Chapter 104: FROM DUST WE CAME, TO DUST WE SHALL RETURN
Beside my mother, my father takes his place and begins, accompanied by a gentle background music. A screen above the casket lights up, displaying photos from our childhood, evoking nostalgic memories...
"Angel was truly special, a unique smile radiating from her eyes. There were moments of seriousness, even jealousy, yet her innocence prevailed."
The farewell proceeds serenely, reliving pleasant memories from a time when the malice of adulthood was still foreign to us.
In one of the projected images, a video starts playing. The two of us were playing, running around the mansion while our father tried to keep up. We laughed joyfully until, in a moment of carelessness, I stumbled and fell, cutting my knee. The first to reach my side was Angel, who crouched down as I cried, startled by the sight of blood.
My father continued filming, without intervening.
"Hey, no need to cry... It's just a scratch. It'll pass soon!" Angel said, with a warm smile.
"But it hurts so much!"
"Sweetie, that's how life works. Sometimes we hurt ourselves, it hurts a lot, but it's important to feel the pain to appreciate the healing and the process of recovery. When your knee gets better, it'll be covered by a scab, which will make it more resilient."
She spoke as she gently blew on the wound and applied a bandage.
"Are you sure I need to feel this pain?" I dramatized, still being a sensitive child.
Angel laughed and kissed the injured area.
"We all do. When you get hurt and cry, I feel your pain too. You'll never be alone in that feeling; I'll always take care of you."
In that moment, something crumbled within me... The protective sister I had known had disappeared, and that loss hurt so deeply!
The video ends with our father coming to embrace us, saying how proud he was of both of us.
Dom looks at me, holding me tighter, allowing me to collapse in this moment.
"Let's honor her memory, in whatever way you prefer... You can cry, my love. I'll always be by your side to support you," he whispers kindly.
"Thank you," I reply with gratitude.
The celebration continues, each person stepping up to the small altar to say something about my sister... Until it's my turn, I wasn't prepared despite needing to be.
"Thank you all for coming... Honestly, I haven't prepared anything to be said, nor do I believe anyone is truly prepared to speak in these occasions. Angel left us long before today, and often we find ourselves facing hells and battles, forgetting that the most intense fight is the internal one, the one we create within our minds!"
I pause briefly, closing my eyes for a moment, remembering how troubled Angel seemed with her inner self. I take a deep breath and continue:
"Angel wasn't the perfect sister, nor was I... But in her brief time by my side, she never ceased to be a pillar of support and love. I don't quite understand why all of this had to happen and why it happened. I know I failed her by not realizing that it was ME who should have been taking care of her and protecting her from herself... It took me a long time to become strong, a long time to value those who were alive, a long time to understand that seeking revenge, causing harm, was unnecessary... A waste of time and energy, perhaps, a self-inflicted wound."
I pause, remembering the painful memories. Then, I resume:
"Angel is gone now, in the saddest way, taking a significant part of me with her... I don't hate her; if anything, I hate myself for being naive. Today, here and now, I want to bid farewell to the sister I once had, the sister from the video who cared, loved, and supported... I want her transition and passage from life to be based on the good memories of what she used to be. Soeur, I forgive you, I love you, and thank you for everything, even for the pain... Because it's that pain that will make me stronger!"
I conclude with tears streaming down my face. Mom and Dad hug me, and at this moment, there's no room for anger or hatred. In loss, perhaps we can find solace in forgiveness and move forward, living for those who can no longer do so.
The ceremony continues, my father takes the torch and sets fire to the coffin. Soon, Angel's body starts to be cremated by the flames... It doesn't take long for everything to turn into ashes, which are promptly collected by the staff and placed into an urn.
"From dust we came, and to dust we shall return," I murmur to the wind, hoping these words reach Angel's soul.
And the ashes begin to gently disperse throughout the garden.
"May her soul find rest, my daughter. May she follow the luminous path through this garden of flowers," my mother murmurs as she gazes at the sky.
" notre amour la comble du manteau de la paix... Au revoir, Soeur!" *May our love envelop her in the cloak of peace... Farewell, Sister!* I whisper, looking at the sky, letting my words float away.
And so, everything comes to an end. We express gratitude to all those present, and the day slowly bids farewell. I was discharged from the hospital on the same occasion, allowing me to return home alongside Adam, who remained attentive and affectionate.
My recovery progressed slowly, yet successfully. Adam was my companion during physiotherapy sessions, always pampering me and surprising me with delicate breakfasts in bed. Additionally, I sought the support of a psychologist to face the pain of the double loss, where guilt often made its presence felt.
Despite Dom's efforts to dissuade me from taking over the leadership of the French mafia, I couldn't retreat from that decision. In a way, I have grown accustomed to this way of life, and it's a part of who I've become today. I also understand that I cannot solely be Adam's wife; the responsibility to protect and prevent further wars is a duty I must share.