Chapter 84: Mourn

Several days had passed since Amy’s father passed away, but on the day of his burial, she still couldn’t accept that the person she loved the most—the first one who made her feel truly valued—was gone.

“Hon, come, it’s time,” Zack called gently. Amy approached, still grappling with how to face this harsh reality. With every step toward her father’s final resting place, she felt a heavier weight pressing on her. She clung tightly to Zack—the only source of strength in this heart-wrenching moment of her life.

As they walked closer, they were surrounded by loved ones, friends, and people who came to pay their respects to her father. Aliah, carried by Zack, was also crying, even though she couldn’t fully understand what was happening. Her innocent tears mirrored the pain Amy was feeling.

When they reached the coffin, Amy gently caressed its cold surface. “Papa, I miss you so much... Thank you for everything you’ve done for me. I love you so much, and you’ll always be in my heart,” she said, her voice trembling as tears streamed down her face.

“Hon, I’m here,” Zack whispered softly, trying to ease the pain she felt.

As the coffin was lowered into the ground, Amy could barely bring herself to look. But she forced herself to stay strong, not just for her own sake but for her child as well. When the burial was complete, she carefully placed a rose atop the freshly turned soil.

“Goodbye, Papa... I love you,” she said, her voice shaking.

As they walked away from the grave, Amy paused and looked back one last time. The weight of knowing her father was gone forever felt unbearable.

“Amy, you can get through this,” Zack said softly but with hope as he placed his hand on her shoulder.

“I don’t know if I can, Zack,” she replied, tears streaming down her face. “It hurts so much… He was the only family I had before I met you.”

Zack gently wiped her tears. “You’re not alone, hon. You have me, Aliah, and Josh. You have a family now.”

“Mommy, don’t cry. Grandpa is with Jesus now, right? He said we’ll see him again someday,” Aliah said, holding her mother’s hand.

In her child’s simple words, Amy found a glimmer of light in the darkness. Although her heart still felt heavy, she realized there was hope. She looked up at the sky again and, for the first time, felt a faint sense of peace.

She made a promise to herself to be strong—for her family and for the memory of her father, who would forever remain in her heart.

Still crying, Amy hugged Aliah tightly. Her daughter’s innocent love became her anchor in a sea of uncertainty. At the same time, she felt Zack’s firm grip on her hand, a reminder that she didn’t have to face this alone.

After the burial, the family returned to Amy’s home, now quiet and filled with memories of her father. What used to be a lively house had turned somber, but the presence of friends and family offering their condolences brought a semblance of life to it.

Amy pulled out a box hesitantly but with a sense of anticipation. Inside, she found letters her father had written, photos of them together, and a diary filled with their memories. On the first page of the diary, a note was written:

“Daughter, if you’re reading this, remember that even though I’m no longer here, I love you very much. I’ll never truly be gone as long as you carry me in your heart. Be strong—for yourself and for your family.”

Amy froze, and once again, her tears flowed freely. But this time, it wasn’t just sadness she felt—it was love and the strength her father had left behind. “Papa, I won’t let you down,” she whispered to herself.

While the guests were eating in the living room, Zack stayed by Amy’s side, quiet but always ready to support her. Noticing her staring at a photo of herself with her father, he slowly approached her.

“Hon, what are you thinking?” Zack asked.

“I’m thinking about how I can move forward without him. But then I realized that my father never gave up on me, no matter how hard things got. So maybe this is my chance to show him I can do the same—for him, and for us,” Amy said.

Zack smiled, proud of her courage. “And we’re here for you. You’ll never be alone.” He held her hand and kissed it gently.

Moments later, Josh, their youngest, approached with a flower he had picked from the garden. “Mommy, this is for Grandpa. Sister said he likes flowers. Is that true?”

Amy nodded, taking the flower and placing it beside the box. “Yes, son. He loved flowers. And I’m sure he’s happy now because you remembered him.”

As Amy watched her children play beside Zack, she felt the reason she needed to keep going. Her family had become her light in this dark chapter. She realized that even though her father was gone, he lived on—in her heart, her memories, and the love she now gave to her own family.