A Visit

It is 5:30 pm on the 17th of April 2021.

The black-haired man gets down from his black Mercedes-Benz A-Class, he is dressed in an all-black suit but has a coat on instead of a suit jacket, and his black-gloved hand is holding two bouquets of Daffodils.

He looks up to the pole that has the street name written 'Mereit Nunu, Doutre.' it says. He looks at the big black gate on the other side of the road, his hazel eyes access the gate from all the paint that had been peeling to the faded words written in gold color on the gate 'Doutre Cemetary'.

He gave a little cough and crossed to the other side of the road where the big black gate guards a quiet ambiance.

He gets closer to the gate and greets the men guarding the gate with a nod to which they in return nod, they open the passage gate and let him in. When he got in, he is met with cold and dead silence, the silence was so intense the drop of a pin would be so loud.

There wasn’t much difference from the last time he was here. Some places had overgrown grass covering the stone, while someplace were neatly trimmed and taken care of.

He could see flowers being kept in front of some stones, while some of them had flowers that are a tad bit far from the stone. 'Could be the wind that blew it' he thought to himself.

He continues walking, taking slow graceful steps when he reached his destination, he looked down at the ash-colored stone that had his brother’s name, date of birth, and death and quotes about him engraved on it, the flowers he brought the last time were not there.

‘They must have removed it’, he thought to himself.

Sighing he puts one of the bouquets in front of the stone, then he crouched and looked at the stone with his bloodshot eyes. Running his fingers through his hair a tear slipped out of his eyes.

He didn't know when he started crying, he puts his face in his palm and sobbed to his heart's content. When he felt calm, he wiped his eyes and brought out a handkerchief from his pocket, then blew his nose.

"You must be laughing at how ridiculous I look, crying here like a baby" he chuckled and blew his nose again.

"I miss you man," he says "I… I… I know I should have come earlier when the family came to pay you respect" he sighs and looks away.

Biting his lower lips to prevent himself from crying any further. "I just couldn't, I… I was in my room crying my eyes out" he sobs.

He sighs and looks back at his brother's grave.

"When I sought the comfort of alcohol, I would always remember how pissed I made you those times I let those things influence me when I was younger." he gave a short laugh "Seeing you pissed the hell out that day made me furious with myself, I couldn't believe I almost disappointed the man I looked up to" he sniffled again.

"I am so sorry, I wish what happened didn't happen and I wished you could tell me how much of a sissy I am then we can go talk over everything with a drink tagging Caleb and Aiden with us" he sighs again.

“Your death still baffles me, I sometimes wake up in the morning and wish it was all a joke, you left in one piece saying you will be back but… but instead you were brought back in pieces” he shook his head

“It has been four years and I don't know when I will get over this. I didn't just lose my big brother but the woman I loved and..." another sob left his mouth "It still haunts me and I hope I will be able to forgive myself and gradually forget all that has happened."

He stayed for some time and after he had talked to his brother, he went to the other graveside that was located at the far end of the cemetery and dropped the other flower there, he was at a loss for words so he just cried.

…

The black-haired woman came out of the car she parked in the building's basement, the clicking sound of her gold heels could be heard as she made her way to the elevator that goes up to the penthouse of the twenty-fourth-floor building which is on the top floor.

She got in and waited for the elevator to reach the desired floor, while she waits, she adjusted her fitted red off-shoulder long-sleeve dress and checked her nails. Her hair was up in a ponytail.

The elevator dinged indicating she has reached, so she walks up to the door and fished out a key card from her red handbag, then swiped it on the card reader above the door handle.

The door opens and she let herself in, it was quite dark since the blinds are down, so she switched on the light and the light standing above the ceiling illuminates the entire sitting room with a bright white color.

She pulled her heels and settled for the pair of slippers that were at the entrance, she puts her handbag down on the nearest couch. Patricia placed her hands on her waist as she looks around the living room with an impressed look on her face.

She had expected to see a mess once she got here but seeing how neat the living room looked gave her hope that he was truly improving so, she decides to prepare him something for breakfast.

First, she wanted to get him a glass of juice to take in the morning before anything else so she took the cup from the kitchen and made her way upstairs then she opened the first door to her left and went in.

It was quite dark, mainly because of the windows that were shut and partly because of her son's dislike for bright colors. She just sighs and puts the tray on the table that is in between the bed and the mini couch.

Dimitri could be seen lying with his stomach facing the bed, the black mess on his head covering half of his face, and his pink lips slightly opened. He has the bedspread covering him from the waist down.

She shakes her head and went towards the curtain and opened it. The ray of sunlight penetrated into the room, giving the room a bit of light.

Dimitri felt the bright light flashing on his face, his brows furrowed as he gently opens his eyes, he used the pillow he was laying on to block the ray of light from blinding him.

"Oh GOD," he muttered in an annoyed tone.

Patricia turned to look at her son, with a shake of her head before walking up to him.

"It is nine in the morning, Miguel, get up,"

"Mama, please close the curtains," Dimitri muffled on the pillow.

She sat on the bed and tried to get the pillow from him but he held on to it tightly.

"Miguel," she tried again and he released the pillow "Miguel, I am worried"

Hearing that made him sit up to look at his Mum.

She still looks as beautiful as ever, he could see a little wrinkle underneath her eyes, and neck. Her black hair seems to have streaks of gray on her scalp but she has a worried look on her face, aside from that she looks good.

"About what, Mum?" he asks.

"About you" she replied, he just rolled his eyes and sighed. "You didn't come home yesterday"

He didn't say anything, just covers his face with his palm.

"I know you went to see your brother yesterday," she says.

No response.

"Dimitri you can't go on like this, you can't let what happened years ago determine how your life will turn out to be now and, in the future," she continues.

Still no response.

"Dimitri dear," she puts a hand on his shoulder.

He removed his hand from his palm to look at her, his eyes seem red like he was trying to stop himself from crying.

Patricia sighs and rubs comforting circles on his back.

"I don't like how things are going on with you these past few years, it's like you aren't getting any better," she said. “I know that you lost the woman you loved along with your baby girl but you can’t keep staying this way,” she tells him.

"Nothing is the matter with me mum," he said grumpily.

“I want you to know that you have your family here to talk about things that bother you. If it’s too much to handle, we will be here to offer our helping hand, always” she smiles and then pinched his cheek lightly.

He saw how worried she looked and he didn’t like it, he didn’t want anybody to worry on his account. He knew that Pricilla wasn’t his but regardless of the reality of things, she was his and when she died, it wasn’t easy, then his brother’s death took the cake and shattered everything for him.

He tried to relax and not get tensed, so he let out a sigh "Mum, I am fine. I promise" he said to her. “My place is clean and in order, that is an improvement, don’t you think?” he asked with a little smile on his lips.

Patricia didn’t look convinced so he took her hands in his and kissed them.

“I am fine, you have nothing to worry about, okay?”

“I will hold on to your word Miguel, please let it stay this way, improve even,” she told him and he nods then she smiles and kissed his cheek before standing to get the juice she got him and walked back to sit beside him. “Here you go, good as the first thing to take in the morning,” she said.

He took it and drank half the content “Gracias mamá,” he said then took the rest and placed the empty cup on his bedside table “Dad is really enjoying your healthy eating” he comments.

Patricia scoffed “Your dad? He wishes I don’t give him all these healthy meals,” she said with a laugh which he joined in. “But he can’t refuse what I give him so he has to take them because it’s good for him but he wouldn’t hear that” she threw her hands up in the air.

“He is stubborn” Dimitri comments and she raised a brow at him.

“You’re like your dad, let’s not even go there,” she tells him and he laughed.

He wrapped his arms around her small frame and then kissed her hair.

“Thank you, mum, you’re the best” he whispered to her and she let out a sigh.

“You are welcome, I try to be” she leans away “Just don’t try to make me sad, please” she begged.

“I’ll do my best mum”

“Thank you” she kissed his cheeks then stood up and grabbed the cup “I’ll make you something to eat, freshen up and come downstairs on time,” she said then left his room.

“Grateful for you mum” he whispered then stood to go get ready as she instructed.