have in common is we both despise my parents at the same level which is uncountable. The only good childhood memory I have was with him and grandma, but she died when I was 6 which made grandfather forget what his happiness is. He loves grandma too much that he spent the whole year keeping himself isolated inside the mansion. The love between my parents and the love between my grandparents are different which anyone can notice if they try to. My grandparents always kept each other first and never thought about being the public image but they became one because they both were successful in life. Although my grandparents weren't that much into this reputation, my father had egoism due to the public which ruined the whole family. I know he wasn't a good father, but I wonder what made my grandfather hate him so much that he dyed his hair to look handsome at his own son's funeral.
"Why haven't you left yet? The funeral was over long ago.", I asked him.
"I still have an hour before my flight to London, so I wanted to show-off my attractiveness even if it's his funeral.", he is looking at the grave while responding me.
"The media must've noticed you dyed your hair.", I said it because that means he will fall into some disgusting rumors.
"That means many people are going to be aware of how handsome I look. I better be careful while attending the flight.", he finally looks at me.
Is he serious or is it a matter of jesting which I didn't get at all? Of course he is my grandfather. "So. Funny.", not funny at all. Did he let out a smirk or was it a hallucination? I'll take it as an illusion because we are at a churchyard where I'm looking at my parents' grave again after rolling my eyes because that small smirk irritates me even if it was for a few seconds. He is still looking at me which irks me more. "How did they die, Riley? I know I'm not that fortunate to kill my own son.", he asks me. "You couldn't kill him even if you wanted to.", I looked at him again, leaving my glance from the grave.
"That's why I said that I'm unfortunate.", he cleared his sentence and the meaning properly. So, he would've killed his own son if there was a chance, which is pretty impressive.
"So, tell me how they died, Riley?", he asks the same question again.
I let out a heavy breath knowing it'll take time that makes him focus on my words more. "It was a wreck. They both went to a restaurant for a meeting, and they were about to go somewhere after the meeting. They didn't tell me much, but I assume it was a long journey because their body was found in the road which went between the mountain and as far as I got to know from the investigator, Loris was drunk, and he was driving. Evelyn wasn't drunk but I know he didn't let her drive. They said it was vital, but they didn't say why it was vital." Of course, they wouldn't tell me about anything which is vital to them.I look at grandfather and he is processing the information then he looks at me with a serious face but gives me a sarcastic response saying, "What a polite way of calling your father by name. I'm truly amazed by it, Riley." I rolled my eyes because although they were my parents, they never were good at parenting and I'm pretty sure he knows it too well. He gives me a neutral expression and says, "They are dead which is good news for me. I'm satiated and it matters the most to me right now." Oh, I can clearly see how contented he is hiding it under the neutral face. He asks another question after checking his watch, "What are you going to do?" I look at him with the same neutral expression and replies, "The only thing I can comprehend is the side of life I'm going to face will be veiled and clandestine. An isolated, daring and wild side where I have to be calm, clever and cold like an iceberg." He makes a face when I said iceberg, "Don't be like an iceberg. Your grandma hated it as it was too cold for her." I roll my eyes and nod a little, "Don't worry. I still have emotions."
He looks at his watch again and then me, "I should probably head for the airport. I have a flight to catch." I can fathom his worry and follow him to the parking lot. The 2minute walk was in a comfortable silence and the best part is we both know it's comfortable. We stop in front of his car, but he looks back at me, not opening the door. "Are you checking if I'm alive or not? Well, I am alive.", I said it because normal questions like 'what happened' or 'I'm fine' were extinct between us a long time ago. He doesn't answer my question which is making me annoyingly curious right now but I'm not going to ask again because I've already asked, and he didn't answer. We were standing there for a long never-ending minute. It is like he is waiting for someone, but he is not telling me who. A black expensive car pulls over in the parking lot and I can recognize it too well.
Isn't that my car? Alena, my personal assistant, comes out and makes her way to me as if I was going to commit a crime. I didn't tell her to come here because I wanted to be alone at the churchyard for a while but how did she know....
I looked at my grandfather, widening my eyes because he is the only suspect I can find currently and as he was waiting for someone and delaying time, but he actually didn't want me to be all alone by myself which is utterly wrong since I chose to be companionless for a while.
I'm stunned indeed, "You can't parent me right now. I'm a damn grown-up and I obviously know what to do." He didn't hear me, or I'd say he acted as if he didn't hear me. When Alena stands by my side, he gets into his car and opens the window looking at me while reversing the car. That's the smug face, the face that irks me even more. He looks at Alena before driving away and says, "Don't let that kid be all alone by herself. She was cursing at those graves."
Before I can answer anything, he drives away. I wasn't cursing at those dead people even though I was at the stage of cursing. The day was already confusing for me but now all I can find is irritation. A soft voice plays inside my ear, "How long are you planning to stay here?". I follow it and catch Alena glaring at me with a boring look. If it were any other secretary, I would fire them right away, not because of glaring at me but also ruining my peace and not letting me be alone at least for a while. But it's Alena who is my only friend and companion that veritably comprehends every side of mine and stays with me at my weakest moment. I, looking at the now empty space and softening my voice says, "Alena, you don't need to give me company for some matters like this. You can just leave me excommunicated for now".
"I'm fine on my own, it was not more than a funeral", she said without a delay after my statement, "I'm your assistant. I can apprehend that but, furthermore, I'm also your friend. Don't forget it was you who selected me to assist." Alena shrugged," You have to endure it now." I look down and nod slightly, "I am, for sure, enduring you. "A deep breath came out of me before looking at Alena. I know she is just like those obstinate toddlers that demand for ice cream and stay mad till their wish is filled. I don't want to protest anymore, so I changed the subject otherwise it'd be unbearable, "So what is the next task?". I think she also didn't want to take the old subject further since she exhales the air that she was holding onto, "Prepare yourself. I suppose your journey is going to be hard". It has always been hard which is why I'm not petrified at all. I look at her, "But not as horrendous as the discourteous relatives that came to the funeral just to watch if my parents were truly dead for why I broke down or not and went away by giving me a pitiful look." I get a small amount of relief because the funeral was troublesome, but work is work. It has to be kept respective by no means which reminds me of a saying my grandmother made, "A reminder that I can't forget is life never lets you have what you want rather always provide with you the need from which you have to earn what you desire."
Alena put a small smile on her face and looked at me after she discerned what it conveyed with those hazel eyes that spoke cold and distant features, "Our next target is Island Elysian. It's a peerless place but none went there as a tourist. I wonder what the reason would be?"
I replied nothing except raising my eyebrow slightly. Alena read the file on her hand quietly and then explained the upcoming event in a more understandable way, "We are thinking of setting up a branch of our company. For that, we have to go there as a tourist and see what's stopping that unparalleled place to be a tourist attraction place. If we are more than providential, we would be able to open the branch which would be also marked as the first branch of our company." She took a deep breath and trembled slightly looking at the sad and scary atmosphere around. She met my glaze and requested quietly, "How about getting into the car and going to our residence? We need to strengthen our mental stability to prepare ourselves."