Moonlit Dream

Samantha stared out into the sea of people dressed in black. Many of them either giving her glances of pity or disgust. The rest just refusing to acknowledge her presence at all. She let out a heavy sigh as the church bells rang, signaling for everyone to take their seats as the service was soon to take place. Samantha moved through the crowded doors into the church and made her way to the hall. As she came closer to the hall she began to fell the temperature rise. Sweat began to form on her brow, and her palms became clammy. The air in the tiny church becoming thinner by the second. Panic started to swirl in the depths of her stomach. Quickly she turned left and dashed into the women’s rest room, straight for the sink, turning the water on. She splashed her face in hope it would help alleviate this sickening feeling. How was she supposed to stand up in-front of all of the people that have loathed her all her life. The people that would whisper calling her strange, or about how she was an abomination. Some would even be so bold as to tell her parents how much of a disgrace she was and how they were fools to think she would ever fit in. Samantha never understood their cruelty in how they treated her or her parents for having her. Now she would have to stand in front of their judging eyes for her parents service. None of them should be here in her opinion but that decision had been out of her control. Samantha took a few deep breaths placing her hands on either side of the sink, leaning on them. Irritation set in as she realized she was letting them all get to her. She looked up in the mirror. Her nearly white hair was up in the neatest bun she could muster. Her blue eyes bloodshot, her lean heart shaped face slightly puffy from all the tears she had shed. Sharply she stood up straight and smoothed out her black dress, tidied up her hair, and pointed at herself in the mirror. “You will NOT let them get to you today! Today you will stand proud for mom and dad! You’ve got this!” She told herself as she turned and walked back out the door. She hurried back through the entryway, straight into the hall to the front of the full rows of seats. On any other day Samantha would have studied the beautiful stained glass windows that ran on either side of the hall, and the detailed artwork that painted the high ceilings. But all she could see were the two caskets laying before her. One for each of her parents. Her heart ached more with each step that brought her closer. Samantha took her stance beside her parents, off to the side of the podium. Whispers began to echo through the hall until the priest cleared his throat. “I welcome you all here today to mourn the loss of the beloved Mr and Mrs Mc Dowell. Will you please rise for the singing of the hymns.” Everyone stood and the service began. Samantha pulled up to her parents house. She would be staying here to see to her parents things. Getting out of the car she walked up to the front gate. The house looked ominous as the shadows fell over it. The funeral had run late and had been exhausting. Samantha rushed to get inside as a chill started to crawl over her skin. Locking the door behind her she flicked on the lights. She walked into the living room with boxes of stuff scattered everywhere, and slumped onto the couch with a thud. Leaning her head back she let out a large sigh. She had mad it through the day. Bonus was that no one spoke a word to her, no insults or nasty things said to her face. She had overheard some of the comments but she kept her word to herself and didn’t let it bother her. Well at least didn’t let them know it bothered her. Samantha looked around the room. It looked and felt so empty without her parents. Her mother would have had a fire going in the fireplace as her dad tried to convince her to make s’mores with him. The room would be filled with laughter as they played some old lame board game, which would have been taken way too seriously. Tears began to roll down her cheeks as memories flashed through her mind. Why did it have to happen to them! They had been coming to visit for her 21st birthday, when their car hit black ice, sending them through the barrier and over the cliff. Not being able to hold it back any longer sobs started to escape uncontrollably. Samantha continued to sob until she fell asleep.