Chapter 7: A Heartbreaking Farewell

The news of Alex's tragic passing sent shockwaves through the village of Cedarbrook. The once-bustling riverbank was now a sombre gathering of mournful faces and heavy hearts. As the realization of the young boy's death sank in, the villagers stood in stunned silence, grappling with the profound loss that had befallen their tight-knit community.

James, his face etched with the indelible marks of grief, gathered his son's lifeless body into his trembling arms. The weight of Alex's still form was a crushing burden, and James clung to him as if his love alone could bring the boy back. Tears streamed down his face, mixing with the river's waters that had claimed his son's life.

With a profound sense of unity born of shared sorrow, the villagers began to form a solemn procession behind James and his son. There were no words to offer solace; there was only the shared understanding of grief. They had lost one of their own, a bright young soul whose laughter had once filled the air.

Isabell