Chapter one
923 Words
The house was all gloomy. Everybody was in such a sad mood today, and it seems like even the weather is in agreement with this household's predicament, as it has been pouring cats and dogs since yesterday night.
The Peterson household has suffered a huge loss today as the eldest female in the family, Lily's grandmother, kicked the bucket today at the age of a hundred and ten.
One knows that she has already overstayed her residency here on earth, but still, it felt so sad to say good-bye to the old woman.
She was the last of the elders remaining in the family, and it seemed like the children had to take over. Such is the circle of life.
As the batches of family members kept on going in and out, saying their last goodbyes to her, Lily followed in the group. She stood beside her grandmother's casket. There she was, looking so peaceful, Lily thought. She had never been close to the woman in particular, even though they stayed in the same household, but still, seeing her lying there all and paling out sent a jolt of pain through the poor girl's heart.
They all left the place and went back home, as her proper burial would take place in the next few days.
****
Preparations were going up and down in the family as they were trying their best to see that they had sent off the old woman in a proper way. All were sad except for Lily; she just couldn't pretend to feel sad that the woman was gone, but she was not happy either. She just doesn't know how to feel about it right now.
So, in order not to get scolded by her family, she went ahead and started helping her mother out with all that was necessary.
After all the preparation was done, the whole family got into the cars and started driving off.
Lily's father, being the eldest, had to stay behind and make sure that everybody had left, and so his family would also be the last to leave.
Lily quickly got dressed in her black gown and put on her black hat. She picked up the white lily flower that her mother gave her to decorate her grandmother's casket before saying her final goodbyes.
She rushed out of the house just as her father was about to get into the car, and she stepped in as well. He gave her one nasty look, which made her want to disappear.
Why does this man always hate her?
She always wonders, and till now, she has never gotten an answer to that question.
Her thoughts were cut short when her father turned on the funeral music, and everybody was silent.
Lily went back to her line of deep thoughts once again.
Thinking about the life that her grandmother had lived.
Has she been treated like she was too?
No, she doubts that; otherwise, how could the woman hate her as well?
She knows that her grandmother doesn't really hate her, but she is just strict.
There were times that the old woman would prevent her father from maiming her when she tried to sneak out of the house.
She was the only person who could ever stop him from doing that.
I guess she's also going to miss her after all.
Now who's going to prevent her from facing the wrath of her father?
From the looks of things, she might be joining her grandmother soon enough.
"Lily," someone shook her vigorously.
"Sorry, are we there?" she quickly says, only to see that they are on the road.
"No, your dress...it's ripped," her mother whispers.
Lily checked to see a huge tear on her dress, right from the knee to the mid-thigh.
It must have torn off while she was trying to get into the car.
Now what is she going to do? She can't possibly go to public, especially at a funeral like that, and she can't ask her father to turn back.
Her father must have sensed their dispute as his voice suddenly thundered.
"What is it that you two are whispering?" he asks.
"Uhmm, it's... it's..."
"It's what?" he asks impatiently.
"Lily's dress got torn," mom answered.
He made a break that made me cover my head with the back of the seat.
Ouch!
"What, let me see," he quickly turned, and as soon as he saw it, he gave me a tight slap.
"So you were thinking of going there like this and disgracing my family, right? Shameless. You have refused to get married, and so you decided to start displaying your body, right?"
Is there a day in this world that he won't remind me of that?
It's been years already, and I was young at the time.
"What are you waiting for? Get out of my car and go back home and change," he thundered, bringing back my senses once again.
I didn't need to be told twice, as I quickly got out.
Mom threw one of her scarves at me, and I tied it to my waist.
He drove off without even looking back, not even once.
I could see my mother looking back from the rear glass, and she looked worried.
She should be; I have been left in the middle of nowhere.
She quickly looked away.
I guess her father had asked her to stop looking.
Now it's all up to me to find my way, change, and go back to the funeral on time.
- Writer
