None of the characters belong to me, with the exception of a few...you'll know which ones. The story on the other hand, steal it and die. That's it. Enjoy!
Prologue
"They may not be with us in person, but they will forever be living in our hearts." The priest closed his well-worn Bible and clasped his hands together in silent prayer, his head bowed low in reverence and respect.
Nature understood well their grief that day. The cloudy, chilly weather early that Friday matched the mood of the subdued crowd. Many pulled their coats and jackets closer to their chilled bodies to seek refuge from the cold. A few were seen huddled against loved ones; although it was questionable whether the gesture was due to the cold weather, or the chill that resided in their hearts. Shortly after the prayer, the small crowd slowly dispersed; but not before casting a sympathetic look towards a young girl standing at a corner with her hands linked to an equally young boy.
She didn't have any heart-breaking features that would make anyone stop and look twice, but she wasn't downright hideous either. At the tender age of eleven, she was just a bud waiting to blossom. She had dirty blond hair with several dark streaks and clear blue eyes that sparkle brighter than any star on a clear night. A small upturned nose graced her features, and on a normal day, her smile could light up a dark room. That day, however, her hair was tied up in a messy ponytail; her eyes misty and unfocused. The usual sparkle in them was nowhere to be seen and her mouth was grim. The usual smile that complimented her was lost. SHE was lost.
She was standing with her best friend and his parents, who were to be her's as well from now on. At least, that was what her best friend told her – that she was going to live with them. When she first heard that, she didn't understand why that was the case. She had her own parents, didn't she? What was wrong with them? Were they ill? Then the news reached her ears – her parents were involved in a car crash and had both died on the spot. Her first reaction to that was shock, then disbelief. There was no way her parents would leave her to fend for herself. Hell, her mum wouldn't even leave her alone at home the last time they ran out of bread! Their neighbor was called over to watch out for her just so her mum could run to the grocery store across the street.
Her best friend fidgeted, breaking her out of her reverie. No matter how much she cried, begged and denied it over and over again, the fact that her parents weren't coming back – ever – remained. Shaking her head lightly, she looked around the quiet graveyard, unaware of the sympathetic looks thrown her way.
The crowd finally thinned. It was a while later before she hesitantly stepped towards the two new additions in that cold graveyard. Both the headstones were decorated with lots of fresh flowers. She was dimly aware of the large number of orchids present, her mum's favorite; no doubt a parting gift from her parents' friends. Normally she would have noticed their beauty and scent. Not that day. That day was far from normal. She stood in front of the two stones that had been carefully carved. Kneeling down on the sodden ground, she shifted her gaze from one headstone to the other. Her young fingers shook as she slowly reached out to caress the engravings on the hard, cold stones. After what seemed to her like an eternity, she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned and saw the concerned faces of her best friend and his family; HER family. It was time to leave, to say goodbye.
She kissed her fingertips and pressed it against the words one last time. Her face laced with concentration as she studied the engravings and committed it to her memory for she knew it would be a very long time before she came back. "I love you mum. I love you dad." The silent whisper went unheard to everyone but her alone. With that, she straightened up. Turning around and walking away, she did not look back. Not even a glance or a peek. Neither tears nor emotion showing on her face, she slowly walked away from the two people who had loved her unconditionally her whole life.
Behind her, the two new additions to the other few hundreds in that particular graveyard glistened in the dim morning light. Engraved on one were these words: "Scott Maxwell Johnson, beloved husband and father." On the other next to it: "Lisa Sarah Johnson, beloved wife and mother." Etched on both were these three simple words: 'Rest in Peace.'