The Destined Queen

Chapter 2

Rose and I stood together at her funeral. I still can't believe she is gone. Her coffin was laid in front of us beside the space that was dug for her to rest. The priest was giving the speech and blessing her. My back was stiff, my eyes sore, and my face paled. So was Rose's. Uncle Gerald, Rose's father said some things about my Maw and then she was buried. I couldn't move my finger. Everyone present there placed white Roses and I stood there, Rose holding me tightly. I couldn't move an inch. Someone said something to me. But I was too lost to hear them. Whispers could be heard around me. Rose shook me, and then did I came out of my trance. " You need to bid her goodbye. " Uncle Gerald said. I nodded absentmindedly. Then I went near her grave and I sat. I sat beside her. I can hear all the footsteps drifting away. It meant they were leaving. Rose sat beside me for some time and then she hugged the grave and then hugged me, she told me that she will be waiting at home for me to return. I can sit here and take my time. I can be with her how long I want to. She kissed my cheek and squeezed my shoulder and then she left me alone with my Maw. I needed this. I needed to be alone with her. I can't bid my goodbyes yet. No. I can't let go of her. So, I sat there. Rain came pouring down on me, mocking me or maybe supporting me. I sat there crouching. For sometime, I beckoned her to come to me, I asked her if she would come if I offer to bake with her. She has always wanted me to bake with her. But I am a stupid lazy ass, who just sat on her butt and ate all she gave but didn't do one thing that her Maw wanted to dodo with her. Then, it came. My tears. It poured and poured. I screamed letting all my pain, all aching go. I screamed so that if she listens, she will come back. But my screams were unanswered. My tears were washed away by the rain. It mixed with the dirt that now was on me.

I stood up from the place after kissing the grave and placing the white rose, and brushing my hand over her grave once more, when it was dark and rain stopped pouring. In the corner of my eye, I saw flashes, I turned and saw nothing. So, shivering, I tucked my hands in the pockets of me jacket and I walked. The whole way, I felt something or rather someone following me the entire way. I looked back once I reached home and turned, but nothing unusual catched my eye. So, surveying my surroundings, I entered my empty house. Rose sat at the table silently. Seeing me coming, she leaped and hugged me. " I was so worried. I thought you would never come. " Rose's worried filled face looked for any injuries which might be there. She was worried but she didn't come because she knew I wanted some time alone. Needed some time alone. " I'm fine. " I murmured. My throat dry. Rose led me to the table and dried my hair. " You should take bath unless you want to catch cold. " Rose said to me, while I sat there looking blankly at the wall. " Your boss called you to personally inform you that you had to go there before any of your juniors does. You got the job, as she predicted." Rose took a deep breath and continued. "I informed them that you wouldn't be able to attend tomorrow. I told them you would be moving tomorrow as you were unable to move tonight because.. " Rose stopped. " Because she is gone. " I gulped at the truth. " Yes. " Rose murmured. " Stay with me. Just for tonight. " I pleaded Rose. She squeezed my shoulder and nodded. " Ofcourse. " She said.

She cooked dinner for us, she started eating hers and motioned me to eat mine. But My appetite was gone. So, I just stared at my food. Mashed potatoes, peas, corns and strawberry delight, made by my Maw. I stared at it and bit my lip to avoid the pain that was in my heart. Rose finished her food and sat beside me. She took the spoon in her hand and scooped up some mashed potato and brought it close to my lips. I stared at it. " Eat up, Winter. " Winter. Cold, freezing, blank as a paper. It was given by my father. I am blank. Blank as a paper. Cold. Freezing. Stone hearted. That's what I am. I am such a burden. Such a nuisance, that everyone close to me leaves me. I'm sorry, Maw. Sorry. My lips quivered and the spoon dropped on the plate, making a clattering sound. Rose embraced me tightly. She whispered some comforting words.Like, She is safe now. She is at peace. She is resting. She is safe. Safe. I sobbed, holding her tightly. And My best friend let me.

We slept at night, holding each other. I woke up many times due to my nightmares. But Rose held me through everything. She cried with me. She supported me. And the night went by like this.

The next morning, I tried to sleep in but Rose woke me up. " Don't you want to go? " She asked. " Where? " My voice raspy but she heard my question clearly, and she frowned. " You are moving today. Woodland, Reinshart.Remember?" She knocked at my temple. "I am not moving. " " What? " My best friend scowled at me. " I want to stay here. This house has memories. Of her. I can't leave it. It will be like abandoning her. " " No. Winter, She wanted you to go. " Rose said, scrunching her brows. " I don't want to. She was supposed to go with me. She isn't here. So, it doesn't matter anymore. " Rose sat up, anger flaring at her face. " It does. She would have wanted you to go. She wanted you to go and grow. She wanted you to live your life, Winter. Stop blaming yourself for everything. She would be disappointed.Dont do this. Don't stop living. I will be disappointed. Please. Heed to my warnings. She wanted you to go. Please, Keep living and Keep loving, Winter. Because I lost my Maw, I don't want to lose my best friend, too. " Rose cried and stomped outside the room.

