Chapter 152: Liz Murray

Funeral rites in Western countries are fundamentally religious, meaning religion truly permeates the life of the faithful from beginning to end.

In this context, a priest not only conducts rituals but also provides spiritual support, offering comfort, encouragement, and solace, playing a crucial role in prayer, recitation of scripture, and conveying God's comfort and hope.

For families of faith, the presence of a priest can bring peace of mind and confidence.

"This departure is a painful experience for us, but we must remember, it is not the end but the beginning of another journey for the departed.

The departure of the deceased is part of the cycle of life; their spirit will continue to exist and forever inspire us."

In front of a vast new cemetery, everyone mourned with York's eulogy, especially Bridget and her sister Casey, the survivors and last remaining members of their family, who were inconsolable.

Between them stood their father, Eugene, alongside relatives of other deceased, including Jeffrey, Baker, and some police officers, watching the priest and the new graves in silence.

The atmosphere of a funeral always weighs heavily on the heart.

"Let us pray together that God grants peace and solace to the souls of the departed and that the families and friends of the deceased find comfort and strength in this difficult time.

Finally, let us remember the lives of the departed, cherish the love and companionship we shared, and move forward with hope and courage, wishing for the eternal rest of their souls in heaven."

Watching the newly made graves, York made the sign of the cross with a heavy heart.

"Amen."

Everyone behind him also closed their eyes and bowed their heads for the final farewell.

After a while,

The funeral ended, and those who needed to leave had already gone.

"Thank you, Father, I know it was you who saved Bridget and the children." Only a weary middle-aged man remained to offer his sincere thanks.

"They are my last treasures."

York, undisturbed, looked towards Bridget and Casey in the distance, "No need for thanks, if possible, I only hope you can fulfill your duties as a father."

Eugene also looked at his daughters, earnestly saying,

"I will, Father."

York nodded, "God will remember your words."

The middle-aged man nodded back and walked away with large strides, pulling Bridget and Casey, who kept looking back, slowly away.

"Sigh."

Watching the father and daughters, now dependent only on each other, disappear, York turned to face the new graves, standing quietly in the wind for a long time before sighing.

"I really didn't do it for this purpose."

Just now, he had received the last gratitude from the deceased.

[The Collective Blessing of Reed Apartment Building]

[Blessing Feedback: +2 Attribute Points]

This was unexpected and brought a moment of enlightenment.

Often, in situations like these, when he genuinely wished for the dead to rest in peace without any ulterior motive, he would receive something in return.

When he had a specific goal in mind, he often ended up empty-handed.

Looking at the virtual window in front of him, York allocated the newly acquired two attribute points to his overall constitution.

[Point Allocation Successful]

[Overall Constitution increased from 75 to 77]

"Just 24 points away from breaking a hundred..."

Feeling the instant feedback of the allocation in his body, holding the Bible, York scanned the new graves once more before turning to leave.

Before he had gone far, a girl with a skinny frame, wearing an ill-fitting hoodie and jeans, carrying a worn backpack, approached with a blank expression, hands in her pockets.

York stepped aside to let her pass, and she politely nodded without waiting for a response, walking towards the interior, her demeanor calm yet silent.

For some reason, even though they merely passed by each other, York felt a deep despair and struggle hidden beneath her indifferent and calm facade.

Recalling the first impression of her faded hoodie without a distinguishable logo, worn at the knees jeans covered in clay stains, and her dirty shoes,

York instinctively looked back.

In his view, the girl was standing in front of an unburied grave, staring blankly at a coffin inside the pit.

York's brow furrowed, watching her suddenly climb down into the grave, curl up on top of the coffin, hugging her legs.

In the empty cemetery, with only the cold wind blowing, the girl looked as forlorn and helpless as a stray kitten licking its wounds, invoking a feeling of compassion.

Seeing this, York remembered what Jeffrey had told him about the cemetery.

Nas Cemetery doesn't charge for burial, making it the preferred resting place for impoverished families to bury their loved ones.

Due to poverty and lack of money, many buried here didn't have a formal funeral, no priest, no eulogy, just a hole dug and buried on the spot.

And so, with too many single tenants dying in Reed Apartments without family or anyone to claim them, the official organization had no choice but to arrange their resting place here.

York remained silent, watching.

Given the known information, it was likely another sad case.

The person in the coffin was probably her last remaining family member.

Thinking this, York slowly approached.

Encountering such a scene, he couldn't just watch and do nothing.

Finally, standing in front of the grave with nothing but a pit and a coffin, a digger approached, its engine roaring. York, holding the Bible, glanced over.

Perhaps the sound of the digger caught the girl's attention, but she just looked up, continued lying on the coffin without saying a word, her grip on her legs gradually loosening as she lay face down on the coffin.

Seeing the digger coming closer, possibly to start filling the grave, York gently asked,

"Child, what is your name?"

The seemingly indifferent girl propped herself up on the upper half of the coffin, looking up at the tall priest for a few seconds before obediently responding,

"Liz Murray."

Her voice was soft, but York heard it.

The digger arrived nearby at that moment.

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