Chapter 4: Memories will Carry On

Throughout the night, Emily just slept soundly on Death's lap. Death just watched her as she lies down comfortably and peacefully on the pew. From time to time he gently runs his finger on her face. The night went on until the sun says hello again. 

The light shines outside the chapel where a hearse is currently waiting. Everyone went on to their daily lives again. Emily finally woke up from her deep nap. Upon opening her eyes, she is greeted by the sight of Death's ominous face. 

"Good morning," Emily stretched her arms while yawning. 

"Good morning sounds ironic," Death remarks. 

"You're right." Emily chuckles. 

"You look more beautiful when you smile," Death complimented. 

"Don't flatter me!" Emily smiled while biting her lip. 

Death lets out a deep sigh. "We're going to stay on this realm until your judgement day," he said. 

"That would be fine with me. The soul waiting area looks boring anyway." Emily yawned again. 

Death stopped talking. 

Four men, including Emily's father went inside the chapel. They carried Emily's casket and took it outside the church. The clouds went dark again, despite it being  nine o'clock in the morning. Heavy raindrops fell from the sky. 

Emily's father puts the weight of his daughter's casket on his  stiff shoulder. He began crying, realizing that she will never be able to see his daughter again. They placed Emily's casket inside the hearse. Everyone who knows Emily lined up before the hearse as it moves slowly, parading what remains of Emily. A slower and sadder rendition of "When You're Gone" by Avril Lavigne started playing through the hearse's stereo. 

Everyone who attended Emily's burial ceremony wears black attires. Emily's parents are in front of the line. Both of them are wiping their tears. Emily and Death are following the parade. The clouds kept on crying, concealing the sun, complimenting the grief that everyone feels. 

"The last burial ceremony I attended was my grandpa Hyeok's." says Emily. "He was a war Veteran. He fought against North Koreans," she added, 

"I remember him. Park Heok Su. I can't believe I'll reap his grandchild as well." Death replied. 

"Did he go to heaven?" Emily asked. 

"Yeah," Death answered. "His trial was an easy one," he added. 

"That's a good sign!" says Emily. 

"You're right. That's indeed a good omen," Death agreed. 

The two of them fell silent. None of them could keep up their conversation. The parade continued moving until it reaches the cemetery. Everyone gathered at a excavated portion of the cemetery's enormous lot. A priest arrived at the burial. He is carrying a bottle of holy water and a black book with cross on its cover. 

"We gathered here to bid our farewell to a young woman who left this world at a very young age." The priest pointed at the coffin using four of his fingers. "She may be gone from this world but, all of her memories will remain in the hearts of the people who know and love her." The priest sprinkled drops of holy water on Emily's casket. 

Emily and Death are standing at a corner, watching the burial ceremony. 

"I was fourteen years old when my grandfather died. Me and my dad cried a lot during his burial ceremony, As far as I remember it was raining that day as well," Emily narrated. 

"A rain always finds a way to fall at a perfect time," Death commented. 

"You're darn right," Emily said imitating the voice of an old man." 

"What was the best memory you had with your grandfather?" Death asked, intriguingly. 

"Well, I don't really interacted with my grandfather that much but, when we visit him in his home in Texas he always tells me the story of how he survived during his days at wars. He also taught me basic gun handling techniques and survival tips," Emily replied. 

"That sounds wonderful," Death commented. 

"It was wonderful, Everything in my life was wonderful." Emily lets out a deep sigh. "I didn't realize it until now." She subtly frowned while looking at her own casket. 

The priest invited everyone to take a final peak at Emily's body inside the casket and bid their last farewells. Kendra approached the casket. Tears started falling from her eyes as she tightly closes them. 

"Goodbye Emily. If the afterlife is real, I hope I'll see you there. I'm gonna miss you. I'm gonna miss your laugher, your smile, and the way you talk. I'm gonna miss everything about you. You're truest friend I have. I hope you're in peace now. 

Emily touched her left temple. "I can hear Kendra's voice." 

"That's normal. She's talking to you through thoughts," Death said. 

Zachary also looked at Emily for the last time. 

"Emily. I'm sorry  for what happened to you. I know we can't blame Greg, I'm not blaming him but, I hope you can forgive his reckless behavior that led to this. I'm gonna miss you. We're all gonna miss you. If God is real, if heaven is real, I know you're going to make it there. It's time for you to rest now. Be peaceful." 

Emily's mom touched the casket while sobbing loudly. 

"Emily, my baby. Why do you have to leave us? We love you. You're our little angel. I can't believe you're gone now. Please come back to us. I can't imagine how  I'm going to live without you. 

Emily's father is embracing her mom. He's crying as well. 

"Emily, sweetie, I never thought I would burry you. The idea of me carrying your casket on my shoulder never ever crossed my mind. Life will never be the same without your presence. I'm going to miss you so much, more than anyone here. I will never forget you. You may be gone now but as what the priest said, your memories will remain in our hearts." 

Death touched Emily's shoulder. 

"You heard them right. You heard their last messages," Death whispered. 

"Yes." Emily hid her face on her palms. "I hear them." Her voiced cracked a little. 

Death removed his hands from Emily's shoulder. He moved closer to her.  "Everything's going to be alright soon. You may leave this realm but, all of your memories will carry on," .

