Being Human is Being in Pain

Sydney stood in the rain, an umbrella above her head. She wore a plain black suit. A small girl clasped her hand. Sydney looked down at the crying girl who stood beside her.

'Autumn, don't worry honey. Everything's going to be alright. We have to be strong. Be strong for mummy.'

Autumn nodded and hugged her mother. Even at the young age of 6 it was easy to her resemblance to her mother. And her mother's mother. Autumn had inherited the classic Derevko beauty. Except her eyes. Her eyes were bright green and were usually very bright. Today was an exception.

Sydney stood again. She saw the crowd at the other side of the grave. She new they wanted to talk to her, but she couldn't face them. Not yet. Tears streamed down her face as she thought of the husband she had just lost. The father Autumn had just lost. The face that had once never failed to bring a smile to her face now haunted her.
When she had found out she was pregnant, she had quit the spy business and had become an English teacher at the local high school. He however, had kept his job, assuring her there was no risk. Now, she wished she had made him. But now, wishes were useless. They didn't do anyone any good.

People began to leave. She watched through her blurry gaze as Eric Weiss approached her and placed a hand on her shoulder.

'Sydney? Are you okay getting home?'

She didn't answer. She knew if she turned around she would break down. She was no good to anyone especially as a mother, if she did. She had to stay strong. At least until Autumn went to sleep. She nodded.

Eric bent down and kissed the top of the little girl's head. 'So kid, you look after mummy, will you?'

Autumn giggled and nodded. Sydney almost smiled. She'd always been very close with her godfather.

They stood there. Not moving, not anything. It was getting late. Sydney sighed as she picked up her daughter and made her way to the car, stopping only once to look at the writing on the grave stone for what seemed like the thousandth time.

Michael Vaughn

Loving husband
Caring father

1967 - 2010

Things happened. People died. That's how life was. You just had to get used to it. There was pain in everyone's life. Perhaps more in some than others. Sydney had most definitely had her fair share. But then, deep down she knew. Being human was being in pain.