Page 7 of Unstable

I was wrong.

None of those worries are what I speak aloud though. Instead, “Can I see her?” is what somehow, of its own volition, comes out of my mouth. Small and quiet, telling of the doubts I harbor that I even have the right to ask.

“Oh honey,” Donna’s eyes glisten with moisture and she pulls my head against her bosom, “I think it’d be better if you wait on that. Drowning victims, um, well, wouldn’t you rather remember her the way she was, or see her once we have everything in order?”

“I suppose you’re right.” My tongue is heavy with nausea, thinking of my mother’s body and her watery death. “And Jack?”

I have no idea why I ask this. I never met the man, didn’t even know he existed until I got the call from the Sheriff, who I’m still unsure how he tracked me down. But it just kind of feels their…endings…should be together.

Since they were.

“All taken care of by his family. Cremated, no service.” She frowns, as though disheartened. Does seem impersonal, and makes my heart ache a bit for him…a complete stranger.

This town doesn’t do impersonal, that much I remember. Doesn’t matter if you liked or hated the person—someone passes away in Ashfall—everyone attends the funeral and service. So his arrangements…very odd. But what do I know of him? Maybe he hadn’t been in town long enough to embed himself in its traditions?

“Okay, guess I’ll just sign whatever you need and, uh, be back then, with an outfit.” I swallow hard. “Anything else?”

“That’ll do for now, dear. Take your time. And call me if you have any questions. Or need anything.”

It can’t possibly be this simple. And intuition looms heavy in my gut, knowing it’s not. Donna’s just trying her best to calm the storm I can practically smell moving in.

I take one last look around, my eyes stopping themselves at the back of the room where one, black foreboding door calls out to me hauntingly. I know somewhere beyond its depths, lies my mother’s lifeless, cold body. Feels so strange being back in Ashfall, but beyond measure, it feels abhorrently wrong walking out of here and leaving her all alone.

Again.

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