I laid there. On the bed. Heeding to my best friend's warnings. Keep living and keep loving. It repeated in my mind. It was my Maw's words that Rose spoke. My Maw told me this sentence, when I failed at baking. After trying and trying, I failed. Then my pain that was buried inside of me for a long while, came bursting out of me. I fell on the floor and I cried, I clutched my knees and I cried. I cried that I can do nothing. No good comes out of me. I can do no good. I cried for my father and mother, how they left me. That time, My Maw held me in her arms and she said to me, " Keep living and Keep loving, Winter. Everything is going to be alright if you keep living and keep loving. " Rose's warning wasn't hers. My Maw warned me before. She knew that someday she wouldn't be here with me. So she told me those words. And told me to keep holding on. Keep living and Keep loving even after she is gone. Even when she is not here. So, I heeded to my best friend's and My Maw's warnings. My Maw indeed wanted me to keep living and keep loving, else she wouldn't have told me those words. Rose is right. So, I got up, brushed my teeth, bathed, dressed and I told my best friend that I will move to Woodland. I would move and I will build a future for myself. I will Keep living and Keep loving. Like My Maw did. Rose hugged me and said she was happy that I decided to take this opportunity. She called the driver that will take my stuffs, which weren't packed. She told him to come in the afternoon. So, we had time. Lots of time to pack, to cry and to bid farewell. To my old life. To my old self. To my old house. The owner of the house that I was to move in, waited for me to give her my final decision because My Maw personally told her to. And it turns out that she is a big fan of hers. So, she waited. Rose called her and informed her that I am arriving at noon. She was more than happy but when Rose informed her that Maw wouldn't be going, she cried on the phone. She gave her condolences and told us to have a safe journey.

We started packing. I didn't pack Maw's paintings, it was to be given to the exhibition and the money will be going to charity. She would have wanted that. She always sold her paintings and helped others whenever she could. And we have plenty of money to survive, so she didn't cared. It is the best way to sell her paintings. Rose and I finished packing my things when the driver arrived. We only took a break to eat and drink.

The men lifted all the things to the truck and waited for me. I bid farewell. To my house, To my Maw, and to my old self. New me is going to be more serious and she will surely learn to bake. After I bid my farewell, I took the portrait of me, Maw and Rose and locked my house. So many memories. Locked up. Caged up in this house.

Uncle Gerald and Aunt Annie were waiting for me. They hugged me and wished me well. Aunt Annie cried and told me that my parents and My Maw are so proud of me. Though I couldn't agree with her, I smiled at her generosity. Rose and her parents were always there for me. While others taunted me, shamed me, they took me in as their own. They loved me and Rose equally. " Stay away from bad boys. " Uncle Gerald warned. I slightly chuckled amd hugged him. He always used to defend me when Maw scolded me. He is like my father. My friend. They both are. Rose scrunched her nose. " I know you love her more than me." She grumbled. We laughed. Well, they did, to lighten my mood. " All the best, Winter. " They both said. Uncle Gerald and Aunt Annie pulled me into a hug and I pulled Rose. We hugged each other and bid our farewells. I waved them goodbye again and then I entered my black bugatti, Rose entered in the passenger seat. And I pulled my car out of the driveway. I am going to miss the trees, the flowers, the green grass. Woodland is a city. A busy city. No greenery. Only people and cars moving here and there.

I stopped and gave a last longing look to my house. Rose squeezed my shoulder, I turned and she gave me an uplifting smile. KEEP LIVING AND KEEP LOVING, WINTER. I exhaled and I started my car again, the truck following us.

After some time, lesser and lesser trees came into view and I sucked in breath. This is going to be my new life. Without greenery.Without My Maw. A soothing music came on the radio and I relaxed back on my seat slightly. I drove and drove, then a Ghostbusters song came up. Rose didn't squeal, didn't jump on her feet, didn't move a bit. She kept looking outside. Whether She was looking at the view or thinking about something, I dont know. So I quietly kept driving. The drive was longer than it was the previous day. We stopped for a drink and food because Rose and I both were exhausted. Yesterday was long. Yesterday took away our breath. Yesterday took away our Maw. And it still was heavy on us. This time yesterday, She was painting or maybe she was already gone. I gulped the urge to cry, I didn't want strangers to see me like this. We entered the car after we finsihed eating.

Welcome to Woodland, Reinshart, the sign said. My new home. I accelerated, to move faster. KEEP LIVING AND KEEP LOVING, WINTER. I am going to keep living and keep loving. I will do it in honor of My Maw. I want her to be proud of me. I want my parents to be proud of me.

I stopped in front of the house. It was late than what Rose told her, but the Owner stood in front of the house, eyes welled up amd smiling at me. KEEP LIVING AND KEEP LOVING, WINTER. There is good left in this world. There is more important things to do in my life. I just have to find it.

Here I come. Winter Salvia.