Today was the day. I looked down at my black, velvet dress that tailored just above my knee. I sighed to myself and then looked back at the full length mirror surveying my appearance. I was a wreck, my eyes were puffy and bloodshot, my cheeks were tearstained and my body was shaking. I could feel the tears swelling up in my eyes again; straining them back and looking back down; staring at my feet. I looked back up; staring at my lifeless body; raising one hand, moving it left to right. I couldn't help but let a few tears roll down my face; across my nose and onto the floor. It had been exactly one week now, since my mother had passed away. our family was holidaying in the Bahamas, and amazing place to be. I was soaking up a luscious tan around the pool, as my brother Dan got up to know good. And dad, he'd have his nose sunk into the paper, every now and then raising his head just to check what we rebellious teens were getting up to.

Of course, no one's life had a happy ending- and before mums incident, I thought we were the only family who had a happy one.

My mum was at Wal-Mart; buying groceries for our BBQ that night with the Woods family, close friends of dad. Mr Woods was in real estate, hoping to sell our 3 story house. He was a stern, yet friendly man, however sometimes he made very inappropriate calls. Dad said he only hung around us to convince us to sell, and I think Mr Woods knew that dad would never give in, but he never want to give up, in case one day dad suddenly changed his mind and Mr Woods wasn't there to be of assistance.

Mum... never made it back to The Oaks Five Star Hotel. It's like what you saw in a movie- first they were there, then they were gone. I don't know what happened exactly... dad wasn't someone who went into too much detail. But I did know she was crossing the road when a red volts wagon, skidded onto the road, and went 100Km/per through a red light, knocking her, and several other people to the ground, ripping their life away. Did the prick ever think about the women and men he hit, perhaps they have family, or precious loved ones. Did he know that red meant STOP. he was colour blind, but that's still no excuse. The bottom line was that my mum was dead, and he wasn't.

I sighed again, starring deep into the mirror-it felt as though could read me like a book. I reached for my long golden blonde hair, pulling it back into a tight ponytail. Next grabbing a tissues, wiped it under my hazel green eyes, fixing the makeup that had just smudged.

I walked to my built in wardrobe-this hotel, the one we had been living in for four weeks now, felt like home.

I knelt down on the soft baby blue carpet and opened the very bottom of the little wooden chest. Sitting there was the gold heart shaped necklace mum had given me for my thirteenth birthday, saying she would always be in my heart. I took it out of its glass box, and hooked it around my neck, walking back to the mirror. I touched the small symbol and sung, if only, if only the woodpecker sighed... the little poem she'd say to me as she rocked me to sleep.

I slid on my strap heels and walked out the large wooden door, creaking it shut behind me.

"Hey Smurf…" Dan pulled me to him and I sobbed into his chest. "Shhh, it's ok," he cooed and ran his fingers through my ponytail, "we'll be ok…don't cry" I couldn't bare him say these words to me, "Let's just go!" My voice wavered a little as I pulled from him and turned towards the hotel door. I did not want him to see my brokenness.

Dad was already at the car, I think he wanted to get this over with as much as we did. "Get in the car!" he snapped, I couldn't blame him for snapping, he was as hurt as we were, only dad didn't cry, he just took his anger out on himself for a couple of days, and then grieved in his room for the rest of the week. I was hoping that dad didn't change like those Fathers in books. They turn cruel and dysfunctional when their partner dies. 'Hurry up! You took long enough as it is.'

We drove to the chapel in complete silence. Awkwardness doesn't exist in families, but believe me, somehow this car trip was the first stage of our family break up forever. Pulling up outside, I was able to see a growing crowd, family members, like our aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents... Next were the family friends, some which I hadn't seen in years, others I hadn't seen in weeks. There were a few unfamiliar faces- clients of dads that I had never met paying their respects, whoever they were, I appreciated it.

While we were in the ceremony, Dan sat next to me, holding my hand, giving me comforting squeezes. I squeezed back letting him know I was ok and holding up. The real worry was dad, but there was no way of approaching him, asking if he was all right. If you did, he'd just snap and tell you to mind your own business.

The time had come, something... I was dreading to do, I hadn't prepared a speech because I didn't know what to write. There were too many words, and not enough time to explain how much my mouth meant to me, to us, my family.

