Lena Martins

Chapter Seventeen

Dead people receive more flowers than the living ones because regret is stronger than gratitude .

- Anne Frank 

5 days ellipse

THIRD PERSON POV 

The sky, a tapestry of unyielding gray, stretched endlessly above, as if nature itself had donned a shroud of mourning. The air was thick with a palpable sorrow, a heavy blanket that seemed to smother the faintest whispers of comfort. On this day, the world appeared to pause, its vibrant colors dimmed, its usual cacophony hushed to a solemn silence, in observance of a profound loss.

The casket, a stark, dark contrast against the muted tones of the earth, stood solemnly at the gravesite. It was surrounded by a meager array of flowers, their colors muted, reflecting the somber mood rather than attempting to brighten it. These were not the flowers of celebration but of farewell, each petal a testament to the heartache felt by those present

Jason, Lena's father, stood stoic by her graveside, his face a mask of grief and barely contained anger. His eyes, red from tears, occasionally scanned the crowd, resting on each mourner with a silent question, seeking the reason for his daughter's untimely departure from this world. It was a small gathering, intimate, with only those closest to Lena in attendance

Hunter's arrival was like a ripple disturbing the surface of a still pond. He had been Lena's partner, once thought to be her soulmate, until his lack of trust tore their world apart.

His presence was a shock to the mourners, a palpable tension suddenly threading through the air. Whispers fluttered like distressed birds, and the atmosphere grew heavy, charged with an impending storm.

Jason's gaze locked onto Hunter the moment he stepped into view. The sight of him reignited the smoldering anger and pain in Jason's heart, a vivid reminder of the hurt his daughter had endured. Hunter, visibly uneasy, avoided eye contact, his guilt a heavy cloak around his shoulders. He took a step forward, perhaps in a misguided attempt to pay his respects or seek forgiveness, but Jason intercepted him with a speed that belied his age.

"You have no right to be here," Jason's voice was low .

His words were meant for Hunter alone, a venomous whisper meant to sear.

Hunter, taken aback, tried to respond, to explain himself, but the words caught in his throat. "I... I just wanted to say goodbye," he managed, his voice barely a whisper, drowned out by the grief around them.

"Goodbye?" Jason's voice rose, attracting the attention of the mourners. "You said goodbye the moment you betrayed her, the moment you shattered her heart!" His hands clenched into fists at his sides, the restraint he was exercising palpable.

The confrontation escalated as emotions boiled over. Jason, propelled by a father's grief and rage, lunged at Hunter, his hands reaching for the fabric of Hunter's coat, pulling him close enough to feel the heat of his anger. Hunter, caught off guard, stumbled backward, his attempts to ward off Jason feeble against the onslaught of a grieving father's wrath

It was over almost as soon as it began. Mourners intervened, pulling the two men apart, their own faces a mix of shock, sorrow, and understanding. The air was thick with unspoken words and what-ifs, the tension a living thing that wrapped around every heart present.

Hunter, his eyes downcast, mumbled an apology, not to Jason, but to the air, to Lena, to anyone who might listen. Then, with one last look at the coffin that held what once was his love, he turned and walked away, his departure a silent concession to the pain he had caused

Jason, his anger spent, turned back to his daughter's , his shoulders heavy with a burden no parent should bear. The fight, brief as it was, seemed to drain the remaining fight from him, leaving behind a profound sorrow. The rest of the funeral passed in a blur, a series of motions and rituals that did little to ease the pain of loss

As the crowd began to disperse, a profound silence settled, a silence that seemed to echo the void Lena's passing had left in Lewis' heart.

He moved closer, his steps hesitant, as if each footfall was a conversation with the sister he could no longer speak to. The reality of the situation, the finality of the goodbye, struck him with a force that buckled his knees

Lewis collapsed beside Lena's coffins , the sobs that he had held at bay throughout the day breaking free in a flood of raw emotion.

His cries were a heart-wrenching melody of loss and love, a testament to the bond between siblings that not even death could sever.

"I'm so sorry, i couldn't save you Lena, i'm sorry i failed you " he whispered between sobs, his words a mixture of regret and longing.

Greg and Jack , already touched by their own grief, found themselves moved by the sight of Lewis's unguarded mourning. It was a poignant reminder of the fragility of life and the deep scars left behind by loss.

Jason, still simmering with anger and grief, felt a resurgence of pain at the sight of his son so broken. The confrontation with Hunter, the anger, the need for someone to blame, all paled in comparison to the shared heartache of losing Lena. He approached Lewis, kneeling beside him, and wrapped an arm around his shoulders, offering silent support. It was a moment of unity, a father and son bound together by their shared loss.