195 HIS FUNERAL
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195: HIS FUNERAL
LUKE’S POV
Burning in intense rage, I pushed Harriet away from me hard. “Let go of me, Harriet!” I yelled, my anger
boiling over. She stumbled and fell to the ground, her smirk finally fading.
“You can’t do this to me, Luke. You can’t just leave me like this! I’m not going to let you.”
“I can do whatever I want, Harriet. And right now, I want to find Ariel and make sure she’s safe.”
“She doesn’t deserve you, Luke. She never did,” Harriet spat. “I’m the one for you. You are meant for
1. me. We are meant for each other.”
“That’s not for you to decide. Now tell me, where is she?”
“I don’t know. But even if I did, I wouldn’t say a damn thing.”
“You better tell me now, Harriet. I know how brutal and crazy you can be.”
“You don’t know me at all, Luke. You never did,” she hissed, standing up and brushing herself off.
“I know enough to know that you’re capable of anything,” I retorted, my fists clenched at my sides.
“You know what? Fine. To find your precious Ariel. But don’te crying to me when she breaks your
heart again,” Harriet sneered.”
“And who told you she broke my heart, huh?”
“Oh, please, Luke. If you’re going to start telling me lies, save those sh*t for someone else,” she spat
before marching off.
I watched her go, feeling a mix of anger and frustration. I needed to find Ariel fast. But where could she
be? My mind was still telling me that Harriet had something to do with this.
Oh, Ariel, how am I going to see you now? Where am I going to search? I’ve gone through so many
ces, and I haven’t yet seen you. What will I do about this? Where are you?”
THREE DAYS LATER
The somber clouds hung low in the sky as I made my way to the small, quaint cemetery on the
outskirts of town. I adjusted my tie nervously, feeling the weight of the asion pressing down on
1. me. Today, I was attending the funeral of Luke. The tragedy of a young life cut short weighed
heavily
on everyone who knew his family. Yes, his family, not mine. I didn’t even know that he was my son.
As I approached the gathering, I could hear the soft murmurs of the mourners and the sniffles of those
trying to hold back tears. The air was heavy with grief, and the atmosphere was suffused with a sense
of profound loss. I scanned the crowd, recognizing familiar faces twisted in sorrow, their eyes
red–rimmed and faces drawn.
I saw Andre’s parents, Manuel and Elizabeth, standing at the front, their faces etched with pain as
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they greeted the guests. My heart ached for them, knowing the unimaginable grief they must be feeling.
I made my way towards them, offering a silent prayer for strength andfort. And I still needed some
for myself. But they needed it the most since they were the ones who spent years with him. The ones
who watched him grew. But I was the one who witnessed him die.
The ceremony began with a gentle breeze rustling through the trees, carrying the scent of freshly
turned earth. The minister’s voice was a soothing murmur as he spoke of life’s fleeting nature and the
precious gift of each moment. I listened, my thoughts drifting to the time I first met Lukel, a bright- eyed,
energetic child. I could tell when I saw him at that moment.
Elizabeth stepped forward, her voice trembling as she spoke of Lukel–his infectious smile, his
boundless energy, the joy he brought to their lives. Tears streamed down her face, and Manuel reached
out to steady her, his own grief palpable in every line of his face.
So, as the service continued, I found myself lost in a whirlwind of emotions: sadness, anger, and
disbelief. How could a child so young be taken away? Why do such tragedies happen in the world? The
questions swirled in my mind, unanswered and unanswerable.
The sound of a lone violin filled the air, its mournful melody weaving through the crowd. I closed my
eyes, letting the music wash over me, a balm for my aching soul. I thought of Luke, of the moments we
would never share, of the milestones he would never reach.
As the ceremony drew to a close, the sun broke through the clouds, casting a golden light over the
cemetery. I felt a sense of peace settle over me, a quiet eptance of the cycle of life and death. I
looked around at the faces of the other mourners, seeing our shared grief and our shared humanity..
After the final words were spoken, the crowd began to disperse, offering their condolences to the
grieving parents. I approached Elizabeth and Manuel, my heart heavy with sorrow. I took their hands in
mine, offering a silent gesture of support and love.
“I’m so sorry for what happened.”
Elizabeth looked up, tears glistening in her eyes. “Thank you, Luke. Thank you for being here. But
we’re the ones who should be saying sorry.”
“And why do you say that?” Manuel asked her.
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“Because he’s their father. He’s the father of Lukel and Janice,” she answered him softly.
“Really?” Manuel’s face changed as he nced at me. “Is what she’s saying true? Are you the father of
Ariel’s children?”
I let out a deep sigh. “Yes, I am the father.”
“Wow,” Manuel said under his breath. “Howe I never knew about it? Ariel never told me. And
speaking of Ariel, where is she? I haven’t seen her in the past two days. Is she with you, Luke?”
“If she was with me, she’de to this funeral. But since she’s not here, I think you already have an
answer to your question.”
“She’s been missing, and I’ve been really worried about her,” Elizabeth entered, her tone low and
195: HIS FUNERAL
broken.
“Then why haven’t you informed the police about it?” Manuel asked her.
“I don’t know; I’ve just been broken, thinking a lot, finding out about the death of Lukel.”
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Andre approached the three of us. “Mom, Dad, you have some people who want to speak with you.”
“Okay, we’ll talkter, Luke,” Manuel said.
“Okay, take care,” I uttered lowly, nodding, and they both walked away.
“So, how’s the search for Ariel’s sister going?” Andre asked.
“Bad, I haven’t yet found her.”
“Yeah, I noticed that. And I’ve also informed the cops about it. They’re carrying out the search, and
we’re hoping to find Ariel anytime soon.”
“I don’t even know what to do. She’s gone, and I’m afraid she might be dead.”
Andre gave me a look like I was insane. “Don’t say that. Ariel can’t be dead.”
“Then where is she?”
“I don’t know, but she isn’t dead.”
“I hope so,” I said inaudibly.
“Lukel’s gone, and we can’t even see Janice anywhere. Things have really gotten out of hand,” André
said.
“If I ever get the chance to meet my daughter again, I’m going to make her feel like a princess. Same
thing for Ariel.”
“You don’t have to worry, Luke. God’s on our side; we will find Ariel and Janice. Don’t lose hope.”
I nodded. “Thanks for everything.”
“Ariel’s family to me. I never want to see her hurt in any way.