Let the Light Begin

Chapter 2: The Sympathetic Past

      All I can hear is crying, and everyone is wearing black. I don't want to mingle myself in the crowd; I don't know most of them. I did not become aware that my dad had a lot of friends. I am sitting here outside, waiting for them to go home. My mom is busy welcoming the visitors to my dad's funeral wake. I admire how strong my mom was; she did not sleep, and she's crying overnight. While me, even a single drop of tears is none. I don't know why maybe I promise that I will be vital for my mom's sake.

      "Sweety, why are you here?" I look up, and I see an old woman standing in front of me. She is wearing a white dress with lots of gold pieces of jewelry on her body. She has beautiful white hair, she looks old but still young for me.

      "Oh, sorry, sweety, you didn't know me. I am Sweeney, your dad's mom. I am your granny," she said. I immediately bow, but I can't utter any word because I'm shy.

      "It's fine, sweety." She walks inside and hugs my mom.

The next day.

       If a lot of people are coming here yesterday, there are a lot more than that now. I didn't expect our house to be full of visitors; no one visited my dad when he was still alive. Is that what life really is? The people will know you if you are dead.

       ''Annie, go bless your grandma,'' Mom said; I ran towards grandma. She immediately kisses my cheeks.

        ''Do you want to go outside? I have a gift for you,'' she holds my hand and goes to my mom.

        ''Devina, we will have a grandma and granddaughter bonding,''

        ''Sure, Ma, Take care.''

      We went outside and walk into the village. I can see the lines of cars in front of our house. I didn't expect that we stopped here in the park where my dad and I bond. As I look at the place, it is now gloomy and not happy as it used to be. At my age, I should not worry about what happens in my surroundings; I don't know if I am smart or I am just learned from what my dad taught me. He taught me how to be responsible and mature enough cause someday I am all I have.

      ''You know what, Annie, when your dad is at your age, we usually went here, and I am just watching him laugh, run and sometimes stumble. Your dad is very playful, she just shows his real self when I am around him, but when he was with his dad, he is really a different person. Your uncle Henry used to be the best buddy, but your dad took your grandfather's responsibility at a young age. He was deprived of childhood's happiness.'' She looks at me, and I can see her eyes crying. I wipe her tears and smile. She smiled back and continue. ''When I am looking at you, all I can see is my son Bradley, he uses to be like, and now you look like him when he was a child. Too young to be matured. At your age, you should be enjoying your life, playing with other children.''

      She holds my hand and pulled me towards the corner of the park. She opens the bunch of leaves, and we saw a box. She opened the box, a kite? ''Annie, do you know how to play this?'' I shake my head. ''Come, I'll show you how to use this. You need to hold this and wait for the wind and let the kite go but hold this stick so that you can control the kite.''

      I did what grandma told me, and now the kite is in the sky. It was like it flies with the clouds. Suddenly clouds changed and turn into a face. I don't know if I am hallucinating, but I really saw a beginning, and it looks like dad is smiling. Suddenly, I accidentally let go of the kite, and after that, the clouds that look like my dad's face were gone.

       I end up crying and sitting on the grounds looking at the kite that I let go and fading in the sky. All I can hear is grandma's sobbing and the gentle wind. I silently cry, not because I am sad. I realized that I am happy that, for the last moment, I saw my dad smiling at me. I thought I can't cry. It is just that it was so painful to lose a dad, a companion, a superman of my life.

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       It was the light that woke me, it's six in the morning, but the sun is up now. I dream about dad, again. I wipe my face, and I was shocked that it is wet. I was crying because of a dream? Well, it was surreal.

       ''Annie, the breakfast is ready. Come down here.'' I heard my grandma shouting at me.

       I immediately went to the bathroom and washed my face. I look miserable. My eyes are swollen. It was like I am crying all night in my dream. Thankfully, grandma doesn't hear me. I went down and hug grandma. She was shocked at what I did.

     ''What's wrong sweety, why are you look so miserable? Did you have a nightmare?'' I shake my head and just hug her silently. After that, I smiled at her.

     ''No, grandma, I am just thankful that I have you. I love you!'' She smiles and cries

     ''Why are you crying?!'' I laugh so hard because my grandma is so soft. She looks like a strict woman but soft on the inside.

     ''You just like your father that looks like your mother,'' She said and shook her head happily.

       ''It's too early for a drama, sweety, let's eat now'' We both laughed and eat breakfast. I am so glad that even though I don't have my parents, I still have my grandma taking care of me. I'm still thankful for what my life is.