An hour after my dreadful address, my dead parents were set inside a coffin following all the strict Christian ceremonial rules and regulations.

They were then taken away to the burial ground where everyone gathered and bid them one last farewell.

I eyed them as the workers lifted their coffins up and set them inside the large pit hole dug out freshly.

I came forward to shower the mud over the coffins now laid down. I could not believe that they were gone for real but it was the reality and I had to deal with it even if I could not.

Anna Maria hugged me to herself as the coffins disappeared from my view under the mud.

A little rain shower followed right after. People started leaving the place, heading to their respective games.

Ramona had no care of the world as she roamed around, speaking away how she had to prepare everything all by herself. It was in a way giving people the vibes that I did not know anything about.

So once the main events of the funeral were over, I did not wait there one more minute to entertain those sick-minded people who faked sympathy and headed up to my room.

Closing the door behind gave me a little peace, getting away from the crowd always felt calming but right then my mind was far from being calm.

I sat down and picked up the nearby photo frame of me and my parents. I was in between them, mom was smiling, looking beautiful as always, daddy was not smiling, looking like he always did.

I had spent my entire life with them. The outside would be alien to me. They did everything for me. They never allowed me to do anything that needed the expertise of any kind.

They had made my life so easy, so bright but now that they were gone, I did not know what my life would be like from here on.

It was just so disturbing to even think that I had no mom or daddy…I could not call those names out anymore.

I traced my forefinger on the photo, repenting for my loss…seeing no future, whatsoever.

Now that I recall my mother’s last words, how much concerned she was about me and Josh’s relationship. It was only because she wanted to make sure my future was secured.

I hated the feeling of being so dependant on someone else all my life. First, it was my parents and now that they were gone, it would be Josh.

They had arranged everything for me for the rest of my life even when they were dead and not here anymore.

I pasted the photo frame to my chest as I laid down on my bed. I tried to close my eyes, trying to think about all those times I spent with them.

Now how sadly, it would all forever be in my memories. Their presence…their essence would forever be embedded in my mind..my soul and bones.

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The next morning, I did not know when I was fast asleep the last night when the funeral party was still ongoing in downstairs.

I had no idea when it was over. Not that I cared. I felt like I cared about nothing anymore. It was not good but maybe my mourning stage was not over yet.

I felt like giving up and let on the bed all day but I knew better than that. I could not do any of that.

It did not mean that since my parents were gone forever, my life was over. I knew a lot of people would be thinking that way but I wanted to prove them all wrong…so much…

I got up from where I was laying and for the very first time, I made up my bed, pulled the bed sheet straight.

It felt weird to be doing things that I had never done in my life ever before but now I knew that I had to get used to doing certain things by myself, and not depend on others for it.

I readied my own bathing water and got inside the tub, cleaning away the remnants of anything from the day of the funeral.

If I would have called out for Anna Maria, she would have done all of these all by herself and not let me do any of it but I needed to wake up and learn a few things from now on.

After the cool bath, even though my mind was still in a frenzied state, I got myself ready in a simple baby blue Gucci dress and let my hairs loose as I descended the stairs to face the world all by myself this time.

I was going downstairs knowing, fully aware that my parents would not be there to greet my eyes.

My father would not be there to read the newspaper, sipping from his cup, his usual black coffee.

My mom would be missing from the seat beside him, asking me about my day’s plan.

I was driven out of my reverie when I saw Anna Maria talking to some men in suits, carrying suitcases by the front door.

I was not aware if we were expecting visitors at that moment but from the sound of Anna Maria’s voice, I could feel like something was wrong.

Without wasting much more time, I climbed down and headed straight to where they were all gathered.

Maybe they were people from my dad’s office, wanting to discuss the terms of the future of the Rutherford industries.

I knew that my father hated the idea of me getting involved in the business but now that he was not here and he had no one as his heir other than me, so it became my soul’s responsibility to deal with it.

So I braved up myself and confidently walked towards them. The officers greeted me, the moment they saw me. Anna Maria stepped sideways giving me the central position.

“What do I owe you gentlemen giving me a surprise visit in the very morning??”

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