More than me

Gracie had just received the devastating news of her parents' passing, a reality she found nearly impossible to grasp. The words echoed in her mind, a cruel refrain that she couldn't accept.

"No, it's not possible!" she cried out, her voice trembling with anguish. "They just went on a trip! I don't believe it—please tell me it's not true!" Her heart raced as denial surged through her, each syllable a desperate plea for a different outcome.

The man who had come to deliver the news stood there, unsure of how to respond. He could see the raw pain etched across her face, and he knew that no matter what he said, he wouldn't be able to provide the answers she so desperately sought. In that moment, silence felt like the safest option.

As Gracie continued to cry, she grappled with the weight of such a tragic event. The sight of the man—Drake—only intensified her sorrow, his presence a stark reminder that her parents were truly gone. Each tear she shed felt like a tribute to the love she had lost.

Breaking the heavy silence, Drake finally spoke, his voice gentle yet firm. "Your parents' funeral has already taken place. They were cremated in their hometown, where the accident occurred. It was a car accident, Gracie. Your relatives decided to hold the funeral and perform the cremation immediately, as is the tradition to honor a family member who has passed."

Gracie's tears began to slow as she processed his words, but the realization that she hadn't been able to attend her parents' funeral only deepened her anguish. How could she mourn them properly when she had been so far away from everything that mattered?

"The Columbarium where your parents' ashes are kept is in your hometown," Drake continued, his voice calm and soothing. "I can take you there if you'd like. I know this is an unimaginable experience for you, but I want you to know that you have me now. I'm your uncle—twice removed—Drake."

"My uncle? Twice removed?" Gracie's brow furrowed in confusion. "My parents never mentioned anything about an uncle like that. In fact, I don't know anything about any of my relatives." The declaration caught her off guard, momentarily distracting her from the overwhelming grief that threatened to consume her.

Drake noticed the shift in her expression and seized the opportunity to explain. "Ah, yes. I'm from your father's side of the family. He and I are cousins, but he never really kept in touch with his cousins from the same generation. It's a long story."

Gracie sat in silence, processing the information. The sudden revelation of an uncle—someone she had never known—felt surreal. In the wake of her parents' loss, she realized she was now the last link in her family's chain, and the thought of being alone was suffocating. With no siblings and her parents gone, she felt adrift in a sea of uncertainty, grappling with the complexity of grief and the unfamiliarity of a newfound family connection.

"Are you going to take me in?" Gracie's innocent yet broken gaze pierced through the heavy atmosphere, melting her uncle's heart. It was a simple question, yet it carried the weight of her entire world, leaving him momentarily speechless.

That was the very reason he had come to her house, but finding the right words to convey his intentions felt daunting. He could sense her desire to remain in the comfort of her parents' home, a place filled with memories, but he knew that leaving her there alone was not an option. Someone has to take her in, he thought resolutely.

Drake crouched down to meet her eyes, the gravity of the situation reflected in his expression. "I know how you feel—maybe not completely, but I understand. Your parents aren't coming back. Someone has to take care of you, and I'm willing to take on that responsibility. You're still young, and you have your whole life ahead of you. So, whether you like it or not, you have to come with me. This way, your parents can be at peace wherever they are."

The mention of her parents struck a chord deep within Gracie, causing fresh tears to well up in her eyes. Her uncle was right; staying in the house would only serve as a painful reminder of her loneliness and loss.

"So, where are you taking me? To my hometown?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Your parents are in your hometown," Drake confirmed gently, "but that's not where I live. It's not far from your hometown anyway, so you can visit them whenever you want."

The knowledge that her uncle's home was close to where her parents rested brought a sense of comfort to Gracie, easing some of the weight on her heart.

"Okay, I will come with you, but first, I want to see my parents before going to your home," she declared, the resolve in her voice a small victory against the tide of sorrow.

After discussing the details of her new life at her uncle's home, Gracie went to pack her belongings. She took her time, fully aware that this might be the last opportunity she would ever have to be in her childhood home. With tears glistening in her eyes, she silently bid farewell to the place that had shaped her, filled with countless memories that would forever remain in her heart.

"Let me help you with your bags; they look quite heavy," her uncle offered, stepping forward with genuine concern.

"Thank you, but I think I can manage," she replied, a stubborn determination in her voice. For some reason, she wanted to carry her bags on her own. Each weighty item felt like a way to bear the pain of whatever the world had in store for her next.

Drake had arrived in a pickup truck, anticipating that she would have a lot to carry, and he was right. After helping her load the bags into the trunk, they set off on their journey. The drive was enveloped in silence, an awkwardness hanging in the air that Drake felt compelled to break.

"Are you hungry?" he asked, trying to fill the void.

Gracie shook her head softly, her appetite vanished along with her parents. The mere thought of food felt like a cruel reminder of the life she once knew—one filled with laughter and shared meals that now felt impossibly distant. The idea of eating seemed trivial and hollow, overshadowed by the weight of her grief. She managed a small "no," just loud enough for him to hear.

Not wanting to push her further, Drake chose to let the conversation fade into silence.

"We're here!" he finally announced, gesturing toward the columbarium they had just arrived at, a solemn structure that held the memories of countless loved ones.

"I will take you to your parents," he said gently, ready to guide her through this painful yet necessary step in her journey.

Her uncle gestured to the columbarium they had just arrived at.

"I will take you to your parents"

As she stepped out of the car, she steeled herself for the sight that awaited her—a stark confirmation that she was not dreaming and that her parents were truly gone.

With each heavy step she took toward her parents, her breath grew unsteady. Following her uncle, who finally stopped at an entrance, she knew deep down that this was not a dream.

"This is where your parents are now, you can visit anytime you want"

Her uncle gestured toward a glass-fronted niche in the columbarium, where their ashes were lovingly preserved in an urn.

"Can I be alone with my parents?"

She spoke with a tone that clearly conveyed her desire to be alone, and her uncle had no choice but to respect her wish.

She went close to the glass and before going, her uncle gave her a key which could open the glass.

Even though she held the key, she couldn't bring herself to open the glass—not now. All she wanted was to speak with them.

Gracie felt the familiar sting of tears in her eyes as she stood before the Columbarium, the final resting place of her beloved parents. Steeling herself, she reached out and gently traced their names etched into the cold, polished marble, a bittersweet ache blossoming in her chest.

With a deep, steadying breath, she began to speak, her voice soft yet unwavering. "Mama, Papa, I miss you both so much. My life has changed so much since you've been gone." She paused, allowing the weight of her words to settle, before continuing.

"Every day, I wish I could hear your voices, feel your hugs, and see your smiles. The house feels so empty without you." Tears spilled down her cheeks, but she made no effort to wipe them away, allowing them to flow freely as she poured her heart out.

"But I promise, I will visit you here as often as I can. I want to keep you updated on my journey—the highs and the lows. Whenever I need to vent, to seek comfort, I will come to you. I know you're always with me, watching over me."

Gracie paused again, her fingers tracing the letters of her parents' names with reverence. "I'm going to live a life that will make you proud. I won't let your deaths be in vain. I'll carry on, and I'll do it with the strength and resilience you both instilled in me."

As she spoke the final words, Gracie felt a sense of catharsis wash over her. The grief was still raw, the pain ever-present, but there was a newfound determination that burned within her. Her parents may be gone, but their love and guidance would forever be her guiding light.

With one last lingering look, Gracie pressed her fingers to her lips and then to the Columbarium, a silent gesture of farewell. Turning on her heel, she steeled herself for the journey ahead, knowing that her parents would be with her every step of the way.