Act 4, Chapter 8

It wasn't long until the pastor entered the chapel.

Your great-uncle's sister gave a speech, then the pastor said something and the funeral song was played.

As the song echoed through the chapel, you could see her shoulders shaking out of the corner of your eye.

You silently took her hand that was on her lap and squeezed it.

She looked at you briefly and smiled at you gratefully, tears in her eyes, before she also squeezed your hand and looked back at the ballot box.

Hand in hand you walked to the place where the urn was going to be buried at the graveyard, behind the pastor and behind the urn, which was being carried by two men.

When you arrived, the urn was lowered into the ground, a woman passed you and gave you a rose, which you threw into the hole on the urn.

After the formal and the oppressive silence that made you cry too, she turned to you, her hand still in yours.

"Come along to the mourning at my house, we can talk calmly there and I can show everyone how big you've grown!" She had to smile at her last words and you just couldn't help but accept her invitation.

Shortly after you got into your car and just drove after hers, you couldn't help but sigh.

Originally you had only planned to come to the ceremony and then drive home, but now you were on your way to the house of a stranger who nevertheless felt so familiar.

The journey only lasted a fifteen minutes and the rain that had fallen in the meantime had also stopped again, the fog was now as good as gone.

You parked right behind her in the driveway, she was already out when you parked your car and was waiting for you.

She came towards you after you turned off the engine.

"What do you have a box in your car for?" she asked.

That's right, you wanted to ask about those things.

Without further ado you explained to her what it was and she said she would like to take the box.

She would also get some of the ashes from the urn and told you she could set up a memorial shrine with her brother's things.

you liked the idea.

Not only that she wanted to make the shrine in her brother's memory, but also that the things you brought with you had found a new place.

A good place with someone who really wanted them and her approval made you feel like you helped.

While you were still talking and you were getting the box out, several cars were parked around the house, you recognized the faces from the ceremony and a short time later you were sitting on a chair in the house.

Your great-aunt kept coming to you and passing you with people, introduced you and many of them seemed to remember you.

Only half an hour later the buffet arrived that she had ordered and everyone gathered at the two tables put together to eat.

Several parts of the table would engage you in conversation, mostly about the past.

You were asked what you had been doing since childhood, how school was for you, how your parents were doing and you told everything that could be of any interest.

"Do you still live with your parents?" suddenly a woman asked, as far as you knew she was the daughter of a close friend of your great-uncle and only 10 years older than you.

"Oh no, I moved into his old house. I live there now." You gave the honest answer.

"And how do you like it?" came the next question.

"The house is big and beautiful." You said when you were suddenly asked if it wasn't lonely, you stopped shortly.

At the very beginning yes, you felt lonely, but that was also the time when you didn't know anything about Chrollo.

Your reply was delayed.

"Well, not really.  I think I got used to it quickly." You were glad that your surprised pause was only seen as a consideration because a little later everyone was talking to each other again.

You stayed a lot longer than you thought and wanted, but you just hadn't felt so welcome and safe in a long time.

It was almost infinitely difficult for you to say goodbye and to leave.

But you left your phone number to your great-aunt, you had told so many good things about the house that she wanted to visit you and that was anything but a problem for you.

At least if Chrollo played along like he did with your parents.

When you finally got home an hour later, it was 6 p.m.

You dropped onto the sofa in the living room and sighed comfortably.

No matter how sad the occasion was, today was a good day.

After a long time you spoke to other people, socialised, and felt really welcome and comfortable.

You opened your e-mails with your mobile phone and one landed in your inbox from someone you didn't know.

The subject read 'Job Ad' and immediately you sat up straight before opening the e-mail through and just skimming through it.

You were hired, you were actually hired!

You jumped up full of joy, almost jumped through the house and couldn't help but be endlessly happy.

After you calmed down a bit, you went up to your bedroom and changed, then you went to the kitchen to really celebrate your new job.

You took the alcohol out of the cupboard and poured yourself a glass.

Because you were doing several things besides drinking, you didn't even notice how much of the liquid ended up in your system.

One glass after the other disappeared in your throat, the effect hit you in one swoop and you could barely stand on your feet.

You fell back onto the sofa laughing, closed your eyes so the world wouldn't spin so fast.

However, you didn't have the strength to open your eyes again and only a few moments later you fell asleep.