Grief

The clouds colored grey and they looked weighted possibly by the water inside them through the condensation process, awaiting for the right time and the right spot to rain. Well, some said raining on a funeral was considered normal as the clouds may followed the mourning humans, crying for the death of an innocent life.

Inside a church, a pastor was reciting prayers to the black coffin before him. Although he had done this for many people's deaths, his wrinkled face was stained with tears, overwhelmed by sadness.

He was not the only one to cry the death. The pew in the church were seated by crying men and women. They grieved to the death of the innocent soul named Haru Ichinose. The community knew her as the kindest female politician to ever spend her time in donating money for the orphans and and sponsoring the payments on many sick kids in all of the hospitals in Tokyo.

At the front pew, a woman with blue single ponytail hair in a black suit was observing her lover's coffin. Her head lowered and her eyes were teary, crying for the death of her lover. Seven years ago, she almost lost Haru when she stabbed her chest on the final challenge of the Black Class Assassination Programme. Now, she had completely lost her due to brain cancer.

How can Haru hid this fact from her for the past five months before her death? Tokaku was a wealthy businesswoman who owned a weapon industry. Her money was more than enough to pay for Haru's chemotherapy treatments. Hence, she could have saved her if she just revealed her sickness to her, her lover, before she left Japan to seek for global collaboration and meet her overseas clients at Italy.

However, as the kind-hearted and selfless she was, Haru intended not to tell Tokaku about her stage four cancer. Instead, Haru spent most of her days with her by inviting her to lunch and meeting the kids from the hospitals and the orphanage.

One night, Haru was found unconsciously stumbled to the road when she was crossing the zebra cross after a painful headache suddenly attacked her head. The people around immediately called the ambulance. A woman gave her a CPR while waiting for the ambulance and paramedics arrived. When she was sent to the hospital, it was too late. The doctor diagnosed she passed away from brain cancer caused by her lack of sleep due to her busy schedules as a politician.

Tokaku knew the news of Haru's death when she was watching

Japan bulletin on her apartment TV. Listening to the news, she froze on her stand. The remote TV in her hand was dropped to the floor, shaking by the astonishment she felt.

Hurriedly, Tokaku retrieved her phone from the lamp desk and searched for any flight to Japan available. She put her stuffs into her luggage, packaging all valuable things. She went to the airport by an Uber car she ordered on the night. When she arrived at the hospital, the doctor informed her that Haru had passed away.

Now, it was time for Haru to rest in peace under the ground. Her coffin was carried outside to the grave nearby the church. Tokaku was among of the carrier. She fought her tears while accompanying Haru's coffin. Guilt and regret caught on her throat, overwhelmed by sorrow.

The rain came down once the coffin had been placed. After the pastor's wishes, a few men shoved a pile of dirt and started to cover the coffin. Men and women stayed under the umbrellas they held in their hands except for Tokaku, watching the coffin slowly planted under the ground.

As time passed, the visitors were fading away. But, Tokaku still stood. Her striking blue eyes glued on the newly made grave of Haru. Her blue long locks and suits were soaked wet. However, she reacted unfazed by her current condition as her mind was flooded with grief. She loved Haru more than anything. And, she lost her for real at that very moment.

The pastor saw her soaking wet under the rain. He approached the woman, resting a hand on her shoulder to gain her attention. Tokaku turned to meet the pastor's sure eyes.

" Daughter, I know you're grieving. Indeed, parting away from your loved ones forever is one of the most difficult moment in your life. But, daughter, I have a feeling that your friend refused to let you catch a cold just to grieve her death. Come inside the church, my dear. There is warm soup to heat you up." The pastor gently and softly convinced the sad woman to take shelter in the church,to which she agreed to and trailed the pastor as he led her inside the church.

Sitting at the bench at the church canteen, Tokaku was served a bowl of steaming hot vegetables soup by a nun.

"Here is your soup, my daughter. Savor it to warm your cold body."

Tokaku nodded. She used a spoon from the bowl and slurped the soup. Soon after, the pastor from before appeared with a towel. He handed it to her, begging her to wipe herself dry.

Tokaku thanked him and wiped her wet hair and neck, momentarily stopped savoring the hot soup. The pastor seated before her. He gazed at the sad woman and comforted her.

"Daughter, Haru is a good soul. She will be at God's side once she reached to Heaven."

Tokaku listened to the pastor. Then, she started to speak after a while being silent." It is my fault, Father. I don't have the slightest clue about her illness. If only I know about it earlier..." She trailed as she sniffled."If only I know about it earlier, I could have stay with her instead of staying overseas to expand my business," her monotone voice turned unsteady.

" Daughter," the pastor trailed, his voice hinted with sympathy to the woman." The death of Haru happened maybe caused by your lack of awareness but it is not. It is caused by fate designed by God, the only one to decide life and death of humans on this world. You are not to blame yourself. Death of a human can't be the end but a beginning of a new life for other human. You must move on, my dear,"

" I'm sorry,Father. I can't move on without her," Tokaku said.

The pastor fell silent." Your mind is clouded with sadness and grieveness, my dear. You need time to think," He advised.

Before he left the woman as he must settle matter in the church, he asked a nun to lend him his bag. The nun obediently handed him a brown bag and was thanked by the pastor. The pastor then retrieved an ebony robe with purple hoods from the bag. He gave Tokaku the robe.

" What is this, Father?" Tokaku asked.

"I wanted to give you this robe. I have been keeping this around for a long time. I intended to give Haru since she loved old fashion clothes but since she is gone, I just give it to you," He explained.

Tokaku's gaze focused on the robe. After a brief moment of silence, she thanked the pastor.

" Tonight, you wear it and see yourself in the robe on the mirror. Perhaps, Haru will be happy to see you in it when visiting you before she leaves to the spirit world."

Tokaku was never a believer in spirits neither the afterlife. However, she could honor her death tonight by wearing the robe she would likely fall in love with.