Page 205 of Releasing 10
Tightening my hold on Hugh’s hand, I looked on wordlessly as my sister’s burial slowly came to a close.
She was in the ground now.
The were throwing fistfuls of dirt on top of her, cementing that she wasn’t coming back.
This was no mistake.
Caoimhe was gone.
Forever.
The priest told my parents that God had taken my sister’s soul to heaven, but he forgot to mention that Caoimhe had taken my soul with her.
I knew she had.
There was a piece of me in the ground with her.
I could feel it.
A hollow, gaping ridge in my chest where she used to be.
Where I used tofeel.
Towering over me by several inches, Hugh stood by my side, holding my hand throughout the rest of the service. Even long after it ended, when the mourners lined up to offer my family their condolences, he remained right beside me.
I didn’t accept a single one of the countless handshakes I was offered, choosing instead to hold Hugh’s hand with both of mine.
I didn’t want their touch.
I didn’t want to feel another hand on my skin ever again.
Onlythisboy.
Hugh.
After a while, Claire and Patrick came to stand with us.
“Liz.” With tears streaming down her face, she hooked her arm through mine and gave me an awkward hug. “I’m so sorry.”
“Thank you, Claire,” I replied, feeling as lifeless as my sister.
“I don’t know what to say, Liz,” Patrick added, stepping forward to rub my shoulder. “I’m just so sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you, Patrick,” I repeated back, feeling dead inside.
Sniffling, Claire adjusted my cardigan, placing it back on my shoulder, though I hadn’t noticed it falling off in the first place.
“She’s grand, Claire,” Hugh interjected, shooing his sister away from the buttons on my cardigan. “Leave her be.”
“I’m just trying to help,” my friend sobbed, looking up at me with lonesome, brown eyes. “I want to help you, Liz.” Sniffling, she added, “But I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.”
“Hugh,” I breathed, feeling my body grow weak when my eyes tracked a shadow looming on the other side of the graveyard. “Look.”
“Look at what, Liz?” Claire asked, looking around us. “What do you see?”
“The scary lady,” I whispered. “She’s here.”
“What scary lady?” she strangled out, looking panicked. “Who is she?”
