197: NIGH TO THE GRAVES LUKE’S POV I stood at the edge of the cemetery, the autumn wind gently rustling the leaves around me. The air was crisp, carrying the scent of fallen leaves and distant rain. I took a deep breath, my heart heavy with sorrow, as I walked towards Riley’s grave. The headstone stood out starkly against the fading light, a silent marker of a life cut short. Kneeling down beside the grave, I traced the letters of Riley’s name with trembling fingers. Memories flooded my mind–the laughter we shared, the secrets we kept, and the dreams we dared to dream together. Riley has to be my closest confidante; he should be my partner in crime or, I’d say, my rock. But it was so terrible that she was gone, taken from me too soon. My eyes were filled with tears as I whispered, “Hey Riley, it’s me. I miss you so much.” My voice cracked with emotion; the weight of my grief was almost suffocating me. I bowed my head, trying to collect my thoughts in the midst of the swirling storm of emotions inside me. “I can’t believe you’re gone,” I continued, my words barely more than a whisper. “You were only seventeen; you had your whole life ahead of you. Why did you have to leave so soon? Why did you have to leave me?” My voice rose with anguish, the pain of loss raw and unrelenting. I closed my eyes, trying to hold back the flood of memories that threatened to overwhelm me. I can still remember the day when she was shot. I remembered the moment she slipped away, leaving me shattered and lost. “I wish you were here, Riley,” I whispered, my voice breaking. “I wish we could talk again, laugh again, and share our hopes and fears like we used to. I wish I could tell you how much I love you and how much you mean to me.” My words hung heavy in the air, a silent plea to a world that had taken so much from me. I talked to Riley as if she could hear me, pouring out my soul into the empty space beside her grave. I finally stood up, my eyes red–rimmed and my cheeks wet with tears. I placed a small bouquet of flowers on Riley’s grave, a token of my love and remembrance. “Goodbye, Riley,” I whispered. “I’ll never forget you. I’ll carry you in my heart always.” With a heavy heart, I turned away from the grave and walked slowly back towards the entrance of the cemetery. