Chapter 05
Emily’s POV
The church was filled with a sea of faces, all gathered to say their final goodbyes to my father. The soft murmur of voices blended with the solemn hum of the organ, creating a heavy atmosphere that pressed down on me.
I had made all the funeral arrangements myself, seeing it as my last chance to do something for the man who, despite everything, had been my father. Yet, when it came time to sit, I deliberately chose not to sit with my family. I couldn’t bear to be near them, especially not Lily.
Zane tugged on my hand, his eyes wide with confusion. “Mommy, why aren’t we sitting with Grandma and Uncle Tyler?”
I forced a smile and knelt beside him. “They’ve already taken their seats, sweetheart. We’ll sit here, where we can see everything clearly.” It was a lie, but one I told to avoid another confrontation, one that Zane didn’t need to witness.
As the priest stepped forward to begin the sermon, I focused on his words, trying to find some solace in them. His voice was calm and measured, speaking of life’s fleeting nature and the peace that comes with the end. “We gather here today,” he began, “to celebrate a life that has touched many, to mourn a loss deeply felt,
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and to find comfort in the promise of eternal rest.”
Just then, Keith arrived, quietly slipping into the seat beside me. The sudden tension in my chest eased slightly when Zane moved to sit between us. The barrier he created allowed me to breathe just a little easier, even as I tried to ignore the complex emotions that swirled inside me.
The pastor continued, his words turning to the inevitability of death and the way it forces us to reflect on our own lives. “In the face of death, we must ask ourselves: how have we lived, and how will we be remembered?”
His question lingered in my mind, and I couldn’t help but wonder- if I died today, who would care enough to come to my funeral? Who would genuinely mourn my passing? Probably only Zane. I had always lived in Lily’s shadow, never truly seen or valued. In the end, what did I have? Nothing.
As I sat there lost in thought, I saw Lily approaching me, her steps purposeful. Her presence immediately put me on edge, and I could feel the tension between us crackling in the air.
“Emily,” she started, her voice low, “we need to talk.”
“Not now, Lily,” I replied, keeping my voice steady. “Let’s bury our father first. We can talk later.”
But Lily wasn’t one to be easily put off. Her eyes narrowed, and
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Chapter 05
she leaned in closer, her voice barely above a whisper. “After we
bury him, I won’t be leaving like I did before. I’m taking back what’s mine–our family and Keith.”
Her words stung, but I refused to let her see how deeply they affected me. “I never took anything from you, Lily,” I shot back, my voice trembling with the effort to stay calm. “Especially not Keith.”
Lily’s expression didn’t change, and she simply turned away, moving back to our mother’s side as if our conversation hadn’t even happened. I watched her go, feeling a wave of exhaustion wash over me. The funeral continued, and as my father was lowered into the ground, the reality of his absence settled over me like a suffocating blanket.
Mother’s cries echoed through the air, and I saw Tyler holding her close, his own face twisted in grief. Zane clung to me, his small body trembling with sobs. I did my best to comfort him, whispering reassurances that felt hollow even as I said them.
When the ceremony ended, Keith’s parents and his twin brother, Seth, arrived. Zane’s face lit up at the sight of them, a brief respite from the sadness that weighed on him.
“Mommy, can I have some snacks with Grandma and Uncle Seth?” Zane asked, his voice small but hopeful.
I managed a weak smile and nodded. “Of course, sweetheart. Go ahead.” I watched him run off with them, feeling a pang of envy at how easily he found comfort in their presence.
Chapter 05
Just as I was about to leave, the sound of screeching brakes cut through the air, followed by the unmistakable crack of gunfire. Chaos erupted around me, people screaming and scrambling for
cover.
Before I could fully comprehend what was happening, I saw Keith lunging toward Lily, shielding her with his body. The sight hit me like a physical blow–he didn’t even glance in my direction. In that moment, something inside me shattered completely. I had lost him all over again, and this time, there was nothing left to salvage.
“Watch out!”
Panic surged through me, and I felt myself being shoved aside. A police officer, clad in a bulletproof vest, pushed me to the ground, shielding me from the gunfire.
But it was too late–a bullet ripped into my body…
