07: The Funeral

Author’s POV:

Zara and her mother were devastated on the news. Arlette cried her heart out the whole night. After her divorce her kids were the only reason she made it through the ups and downs of the life. With Charlotte gone, a part of her died with her daughter.

On the other hand Zara was as much in grief as her mother. Her sister, who was also like another mother to her was no more. The whole night she kept on hugging her mother as if she will also lose her mother if she let go.

Next morning; the house was completely quiet. Zara and her mother didn’t slept as they kept on crying. Zara although stopped but the pain she was going through of losing a sibling was unbearable. Zara, her mother and Inspector Kenneth who didn’t left the whole night; were all sitting in the living room.

Both mother and daughter were mourning over Charlotte’s death when a car pulled in front of their door. Inspector Kenneth rose form his place and went out of the room.

A moment later he returned. The expressions of sadness and pain was prominent on his old face. He looked at his sister but sorrowful eyes but didn’t said anything.

“Zara…” he let out a heavy sigh and said “Charlotte….Charlotte is here.”

Zara raised her head and looked in Kenneth’s eyes. Then she deviated her eyes to her mother, tears flowing hysterically out of Arlette’s eyes.

Zara took a deep breath and wiped her tears. She stood up from her place.

“Mom, sis is waiting for us.” She said in a hoarse tone then helped her mother to stand up. Arlette tried to stand up but her legs were like jelly, gave out of life. Zara wrapped her right arm around her mother’s waist and held her left hand with her other hand for supportive and walked out of the room outside the house.

Slowly and steady they made way out of the house, where an ambulance was parked. Two boys dressed in night pulled out a stretcher from the ambulance on which a body covered in white sheets was placed.

“Charlotte!” Arlette screamed aloud and ran towards the stretcher crying.

“Mom” Zara ran after her mother. Arlette stopped right beside the stretcher. Her breathing was heavy with violent heartbeat. With trembling hands she pulled the white sheet off from the body.

And there she was Charlotte. Lying calmly as if she was sleeping. No movement, no sound. Arlette took her head in her hands and cried her heart out. Her eyes fell on the brutal wounds on her daughter’s body, a new set of tears fell from her eyes. Her legs gave out but Zara held her to avoid her from falling. Zara was also crying but she remain strong for her mother as now she was the only one left as a family.

Charlotte’s Funeral:

Everyone was gathered in the church for Charlotte’s funeral. People were coming one by one and consoling Zara. Arlette was sitting on the front row near the coffin with Gina’s mother by her side while Zara was at the entrance of the church where people were arriving paying their consolations with Rocky by her side. Zara stood there strongly passing sad smiles greeting people and occasional noddings. Luckily she was not alone her friends were there supporting her through this painful period of life.

“Zara, my child…it’s time.” The Priest said to Zara in a low tone. Zara nodded slowly and went towards her mother.

“Mom, sis needs to go now.” Zara informed her mother. Arlette nodded in agreement giving permission.

“Do you want to see her for the last time?” Zara asked her mother. Arlette moved her head in a no and started crying. Gina’s mother held hugged her to console her.

Zara with her mother’s permission, picked a red rose and walked towards the opened coffin. Looking at her sister a tear fell from her eye. She placed the rose in Charlotte’s hand and kissed her forehead. She wiped her tears and nodded her head as a sign for men to proceed with the last rituals.

The coffin was lift and soon Charlotte was buried.

One by one everyone left. Zara was the only one left all alone. Sitting at the front bench, she was looking right in the God’s eye as if blaming the Almighty for the misery she has been through.

“Zara, it’s getting late. Let’s go, I’ll drop you home.” Rocky said softly standing beside Zara.

“It’s okay Rocky. I want to stay for few more minutes.” Zara replied

Then she bought her hands together and closed her eyes. She took a deep breath and prayed. Rocky seeing her pray went out the of church in order to not to disturb her.

Zara was so focused on praying that she didn’t knew when a little boy ran up to her. He tapped on her shoulder softly to get her attention. Zara slowly opened her eyes and looked at the boy.

The boy stretched his hand and showed a yellow small piece of paper in his hands. Her eyebrows twitched into a frown and she took the note from his hand. After delivering the note the boy ran out of the church.

Frowning Zara unfolded the paper.

“Aww, don’t worry Zara you’ll be joining your sister soon” – the note said. Reading the note Zara’s eyes grew bigger. Icy cold sensation ran down her spine, as her stomach dropped.

 She got up from her place and ran outside.

“Zara, where….” Rocky said as he saw her running out. Concerned he followed her out.

Coming out of the church she found the boy by the main entrance.

“Who give you this note?” She asked the boy sternly holding the him by his shoulders

“Excuse me, what are you doing?” the boy’s mother said pulling out of Zara’s hold

“I asked you who gave you this?” she asked again coldly

“A m…man” the boy replied stuttering being afraid

“Which man?” Zara asked again

“What happened Zara?” Rocky inquired. Zara didn’t replied to him and showed him the note. Seeing the note Rocky’s jaw clenched.

“I don’t know, he just said to give this to you.” The boy answered innocently and with that his mother took him away.

Zara and Rocky ran out towards the road and looked left and right, everywhere, to see someone but she didn’t find anything suspicious as the road was clear, no man or no car was there.

Zara clenched her jaw, angered filled her eyes. She got into her car and drove away with Rocky by her side.