Chapter 2 - A Promise

ELISHA POV

I knelt before my parents' graves, tears streaming down my face. Even now, I still didn't know how to accept that they were gone.

I didn't know how to make myself accept the truth that the two most important people in my life were no longer here.

"Mom... Dad... I don't know how I'm supposed to start over knowing that you're both gone. It's so hard... because I was so used to having you by my side that I never had to worry about anything. But now that you're gone... what am I supposed to do?" I whispered softly.

"You didn't even prepare me for something like this. You didn't leave me any sign, did you? I have so many goals in life that I wanted to achieve with both of you, but heaven is so cruel to me and didn’t give me any chance to do it.” 

"If I'm hurting right now, then please just let me grieve. I-I don't know how long I'll mourn for you. But I promise both of you that I'll live a happy life, and I'll take good care of everything you left behind for me. Because I know all of it was meant for me."

"Mom... Dad... please guide me." I let out a small laugh. "Please, visit me in my dreams, okay? You both are already in a peaceful paradise. Don't worry about me anymore; I’ll continue to live my life to the fullest, not now because I’m still grieving. Thank you for raising me into the person I am today. I owe my life to both of you. Rest easy."

"I'll go ahead now. Until the day I see you both again... I'll always come and visit. I love you so much, Mom... Dad."

"Eli..."

I looked up when Uncle approached me.

"I know you're still hurting." he asked gently.

I looked away.

"I don't even know what kind of pain I'm feeling anymore. If I could make one wish, I'd wish that I'd only have to feel this pain for a single day. But I can't... because if that happened, it would feel like I had already moved on."

He stepped closer.

"It takes a long time for pain fade, especially when you've lost important people in your life. But you need to be strong to moved forward."

I gave him a bitter smile.

"H-how? I don't even know where to begin. It's so hard... They were just with me... and then suddenly they're gone? We were preparing for so many things, especially Thanksgiving... and now the only place I can talk to them is their graves."

He simply listened without saying anything.

"You know what, Uncle?" I continued. "I can't help but to blame myself to what happened to them."

He immediately shook his head.

"Don't think that way, Eli. It was never your fault. Never. Don't blame yourself because it would only hurt your parents."

"They promised me..." I whispered. "We will stay together until the end. But I guess I'm the only one left ."

"Eli, even if you can't see or hear them anymore, I'm sure they're still right beside you. They'll always watch over you. They'll never truly leave you."

"W-what am I supposed to do now?" I asked softly as I stared at their headstones.

"We are here always for you, Eli. You still have us, your family. As long as I'm alive, no one can hurt you.”

I hugged him tightly as I cried.

"Thank you... Thank you so much, Uncle."

"Come on. Let's go home now."

I nodded quietly.

The moment he said that, my heart suddenly felt heavier.

Because I realized...

This would be the first day I'd return home to an empty house.

I looked at my parents' graves one last time before finally walking away.

"Take care of yourself. You are not alone in this world," Uncle said with a gentle smile as he opened the car door for me.

I thanked him before getting inside.

I closed my eyes, reliving every single one of them...

Because I knew I'd never experience those moments again.

YANA POV

"Are you okay?" I asked Eli after noticing her close her eyes as tears slowly rolled down her cheeks.

She nodded.

"I'm fine."

My heart ached for my best friend.

Ever since Auntie and Uncle passed away, it felt like she had lost the will to live.

She's trying to be strong in front of us because she doesn't want us to worry. 

Elisha wasn't just my best friend.

She was like the sister I never had.

That's why it hurt so much to watch her slowly fall apart while I stood there unable to do anything to ease her pain.

Her parents were such kind people.

They treated me like their own daughter.

I never even got the chance to tell them how lucky I was to have met them.

I gently held her hand.

"Just talk to me or call me if you want someone to talk to, okay? You are not alone because I am here for you. I'll be by your side no matter what happens," I said.

She just nodded. 

If I could take away the pain of best friend I would gladly take it. She's so precious to experience things like this.