2 The unknown stranger

Adina's POV:

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here..." I zoned out what the priest was saying as I stared at the enclosed cream and gold casket were 'he' was laid in.

I knew this wasn't a dream. I knew it was very real. It was all very real, but I just didn't want to believe it. He can't be gone. My only brother can't be gone.

I felt warm hands engulf mine in an attempt to give me strength. I stared at my mother. God she looked much more paler than she was yesterday. My fathers stoic face was just the same as yesterday. But then I saw a slow lone tear slip out of his eyes. I wasn't surprised though. His son was gone, his only son was gone. Even the hardest of men would definitely feel some kind of emotion in this moment.

I tightened my hold on my mothers hand. She was presently trying to hold back her tears, but it just wasn't working. She looked broken, which was exactly how I felt.

I didn't hear a single word the priest had said even until the very end. I zoned pretty much everything out.

I stared at the casket as they lowered it into the already dug hole. So this was it huh? This was really happening?

"...oney, honey, it's over. Let's go" I heard the familiar deep gruff voice of my father call to my attention. I was so out of it that I didn't hear him calling for me at first.

I turned to smile at him "Don't worry dad. Please just carry mummy home. She needs rest. I want to stay back for a while" A deep frown edged on his face. He knew why I wanted to stay back. To cry my heart out. And boy was he right.

"Are you sure Addy?" That soothing voice of his that I loved all so much asked.

I nodded my head "Yes daddy"

"But how will you come home?" He sometimes worried way too much.

I playfully rolled my eyes "Dad you know there is something called Uber right" He frowned "You know I don't trust all those transportation services. They can kidnap you shabi you know that abi?" That mentality of African parents really.

"Daddy nau" I pleaded.

"Fine" He sighed "But please don't come home late" And with that he and my mother left. The place was completely empty now. Those that came for the burial had also left. It was only me that was left standing in the vast empty cemetery.

I sighed and whispered to my brothers grave "I will miss you" I proceeded to sit down near the grave, then I bent my head down to my laps. And the next thing I know the tears I had been desperately holding in began to flow down my cheeks freely. I was weeping like a child, and I didn't care if anyone saw or even heard me.

In the midst of me crying, I suddenly felt a presence beside me.

"Are you okay?" A deep male voice spoke up. I was a little surprised as I didn't hear any approaching footsteps.

"Shit sorry. Of course you're not okay, we are in a cemetery after all. Forget what I said before that was a stupid question" I snorted a little as the unknown male rambled on. I sniffed a little ceasing my tears.

"It's okay" I mumbled slightly amused. Who would have thought that it would be a random stranger that would lift my mood a little.

My head was still resting on my lap. I didn't want to raise my head. Yeah I know he might have been a serial killer or a kidnapper sef, but for some reason I didn't sense any hostility emitting from the stranger. Call me stupid, but that was just how It felt to me.

Till this day, I don't really remember exactly what I and that stranger had talked about that day. But for some reason any time I recalled that particular memory of me talking with that person in the cemetery, I always remembered it as one of my best memories.