24. Graciously

Chapter 24

The sun was about going down. The sky had hued to a dark orange and Yara stood beside her window, hoping to wait and see the imminent setting of the sun.

She remembered many years ago after she had lost her father to a fatal but shameful accident. (He was on his way to visit his mistress and was having a call with her when his car collided with an on-coming truck and he died instantly.)

Her mother had felt so lonely and bitter. She was little then but she could discern that the smile was all a facade. And her mother was as good as dead. Though she walked, breathed and kept acknowledging to all who asked, that she was okay.

She never asked her mother the truth behind his death. If it was as rumored or if the cold hands of death had just unjustly snatched him from them.

One morning, when the sun was shining graciously and the birds were still singing sonorously, her mother had dressed her up and they left Virginia for Manhattan.

They'd always stand by the window side, just