Chapter Four: When She Grieved
AGE OF NINE
It's been one whole year since then. One exact year. It was the day she died: February tenth. Amu finished her assignments early so she could visit her grave. She never smiled since then; all she did was show an emotionless face filled with hidden grief. That girl had shown her the world through a different perspective.
At first, she was observed at the world through a looking glass, worrying over every little detail. If she saw a color outside of its line, learned that you can always make the best out of everything. She let all her muscles relax as if she were loosening a violin string because it sounded too sharp. Now, she hated the world – nothing was good. No, she strongly despised the universe.
As she arrived at the cemetery, she began to cry. Tears spilled, no, poured on the ground as she was walking to her grave. Upon arriving, she began to wipe away her tears, knowing that her friend would be disappointed to see her in such a way. She planted the only flower she had beside her grave. It was a blue rose – her favorite flower – and it took her forever to find this rare beauty.
Amu kept avoiding eye contact with the words on the grave. She didn't want to remember what happened that morning. She didn't want to remember anything. She looked up at the sun, accidentally reading the words on the grave. They read:
R.I.P
Utau Hoshina
December 5, 2000 - November 27, 2007
A Hideous Creature Who Disobeyed What She Was Told
Amu hated that last line. It was obvious that the man – who, not to mention, killed her – decided what should be carved on the grave. Amu felt as though it would have been better if Utau didn't even have a grave. The grave was made out of an old, gray rock that was carved into the shape of an angel. Julie always wondered why that harsh man would make it like that – he killed her, says she's a 'hideous creature, then makes her grave in the form of an angel?
"Utau…you know, your seventh birthday is coming soon. I'll bring you another rose then, since you like them so much. You know the strange thing about beauty…it always wilts and dies. I guess that means you were beautiful. I still think you are – you're an angel to me. I really miss you; do you miss me?"
In the distance, you could hear Utau reply, "Yes" as her beautiful voice echoed in the wind before disappearing.
