Note that some events may be triggering to some readers. This is for entertainment purposes as well as for learning purposes, nothing else! You've been warned! With that said, thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy! God bless! :)

On a sunny morning, around 7:00 AM, Marie slams Callie's door wide open. "Callie!" she cried. Callie popped up in shock from the scream. "What is it, Marie?" she asked. When she saw her cousin in tears, it couldn't be good. "It's my mother...she's dead!" Okay, okay! We never knew of Marie's mother, well not really but she's dead.

"What!?" Callie exclaimed.

"I never saw this coming! She was so young!" Marie cried.

"Oh, Marie. I'm so sorry!"

Callie runs to her cousin and cries with her. She's never seen Marie like this in ages (not since elementary school): she's always calm and witty. Little did the two cousins know, that this was going to change their lives forever. Death is certain for all of us, but we don't know when or how it's gonna happen. All we know is: it will happen.

The funeral was planned to happen in a few days after the autopsy was over. Many of Callie and Marie's family was gonna be there, even Sandy's (not from Spongebob) husband who was a jerk to her. Yes, I decided to name Marie's mom Sandy. What? Gotta better idea? It's all I got! Anyway, this cheater's name is Konbu and he's not even Marie's real dad but rather her step-dad. Of course, his family is gonna show up and they aren't a nice bunch.

After calming down, Callie and Marie finally have breakfast. The two didn't talk much at all, silence between these cousins is uncommon. Cuttlefish was rather grumpy this morning, but it was because he thinks Konbu's responsible for Sandy's death. Is he? Well, they won't know until the autopsy is done. Still, that man is a squit! He talked to other women online claiming he's a single dad. What a liar! Marie is mad at him for that and so was Sandy. She gave him the talk, boy did he not like it.

When the clock struck 3:00 PM, the phone rang. *ring*ring*

"Oh, I wonder who that is?" Cuttlefish said heading for the phone. "Hello?"

"Is this Cuttlefish?" a man asked.

"Speaking, who is this?"

"This is Jared, we finished the autopsy and we've concluded Sandy died of a heart attack."

"I see, well thank you Jared."

"I'm so sorry for your loss. Take it easy, okay?"

"Will do, bye."

Cuttlefish then went to tell Marie about the autopsy and she started to get mad all of a sudden. "Those squits never bothered to examine the REAL problem!" she yelled kicking a chair. Who is she referring to? The doctors, Sandy's had seizures for a long time and they only focused on sleep studies and such. She also had diabetes so that could have triggered a heart attack. Either way, Maire was bitter towards doctors in general. It didn't matter who, doctors to her were complete idiots and don't give a carp about anything. But that's not true of course: doctors care very much. Some just aren't as good as others.

"Marie.." Callie said pulling her away from anything she could throw or knock over. The poor Inkling was in great pain and Callie felt it. She held onto her cousin for as long as she needed to. It was 3:30 PM before Marie decided to let go and try to do something productive. But she ended up sleeping the day away due to emotional exhaustion.

The visitation started the next day for Marie and her family to properly grieve over Sandy's death and for others to comfort them. Callie stood by her cousin all the way, but she was becoming pale as if the life is being sucked out of her. "Marie, what's going on?" she asked. No answer, just constant sobs. Konbu was "broken", but in reality he was putting on a show. Throughout the visitation he was hitting on other girls, even some from Callie's family. How odd…

"Hey, sorry for your loss." some fans said. They gave Marie some flowers to show their empathy and then left her alone to grieve. Not many fans went up to the Squid Sisters because Cuttlefish told them to let his granddaughters be. Suddenly, an old man went up to the two and said, "Your mom is in a better place now, hon. It will get better, I promise." Callie was dumbfounded that he was telling this to her instead of Marie. "Uh, sweetie. Marie is the other girl." his wife said. This all felt awkward to them, but he's elderly so this happens.

5:30 PM, the Squid Sisters leave with their grandpa. "Hey, Marie. What do you want for dinner?" Callie asked. "I'm not hungry." Marie moaned. She appeared like a lifeless doll now: just limp in the car tied to a seatbelt. Poor Marie, will she ever recover?

The next day, Marie didn't wake up until 3:00 PM because she was up all night crying. To her surprise though, the table was full of gifts from fans to show their condolences. Some letters were tied to a vase of flowers containing words of life. Yet, it had no real effect on Marie. Nothing could change the fact her mother is dead.

"I made you some breakfast, Maire." Callie said holding out a plate of pancakes.

