People die every day
2108 Words
"You can tell me about it later, don't miss the turn." I pointed my finger in front of me.
"I'll tell you later. For now, how did you get on with Dillan?" Chloe was curious.
"Well we had dinner at his house." I replied calmly.
"He invited you to his house?" Chloe was surprised.
"Yes, and he cooks divinely." I smiled broadly.
"Dillan seems like a really nice guy." Chloe glanced at me.
"He is." I winked at Chloe.
"I think someone is starting to fall in love." Chloe glared at me.
"I barely know him, you can't jump to conclusions so quickly. I rolled my eyes."
"We'll see what happens next." Chloe smiled widely.
The rest of the way we drove was accompanied by soft music in the car. Each of us was sort of lost in our own thoughts. I tried to concentrate on the event that lay ahead. I looked calmly out of the car window at the rushing people and the speeding cars. Soon Chloe parked the car. We got out and headed towards the large white armour building.
"How are you feeling?" Chloe walked beside me.
"Not so good." I climbed the steps.
After a few more steps, I opened the big white door. It led to the funeral parlour, which was bright. I could hear the cries of the mourners. I crossed the aisle and walked down a long path with chairs and benches on either side. After expressing my condolences to my relatives, I found a seat near Lucy, who was standing next to Dad. There were many people gathered in the room, all of whom knew Leo and had come to say goodbye for the last time. I could not see Leo's body,because the coffin was covered.
"Today, everyone gathered to say a silent goodbye to Leo, a young man from this town. He was first and foremost a family member, a brother, a son, a friend and a lover. I invite everyone to take one last journey to see this young man off. He is now in a better place where there is no pain, anger or loss. Anyone who wishes to say a word to his family, please do." The priest gave way to those who wished to speak.
Leo's mother took the priest's place. She came up and thanked everyone briefly and said goodbye to her son for the last time. After a few poignant hymns, the priest invited everyone to go to the town cemetery. There was some commotion in the room until the coffin was taken out to the car and people began to disperse. After a few minutes, when the hall was already empty, we slowly walked towards the exit. I could see Lucy struggling to hold back her tears. The fresh morning air came in through the open door.
"Meet me at the cemetery?" Dad climbed the steps.
"Yes. I nodded my head.
Chloe and I got in the car. Soon we were moving towards the town cemetery.
"Don't you think that's weird?" Chloe furrowed her brow.
"Weird what?" I turned my gaze to Chloe.
"The police left it as a suicide." Chloe stared at the pose.
"My dad hinted to me that it was murder." I looked out the window.
"They haven't found the culprit yet? Chloe sneered at me.
"Not that I know of." I shrugged.
It was quiet all the way to the cemetery. We walked along the path towards the people who were gathering by the pit. It was hard to see people I knew with tears in their eyes. I stopped next to Lucy, who was struggling to hold herself together.
"He's in a better place now." I hugged Lucy.
"I hope so." Lucy wrinkled her nose.
After a little speech from the priest, the coffin was lowered into the pit. After the whole funeral ceremony, people started to slowly disperse.
"Come on, I'll take you home." Chloe took my arm.
"I have one place to visit." I let go of Chloe's hand.
"I'll wait in the car then, take your time." Chloe smiled.
Without saying anything, I turned down the path towards the end of the cemetery. After a few more steps, I stopped and ran my fingers over the tombstone.
"Hi Mom." Tears began to gather in my eyes.
"We haven't seen each other for a long time. I have so much to tell you." I wiped away a tear.
"I met the guy you said I would meet one day. You said he'd know how to make me laugh, he'd keep me safe and he'd be there. Looks like that finally happened. " I smiled as I sat down next to monument.
"I miss you so much, Mum," I said, pointing to the monument.
For a few minutes I stared at the blue sky in front of me. As soon as I close my eyes I can see my mother's face. All this happened so recently. The man who came through the door announced that my mother was dead. I shall never forget the pain in my chest I felt when I heard those words. I shook my head and ran my fingers over the memorial one last time. Then I rolled over and stepped onto the main path. I saw a guy kneeling by the bench, and after a few more steps I recognised him.
"What are you doing here? "' I angrily glared at the guy in front of me.
"I came to a funeral. Looks like I'm running a little late." Cassian smiled half a smile.
"Which was your fault." I raised my voice an octave higher.
"People die every day." Cassian shrugged.
"You're heartless. " I stepped toward the cemetery exit.
"Don't think I care." Cassian laughed.
I stepped through the gate where Chloe met me. She was leaning against the hood of the car, arms crossed over her chest. Her gaze was fixed somewhere towards the forest. Finally, she heard my shoes and her eyes rested on me.
"You've been missing for eternity." Chloe showed a sad face.
"Don't shave." I nudged her lightly.
"Where are we going now ? " Chloe opened the car door.
"I need to get out of these high heels." I pointed to my feet.
"We can come over to your place and then to mine." Chloe started the car engine.
"Sounds great." I buckled my seatbelt.
"We can do a history report together." Chloe glanced at me.
"Really? Homework on your day off? I raised an eyebrow.
"I don't have an attractive boyfriend to tell me about the history of the town." Chloe mockingly gave me a look.
