OBITUARY

Ozora was sitting with her family in their respective chairs and ready to enjoy dinner.

"Dad, Ozora has something important to say before we eat." Geona immediately spoke because she had agreed to help Ozora to discuss it with her family.

"What do you want to talk about, girl?" Jacob turned his gaze to Ozora who always sat next to Geona.

"I want to teach in Africa, Dad." Ozora dared to speak after Geona opened the way.

"Africa?"

"Yes, Africa, Dad. I want to help the children there. They are poor and have no proper education. Too bad for them. May I?"

"But it's outback, my dear. It's dangerous for you." Aster joined their conversation.

"I know, Mom. But I'm not alone. Many friends go there. Can I join them?" whatever it is, the final decision still rests with the head of the family. Ozora would never go against the end result.

"Are you sure? It's true what your Mommy said. That's the outback. There will be no signal and we will not be able to reach you." Jacob asked again. He had to make sure it wasn't a momentary wish.

"Very sure, Dad. I promise to come home safely. Whatever the challenges there, I'll face them. I'm sure I can, dad. I can go there, right?"

Seeing Ozora's confidence, Jacob sighed in resignation. He let his eldest girl do what she felt was right in her conscience. "Okay. As long as you promise to come home safe and healthy. When are you leaving?"

"Next week, Dad."

"Well. I will take care of all your needs. Don't forget, before you leave, we have to take a family photo first."

"Why a family photo?" Geona frowned. "What do family photos have to do with Africa?"

"Suddenly I thought about it. If Ozo misses us, she can see the photo."

"I agree. At least I can still see your faces every day." Ozora agreed without thinking about anything else.

***

Jacob and his family purposely took Ozora to Dublin airport. "Be careful while there. If you don't like it, just go home. I am willing to pay compensation to the Foundation that sent you."

"Ready to execute!" With a cop-like salute Ozora stood tall in front of Jacob.

They exchanged hugs and let Ozora fulfill her wish. Ozora looks tomboyish. She wore black cropped jeans, boots that covered her feet to her knees, and a t-shirt that was covered with a plaid shirt. Not only that, her curly hair was covered in a black hat and on her back was a guitar. One of Ozora's hobbies was playing the guitar.

"Bubb!" A man bumped into Ozora's body and left her without apologizing.

"Not polite at all!" Ozora grumbled. Ozora's eyes caught on the dropped ticket. Ozora's guess was huge. The ticket must have belonged to the man.

"Sir!" Ozora called out while pulling the suitcase and brought the guitar hanging on her back. "Sir, wait! your ticket is falling!" Ozora screamed because the man was getting further away and Ozora couldn't catch him. Her suitcase was too heavy to run.

"Sorry, Miss. Let me give the ticket back to him. He is my boss. Looks like he accidentally dropped the ticket." A woman approached and invited Ozora to speak.

"Are you sure this is your boss' ticket?"

"If the name is the same that means it's my boss' ticket."

"What's your boss's name?" Ozora's eyes read the name written on the paper while waiting for the woman to say the name.

"Eldrick Zacharias. Our goal is to go to Japan."

"Yes that's right." Ozora returned the ticket to the woman in front of her. In her heart, Ozora wanted to meet the man. Ozora wanted to be angry that the man dared to bump into her but didn't apologize.

"Thank you, Miss."

"Tell your boss to learn manners. At least he apologized after making a mistake."

"Okay, Miss. I will do it." Fate as El's secretary makes the woman the target of Ozora's irritation. Shayna was used to dealing with such things.

***

"Where have you been?" El asked Shayna after sipping the americano coffee he had just ordered.

"You dropped your ticket. I have to take it first." Of course Shayna didn't dare pass on the message from Ozora. El could cut her salary if she dared to advise the boss.

"Shh!" El's memory returns. He was sure his ticket had fallen when it hit a reckless woman.

"Hold the ticket! Don't fall again!"

"Yes sir."

The two of them sat while waiting for the scheduled departure. Eldrick was busy with his laptop screen while occasionally sipping his coffee while Shayna was making plans while they were in Japan.

***

Three years have passed. Ozora has grown into a 26 years old woman. Her appearance was still the same. Stay tomboyish. She got off the plane pulling her suitcase. Ozora's curly hairs are tied in the middle of the back. Ozora was wearing a tank top covered by a denim jacket, and she was wearing ripped jeans and sneakers. Of course on Ozora's back hung a guitar-shaped bag.

"Finally I'm home." Ozora took a breath then her feet stepped towards the taxi group.

"Please take me to Green Forest Hospital."

From Dublin airport Ozora immediately headed for the hospital where Jacob works. She wanted to meet the man who saved her life. Ozora enjoyed every building in the city. It turned out that being separated for three years made Ozora really miss the city of Dublin. She couldn't wait to meet the family who always accept and provide warmth.

"Thank you sir." Ozora got out of the taxi and entered the hospital.

"Excuse me. I'd like to see doctor Jacob Northman."

"Did you have an appointment with him?"

"Not yet. Just say I'm a friend of Geona. Doctor Northman will definitely come out."

Ozora deliberately hid her arrival. She wanted to surprise her family but the first person she wanted to meet was Jacob. The grown man who gave her the bread when she had made the mistake of stealing the food. Ozora whistled softly while shaking her legs. Her hands were busy looking for job vacancies information from the internet.

"Ozora?" There was a male voice that Ozora really missed. Ozora's eyes lit up and a smile grew on the corners of her lips.

"Daddy!" Ozora wanted to leave her seat but Jacob had approached her first. They hugged and missed each other.

"When are you coming home? Why didn't you tell me?"

"I want to surprise you. Where's Mommy Aster, Dad?" Ozora asked Jacob's wife.

Ozora didn't get any news at all because after leaving for Africa her cell phone number couldn't be reached. Three years of service there Ozora finally decided to return to Ireland.

"Your Mom has gone, honey. I remarried to Rachel. You will definitely like her as much as your three siblings."

"Mommy Aster died?" Ozora was very surprised. Instantly tears streamed down her face.