Dan got up, sharing what he needed to say, as well as dad, and mums mum and dad. Lastly, it was my turn to speak about my mother. In the car I had decided I didn't need paper, I knew what I wanted to say.

"Most people need palm cards, or a script to read off while talking about their beloved, which in some cases indicates they didn't really know much about that person. Ruby Hammond, My mother, beautiful, wise, youthful and smart, dedicated to my brother Dan and me. I couldn't have asked for more…."

As I continued with my speech, I kept looking over at a man sitting in the front pew. His Burgundy tousled hair framed his masculine face. He had on a white button up shirt, black dress pants and a matching blazer. I had never seen this man before, how old was he? Say, 20?

"We're very sorry, dear" a man and a woman, who I never met before, hugged me. "Thank you very much" I said, smiled a sad smile. I turned and bumped into another person.

'Corrine! Corrine! You were stunning!' Grandpa and Grandma? I thought...spinning around.

'Corrie we have missed you so much! I was very proud of you up there, you're mother would have been so proud... I know she copped a lot of shit from you... but, its good to see that you have forgotten...'

'yeah,' I lightly chuckled. Nice way to run the mood...It was too much, grandpa and grandma remember the old me, the selfish, rebellious me.. At least Nana and Pop, on dads side were more sympathetic. I knew I had to get away from here, the atmosphere was to grim for me to handle.. I spun around and walked off, not looking about where I was going.

"Sorry" I apologised, almost crying from the last couple who reminded me of my mother.

"Hey, it's ok," his voice was husky, and I could smell the musky mint of his breath that tingled in my nose. We stared into each other's eyes, his chocolate orbs melted me.

"Smurf, we have to go... It's time to bury her body.." Dan came and wrapped his arms around me tightly "Aww,' Dan noticed that I had been crying, 'it's going to be ok"

After the burial, we went for afternoon tea, I don't know why they called it that, because no one ate, we were too poignant to. I had changed into my mother floral sun dress that flowed above me knee. This was supposed to be a happy gathering, to lift our spirits. I didn't leave Dan's side, I was afraid to...

"Smurf, I'm have to go talk with Dad, you stay here ok?" my stomach dropped. Stay here? Alone?

"can't I come?" I pleaded. I wasn't in the mood to make small talk with strangers.

"Smurf, it's ok, nothing is going to happen, do you trust me?" I nodded, hiccoughing and let him go.

"Hey again" a soft velvety voice came from behind me. I jumped and spun around.

"Oh…hi" I cleared my throat "Mr…" I trailed

"Ellings, but you can call me Rhys," I laughed lightly at the cheesyness and so did he.

"I'm Corrine or Corrie Hammond" I shook his hand

"I'm so sorry to hear about your mother. My mother was a close friend of hers, so I decided on my mother's behalf I'd come."

"Thank you, I appreciate it..." I smiled at him.

"Hahah, I see that your boyfriend is looking at you," he said, looking past me.

I smiled confusedly "My boyfriend?" He pointed at Dan and I laughed.

"Aha! No, that's my brother!"

"Oh ,I'm sorry for the mix up" he smiled sheepishly.

I chuckled, 'that's ok. Anyway, I better get back to my family, I'll see you around.' I smiled at him. I emerged back over to Dan.

'who were you speaking to?' Dan asked, interested.

'ummm, just a friend.' I knew he was going to get up me if I replied with anything else. So saying that Mr Ellings was just a friend would keep Dan wondering. Dan's expression suddenly changed to a serious one..

'Smurf, dad suggested that we stayed with Grandad and Grandma for the rest of the summer. You know, to be with family and stuff...' I couldn't believe this.

'Be with family! But dad IS OUR FAMILY NOW!' Why did father suggest this! And why did Dan even think it was going to happen! It wasn't! My blood boiled, tears rolling down my face. I was getting myself worked up, people around had their bodies and faces turned towards Dan and I, wondering what all this commotion was about.

I stormed off, leaving voices murmur. Dan quickly followed...

'Come on Corrie! Maybe it wouldn't be so bad just spending a few weeks away from dad, letting him relax and come to the fact mum is never coming back.'

'So what are we meant to do whilst he rebirths? Just sit back and pretend nothing has happened? Move on?'

'That's what mum would have wanted us to do Corrie...she wouldn't want us to be mourning over her, she'd want us to move on with our life..'

'What, to completely forget about her!' My arms were waving furiously in the air.

'No Corrie...no...'