"He's not my boyfriend. " I laughed.
"You've got a fraud, he's the history teacher's nephew." Chloe frowned
"Alright already, let's get ready for the history report." I gave in.
"First we're going to get changed, then we'll stop for coffee at Auntie Joe's, and then the library." Chloe chirped.
After a good half an hour, we finally walked through the door of the café. Inside the café we could see one other person sipping coffee. The atmosphere is as cosy and warm as ever.
"You always like girls? Joe smiled.
"Yes." Chloe took a seat behind the bar.
"Black coffee for me this time." I sat down on the nearest stool.
"Tough morning for someone." Joe laughed.
"Tough." I smiled as I looked at Joe.
Soon we were drinking coffee in silence and enjoying the quiet music of the café. My phone started ringing and I picked up the receiver without waiting.
"Hello? " I didn't know who I was talking to.
"Hi. I hope I'm not interrupting?" Dillan's voice came on the phone.
"You didn't. I'm in the café with Chloe. Why are you calling? I wondered.
"I wanted to check on you. I heard Dillan's voice on the other end of the phone.
"'I'm fine,' my eyes drifted towards Chloe.
"What are your plans for today?" Dillan asked.
"I'm going to spend the day with Chloe getting ready for the history report. Nothing special." Chloe raised an eyebrow as she looked at me.
"Perhaps I can offer my company?" I could guarantee that Dillan was smiling now.
"I think that would be great." I raised an eyebrow as I looked at Chloe.
"Then I'll be waiting for you at my place." Dillan said.
"We'll be there in fifteen minutes. Bye." I ended the phone call.
I put my phone back in my jeans pocket. I could feel two pairs of eyes watching me intently. I picked up my cup and slowly took a few sips of coffee.
"Who called?" Chloe rolled her eyes at me.
"Is this the mystery guy?" Jo raised an eyebrow, smiling.
"No need for those looks." I smiled widely.
"What did he want?" Chloe pushed the cup away from her.
"He's going to help us with our history paper." I took a sip of my coffee.
"Awesome." Chloe clapped her hands together.
"HE, is that Sarah's boyfriend?" Joe took the cups.
"He's not my boyfriend." I got up from the chair.
"Yeah yeah, you all say that." Joe laughed.
"Okay Auntie, it's about time." Chloe waved to her Aunt Joe.
"Good luck to you girls." Joe smiled broadly.
We rolled through the streets of the town with the car radio playing. The sun was already high in the sky, signaling the start of the afternoon.
"Turn right." I pointed my finger at Dillan's house.
"You didn't mention that he lives in the mansion." Chloe killed the engine.
"Don't exaggerate." I fisted Chloe in the shoulder.
I got out of the car and headed down the path towards the front door. I knocked loudly on the door several times. A few minutes later, a voice came from behind the door.
"Right away." Dillan's voice came from the other side of the door.
After a few sounds outside the door, it swung wide open. I saw Dillan standing in the doorway, wearing black jeans, a white jacket and her hair still wet. His dark brown eyes stared at Chloe and then rested on me.
"Hi, I'm sorry about the way I look. Come on in." Dillan smiled.
Chloe and I pulled deeper into the house and settled into the living room couch by the fireplace.
"What topics have you chosen ?" Dillan sat down in an armchair nearby.
"The legend of the brothers and the castle." Chloe smiled.
"Did you find out the real name of the legend?" Dillan looked at Chloe.
"No." Chloe shook her head.
"And what are you going to write about Sarah?" Dillan's head turned towards me.
"I haven't decided yet." I shrugged.
"So Chloe do you see the shelf over there?" Dillan pointed towards the shelf.
"Where it says 1855?" Chloe looked at the shelf against the wall.
"Yeah you should find a lot of information there for your work." Dillan smiled.
"Can I read all the books? " Chloe mused.
"Sure." Dillan laughed.
"Pot of gold." Chloe got up from the couch.
"I'm going to the kitchen, you girls for coffee?" Dillan rose from the armchair.
"No thanks." I smiled.
"We've already been to a coffee shop before we got here, so I'll pass." Chloe pulled a book from the shelf.
A few minutes later, Dillan disappeared behind the kitchen door, leaving me and Chloe alone in the living room. Strangely enough Cassian was nowhere to be seen, usually hanging around.
"Did you find anything useful? "' I looked at Chloe sitting on the ground. .
"You didn't mention that he has a library at home." Chloe looked up from her book at me.
I got up from the couch and joined Chloe on the floor. I ran my eyes over the titles of the books, which looked quite old. Some of the titles I didn't know as if they were not written in our language.
"How are you?" Dillan's voice came from behind me.
I turned my eyes towards the sound of his voice. Dillan was standing just a few feet away, watching Chloe and I destroy his books. Every now and then he would sip water from his glass and examine the bookshelf.
"Where did you get so many books?" Chloe looked at Dillan.
"My brother likes to read." Dillan's eyes drifted to the bookshelf.
"You have a brother?" Chloe raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah, he's out of town right now." Dillan sit on the ground near us.
"How far away is he?" I wondered.
Deep down, I knew Dillan was lying because I'd seen his brother in the cemetery half an hour ago.
- Writer