Emily shoved her face into Death's chest as she continues sobbing. Death felt Emily's moist tears touched his cold chest. He felt Emily's warm face. He hugged the young woman, tightly. 

"I'm not ready to go. I don't want to die yet. I'm afraid." Emily cried. 

Death tightened his hug, providing more warmth to Emily. "I'll be with you. Don't be afraid." 

Emily hugged Death, still shoving her face on his chest.  Her casket is now being submerged on the excavated  soil. It slowly sank into the pit hole until it disappears form the sight of everyone. Kendra took one final peak before waving goodbye to her friend. Right after the burial ceremony, everyone went back to their homes. Emily's parents stayed  for a while. Several men covered the hole where Emily's casket submerged. 

"She's gone now. We're not going to see her anymore," Mrs. Park said. 

""It's going to be difficult but we have to accept it." Emily's father hugged his wife. 

"Do you think life after death is real?" Mrs. Park asked, 

"No one's really sure about that but it isn't bad to hope," Mr. Park replied. 

Emily approached her parents. She extended her arms and embraced both of them. "I'm here mom. I'm here dad," she whispered. 

"I can feel her." Upon hearing these statement coming from her mom, Emily's eyes widened. 

"I can smell her scent. It feels like she's embracing us." Mr Park said. 

Emily turned to look at Death. "Can they really feel me?" she asked. 

Death nodded, reassuringly. 

Emily tightened her embrace to her parents. 

"We love you Emily. We will always love you," Mrs. Park whispered. 

The day went on. Emily's parents went home. Death and Emily stayed at the cemetery. They sat on the grassy ground near the unfinished grave. Emily placed her head on Death's shoulder. 

"So that's what attending your own burial feels like," says Emily. 

"How does it feel for you?" Death asked. 

"It feels weird, terrifyingly weird," Emily replied. 

The sky is becoming darker. The sun starts to hide once again. the breeze of the air is starting to get colder. Death and Emily remained sitting on their position. 

"It will be night soon. People are going to take their rest." Death adjusted his shoulder as Emily removes her head from it. 

Emily stood up slowly. Death did the same. 

"Do you wish to leave now?" Death asked. 

"And go where?" Emily raised an eyebrow. 

"Anywhere but here." says Death, 

Emily exhales sharply. "Look around freak! I have nowhere to go except heaven or hell!" 

"Can you not raise your voice please?" Death politely requested. 

 "Don't tell me what to do!" Emily yelled. 

"I understand where your anger is coming from." Death extended his hands. trying to calm Emily down. 

"No you don't! Because the only thing you are compelled to do is to take people from this world!" Emily's voice grew louder. 

Death grabbed Emily's wrist and he pulled her close to him. He placed her head on his chest. "Do what you did earlier. Cry on my chest," 

Emily thought of pushing Death away but, she tears just fell down from her eyes once again. Her soul shivers. She did not say a single word, she jus sobs loudly. Emily cried a lot of tears, soaking Death's cloak. The tears went through the black fabric. Death  touched Emily's hair. He puts his chin on the top of her head. 

After several minutes, Emily finally stopped crying. She wiped the last drops of tears from her eyes. She apologized for her previous behavior. 

"Everyone bids their farewell to you. It's your turn to say goodbye." Death offered his right hand ,

"Okay, what is this?" Emily raised an eyebrow. 

"Hold my hand and you'll find out," says Death

Emily held Death's hand. They slowly floated towards the sky. A colorful mist of smoke surrounds them and they rapidly turned around like a twister. Everything around them became distorted. They finally stopped moving. They are now surrounded by prisms of different sceneries. It looks like they are inside of a kaleidoscope. Their surroundings is also filled with intangible noises. 

"Where are we?" Emily asked. 

"The Prism of Dreams. In this place we can access the dreams if different people," Death explained. 

"Oh I think I know where this is going." Emily looked at Death while smiling, 

"I'm gonna throw you down!" Death yelled out, trying to overpower the noise. 

"Wait!-" Before Emily could even protest, she was already falling down. A ray of light followed her, tracing her motion, like a falling meteor. She's headed towards an overlapping prisms. 

She found herself on a familiar room. Everything around her is little bit blurry. She looked around and saw her parents sitting at a couch. They seemed to look younger yet, they are taller than Emily remembers. 

"Our little angel! You're back!" Emily's mother approached her. She kneeled down and gently touched her daughter's face. 

Emily's dad stood up from the couch then he walks closer to his daughter. 

"We miss you, baby!" He kissed her daughter's smooth and soft kiss. 

"I will always be here for you, mom, dad. You may not see me again but, I will never leave you." Emily spoke in a much higher and childish voice. She hugged her parents tightly. "I love you mom and dad," she whispered. 

Everything slowly disappeared. Emily closed her eyes for a moment and when she opens them up, she found herself on the roof deck of her old school back in Highschool. She saw Greg, Zachary, Kendra and Holly. All of them are standing next to a fence. 

"Goodbye everyone! I hope you won't me!" Emily's voice went back to normal. 

"You just got here! Why are you saying goodbye?" Kendra raised an eyebrow. 

"You'll understand when you wake up." Emily showed them her brightest smile. 

"What do you mean?" Zachary asked. 

Emily did not respond to her friend. She just puts her palms together and underneath her breath she whispered something. After that she levitated towards the sky while everything around her disappears.