8!Not a single tear!

Sylvia 

The sun beat down on the mourners gathered around my father's grave, casting a somber light on the proceedings. Maryann, my stepmother, stood beside me, her eyes brimming with tears as she clutched a handkerchief to her chest. Emily, my stepsister, stood on the other side of her, her face a picture of grief.

As each guest approached to offer their condolences, Maryann and Emily would launch into exaggerated displays of sorrow. They'd sob uncontrollably, wailing like they'd lost the love of their lives. But I knew better. They were just playing a role, angling for the gifts and sympathy that came with being the bereaved family.

I watched, numb and disgusted, as they fawned over each guest. "Oh, thank you so much for coming," Maryann would say, her voice trembling with fake emotion. "It means so much to us." Emily would nod in agreement, her eyes welling up with crocodile tears.

“I don't know how I will cope, without him here, we were as joint as a hip,” Maryanne said, tears dripping down her face more than ever.

“I will always be here for you, I hope you do know that?” A guest said, hugging Maryanne.

“Mom, Dad is finally resting, he isn't in any form of discomfort or feeling any pains, we should be grateful," Emily said, while patting her mom's back.

“Yeah, Maryanne, you should listen to Emily. I already booked an all expenses paid trip for you to China for you. Heard they give really good massages there, you would need that kind of care after this period,” the guest told her.

“Oh my god, Jessy, you didn't have to do that, anyways thank you, I'm really grateful for your support this period.”

“You welcome Maryanne, just make sure you take good care of yourself. I will go ahead now to take part in the event, call me if you need anything.”

“This is already enough, thank you Jessy, " she said with a fake smile.

Meanwhile, I stood frozen, my eyes fixed on the coffin as the minister droned on about my father's life. I felt like an outsider, observing the charade unfolding around me. My father's passing had left a gaping hole in my life, but Maryann and Emily's antics only served to highlight their own insincerity. Not a single tear dropped from my eyes as I stared on. 

I walked over to the side and soon started hearing the guest talk silently. “That's her right, she left and only came back when her father died, she hasn't shed a drop of tears since she arrived,” one of the guests said.

“You can't blame her, people grieve in different ways,” another said.

“Grieve in different ways my foot, look at her mom and sister, they have cried so much that I wonder where the tears streaming down their faces are coming from.”

“You can tell she wasn't close to the family, and heard she is the black sheep of the family.”

“I feel pity for her sister and mother, I'm sure she is just here for the hospital, who do you think will take over the company?”

“How would I know, I'm not part of their family!’

“I know that, but who do you think or who do you support to take over the company?”

“I don't really know, but I think Sylvia.”

“Why Sylvia?”

“She seems cool headed and nice!”

“That's all, I would prefer Emily, she is a beauty with brains, not only that she is very kind.”

“You talk like you have come in contact with her,” the guest said, rolling her eyes.

“I might not have come in contact with her but, I have seen her attending to a patient before. And you also talk like you have come in contact with Sylvia.”

“I have actually, just once, and she seemed nice. The only thing I didn't like about her was that she thinks she is all that.”

“Ah ah ah, and you were talking like you really like her.”

“I don't like her and I also don't hate her, so we are good.”

“Humm, I wonder who she thinks she is, all because she was born into Rhode's family.”

“You know she can hear all what you guys are saying right?” A cold deep, distant voice said.

I looked up, only to see him walking towards me, the guest who was talking immediately kept quiet and walked away. I immediately turned to walk away but he grabbed my hands before I could even take a step 

“Let go of me,” I said, rolling my eyes at him.

“Okay, " he said, letting go of my hands, but immediately walked and stood in front of me.

“I need to pass, and what are you doing here?”

“I'm here to pay one last respect to my Father in-law, and pay condolences to his family,” he said, putting his hands into his pocket.

I scoffed. “Father in-law?”

“Yes!”

“I don't think so.”

“Of course you won't think so, but I think so.”

“If you say so, think whatever, I don't have time for this. You can go ahead to pay your respect or do I share any resemblance with your Father in-law?”

“Not exactly, but there are little similarities.”

“Okay true , but fortunately I'm not him, so do well to head to the appropriate place, I need to do other things,” I said, walking away from him, and surprisingly he didn't push further. I reminded myself to stay far away from him, in events to come.

As the guests began to file past, offering their condolences and gifts, Maryann and Emily's act only intensified. They oohed and aahed over each bouquet, each card, each gesture of kindness. I, on the other hand, felt like I was going through the motions, trapped in a nightmare from which I couldn't wake up.

I walked into the kitchen to bring a pack of water, only to bump into someone smiling at me. I rolled my eyes upon seeing who it was.

“Not again,” I said, while rolling my eyes a second time.

“You really don't seem happy to see me,” he said, with a smirk on his face.

“There is nothing happy about your presence.”

“Ouch, that hurt.”

“I didn't do anything to you.”

“I mean, your words hurt.” Trying to grab the pack of water I was holding, he asked “Do you need any help? Let me help you with that.” 

“No thanks, I'm all good, being training hard not to be able to carry this.”

“Okay, but let me give you a hand at least,” he told me, while grabbing the pack of water.

“Seems you are less busy?”

“Yeah, I am.”

“Okay,” I responded while pulling my hair to the back of my ears.

“Where do you want this to be,” he spoke up, when we got outside.”

“Just leave it at the entrance, they will come get it when they get tasty.”

“Okay, anything else I can help with?”

“No thanks, we are all good.”

“Okay. I couldn't do what I was here for when I saw you earlier….”

“What's that?”

“Give you my condolences.”

“Ohh, there is no need for that!”

“I would either way. My condolences Sylvia.” Hearing him call my name softly took me to the Moon and back, this was the first time I heard him call my name like that.

“Thank you Logan,” I said, with a smirk, trying not to show I cared, when I was screaming in my head.

“Take care I would be leaving now.”

“Okay, drive carefully,” I said, while waving.

I walked back to where the ceremony was held, by this time the ceremony was already coming to an end. I stood at the back, watching and waiting for Maryanne and Emily to finish up their act. I knew their switch up was going to be crazy and I couldn't wait to see it.