"Thanks, but I'm not hungry." she said limping to the couch.

"Can I get you anything?"

"No."

Callie begin to feel heavy as Marie which made her lose her appetite. Cuttlefish was able to eat the pancakes though because he needs energy for his speech at the funeral tonight. Callie sits next to Marie with her heart heavy with grief. Breathing was becoming a challenge for the both of them as well as everyday things. The two cousins sat down till it was time to leave and Cuttlefish had to help them to the car.

The funeral home was packed with Callie and Marie's family as well as friends. Sadly, the two cousins were separated: Marie had to move to the front with Cuttlefish and a few others that were very close to Sandy. Callie did stay behind Marie so she can be somewhat close. Still, she wished she could sit next to her best friend.

"Ahem!" a man's voice said through a mic. Everyone's attention was turned to him. It was Cuttlefish, he was beginning to speak. "Sandy was a mother to my beloved granddaughter Marie." he began. "She was only thirty-seven when she passed away. It goes to show no matter how young or old you are, death is around the corner." Cuttlefish went on and on like Sheldon when he gets in new weapons. Callie couldn't stand it, nor could Konbu: he was looking at his watch the whole time.

When Cuttlefish wrapped it up, it was time to close the casket. But before that, Marie kissed her mom's forehead which was cold like a sidewalk in winter. Then she wept as several strong men carried the casket outside and into the back of a large van. Callie went to comfort her cousin, but others got there before her. She hung her head low in disappointment and walked away to the car. When she got in, she turned on the radio and "Tide Goes Out" was playing and it made her cry. So Callie turned it off and waited for Marie and Cuttlefish.

The line of cars heading to the graveyard was massive, but not as massive as the amount of gravestones in the grass. Upon arrival, the casket was taken out and placed in a hole dug by several men. Before burying it, Cuttlefish allowed Marie to say some final words. "I'm sorry I didn't get to spend more time with you. And if I hadn't told you that I love you, then I do." Marie gave them the okay to bury the casket. Seeing this unfold shifted something inside her: an emptiness began to grow. Callie wanted to get close to her, but so many people were blocking her way. Konbu left early because he was "too depressed" to stay for the dinner. "Good riddance, squit!" Callie said silently in her head.

After a few last words were said, Callie finally reunited with her cousin who was stiff as the gravestones. "Come on, Marie." Before she could finish, her stomach growled. Marie then began to laugh at last. "Yeah, I'm hungry too." she said. For eel? Grief is an odd process, but this took Callie by surprise. It felt good to see her cousin gain an appetite for dinner though. The tables were filled with sweets that Callie devoured in minutes, but Marie restrained her from eating it all. Other tables had pizza and burgers, hot dogs and marshmallows. Just like in the Splatfests, of course Callie won those two.

"This is good stuff!" Callie said with a mouth full of food.

"Callie, don't talk with your mouth full." Marie said handing her a drink.

The two cousins ate till they popped and then enjoyed the company of their family. Once they got home, Marie went straight to bed. Callie was shocked about that, but she knows Marie is grieving. Since everyone was going to bed, she thought of jumping on the bandwagon. Except, Callie went to send letters to the venues her and Marie were to perform at to cancel the shows. The fans understood, but were still disappointed.

Months later, not much has changed. Marie is still grieving and has been locked up for a while. Until, the doorbell rings. "Marie! Someone's here for you!" Callie yelled. When Marie ran to the door, a handsome Inkling boy stood before her. He was about Marie's age only a few years older, his hair was blue, short and straight, and his eyes were green. "Hey, I'm one of your fans and I wanted to give this to you personally." he said handing her a box. Marie opened it and it was a black necklace that matched her outfit.

"This is perfect, thanks." she said taking a bow.

"You're welcome, by the way my name is Koral." he said taking Marie's hand.

"It's nice to meet you, Koral."

Marie and Koral then formed a romantic tie and Callie didn't really like it. She's not the romantic type since having a relationship would only get in the way of her work. "Well, I'll see you later." Koral said leaving. "Maybe tomorrow for lunch?" Marie interjected. Callie flipped! "Hey! We were supposed to have-" Marie then pushed Callie aside. "Sounds good, see ya then." Callie got up and dusted her outfit.

"What was that about!?" Callie yelled. Marie didn't answer. "Hello! Inkopolis to Marie!" She waved her hand in front of her cousin and finally she came to. "Oh, uh...we can have dinner now." Someone's in love, and it's Marie. She thinks this will "cure" her from this sadness. Will it?