MOURNING

How can things happen in such a flicker? It was just the other day that I was paddling in an ocean of pain and agony. At that time, I made a hasty decision that I thought was the best in my whole life. It seemed so; it felt like the most beautifully sane thing that had happened when I crossed paths with my knight in shining armor. Despite the simultaneousness of the predicaments that I faced after running away, he had my back. He was with me every single step. He became my solace, and soon enough, he pulled me out of the misery of betrayal and drew me into the wild world of immense pleasure and joy.


I became extremely happier than I reckoned I would ever be, and I was standing at the beautiful open gate of a heavenly haven when suddenly the door got slammed to my face, and I am now pulled back to grief again. It was just four days ago when I returned here. Despite scorning myself for drawing Papa into a state of depression and his critical condition, I was hopeful that I would be able to exonerate myself when he got better. I had vouched to devote my all to him and make up for all the turmoil I had caused him in the past. I wanted us to be happy as a family, but now none of that will happen. It's over. This guilt will eat me forever.

"Hush, now, babe! I know this sounds hard to believe, but things will be okay in due time." Damian says.

In due time! In due time!


This is undoubtedly one of those things we have no control over. Life is never in our hands, that I know, but I have a million questions for the one who owns this life, and I doubt He will answer me.

Here, I thought that fate had given my father and me a second chance to right our wrongs and be happy together. Little did I know that it was giving us a chance to say goodbye. How cruel can life be? This is unfair. This is not right.


"I am going to him," I say and drag myself up from the seat, and I wouldn't have made it to my feet if Damian wasn't in my aid.

He leads me out of the room and along the hallway to my father's room, his parents catching up with us and following suit.

I stand beside my father's corpse, and watching him this peacefully somnolent and knowing that he will never wake up again wrecks the diminutive pieces of my heart further.

Why did things have to end this way? This soon? Why, Papa? This is not what we agreed upon. We agreed that you had some more victories to achieve, like managing your empire the best way you did, being a father to me the best way you had ever done, and me being the best daughter. We were to restore the glory of our beautiful home together, right?

Well, actually no, because he didn't agree to anything. let just let me talk, letting all my wild thoughts out to him, and in response, he contended that there are things that are beyond our control and that this moment was bound to come. Little did I know that the angel of death was whispering to him, perhaps, and that that moment was just wandering about and would strike this soon.

This hurts like no other pain that I have come across. I feel like a part of me is lying lifeless beside him. I am torn.

I dry the tears away and breathe out a sigh.

‘You asked that I be strong, and that I will be, Papa, for you and for myself, because I have no one. All the mysteries surrounding me, all the problems, I have to unravel them all alone. No goodbye hurts more than this, but I've got to be strong.'

"I wish I didn't live to witness this moment, but I did anyway. Rest in peace, Daddy. Until we meet again!"

I slam into Damian's embrace, the only safe place I know, and suck as much strength as I can get. With him, I feel safe. I don't feel any solitude. I feel like I belong here, like this is my fated dwelling place. I don't know why, and I don't want to think about it. All I need is just this comfort, and knowing that he is a shoulder I can lean on any time I need to is just so ameliorating for me.

"Our condolences, Ellie!" I pull away from the voice of Damian's father, and I turn to him, Damian keeping me in his arms from behind me. "We are deeply sorry for your loss, dear. I myself have lost someone so dear to me."

"Yes, dear. We are so sorry. I am in utter shock myself, but we will get over this, my dear. We are here for you and with you. This is our loss too, so count on us." His wife chips.

This can't be easy for them either. I understand their grief and trust in the sincerity of their words.

"I am grateful to you, Mr. and Mrs. Riccaforte. You being here means a lot to me. Thank you." I say.

"Why don't you go home and rest, my child? We will take care of things here and arrange everything." Damian's father says, but I shake my head.

I should do this for my father. Sulking and whining won't do me any good.

"Thank you, but I can't afford to rest. I will handle this," I say, and Damian walks to my side, speaking for the first time since we got into this room.

He must be dumbfounded beyond ingenuity, even if he doesn't show it. I'm certain the weight of all the obligations that my father laid on him is now weighing heavily on him.

"Aah, babe! I think they are right. You need to rest, even for a bit. I can take you home. My parents and I will take care of things here."

Them? Why them? I mean, where are these other witches that parade themselves as the Riccafords?

"Where are they?" I query to no one in particular; my rage and confusion surging.

"Who?" The Riccafortes all chorus together.

"Gracia and Nelly." I state.

Silence befalls in the room. No one speaks. No one seems to have a clue about the whereabouts of these witches. My nerves arise, and a cold chill runs down my spine. This is really strange! Where the heck can they have gone at this particular moment? Weren't they all concerned before he was taken to the theater? Where are they now?