Broken

Chapter 27

Ethan

A gentle breeze blows away some of the white rose petals from the small bouquet. The chirping of birds can be heard from nearby trees. The sun's warmth spreads over the gloomy cemetery as the late afternoon sky is covered with clouds that are highlighted orange due to the sun's rays. A very few people can be seen here at this time.

Holding on tightly to a bouquet of three roses, I calmly make my way to my father's grave. Each step fills my heart with such sadness.

His name engraved on the tombstone 'Edger Benjamin' is covered with dust and fallen leaves. Placing the flowers on the grave, I move towards the tombstone, kneel down and brush off the dust and leaves.

"Hey, dad. How are you today? Well, I mean I know you're dead but..." I sigh and sit down beside the tombstone. The dry grass crushes beneath me.

"You're death anniversary is next month. We're all gonna come visit you here. And...I know they will be very worried about me breaking down again. It's just...I'm trying. I'm really trying hard to convince everyone that I'm better now. The last words you said to me the day...the day you died were 'Just smile and cheer up, son'. We had an argument, I was pouting the whole time and then you left for work." I see a red car stop near the cemetery entrance and a girl in a dark cloths step out after opening the door.

"I've been trying to stay cheerful. I really am. I'm always positive. But...I just feel so empty without you. Dad, we spent so much time together and you were always there for me. No one can fill that empty spot that you left." I say as I subconsciously start plucking some blades of grass from the ground. The girl in the dark cloths, holding a bouquet of red and pink coloured flowers walks down the path with her eyes set ahead at a grave.

"Yeah, I know I should stop rambling But ugh...I can only say this to you. I wish things would just get back to normal and my family stops seeing me as a ticking time bomb...I really wish I can open up to someone." My vision suddenly gets blurry with tears welling up inside my eyes. My heart feels heavy even though I spilt everything I was bottling up inside.

The girl passes by my grave and I smell a hint of her floral oriental perfume in the air. She stops at a grave a few steps away from where I am. I must look like an emotional idiot sitting next to a grave with a teary face.

It's then that I notice something glittering on the pathway. Getting up, I walk closer to it and pick it up.

It's a golden crown brooch with tiny artificial diamonds embedded in it. The pin is broken though. I look over to that girl placing flowers on the grave. Maybe it's hers. I wipe my eyes dry and walk up to her.

"Excuse me, is this yours?" I ask her.

She looks at the brooch and then checks the collar her dress collar. I feel like I've seen her somewhere...

"Oh, yes. Thank you" she says and takes it from me. I look at the grave she's standing in front of and come to a sudden realization.

"Hey, isn't this Judith Alexander? The daughter of the deceased CEO of that pharmaceutical company? You a friend of hers?" I ask her curiously. Even the tombstone of the grave is beautifully designed.

She looks at the grave and smiles "Well, I guess you could say that."

"Hmm. It's sad. Died of cancer at a young age. You must be devastated." I say apologetically.

"Very much so. Especially at the fact that people are so gullible. Anyways, what's your name? " she asks me politely.

"Ethan. And you are...?"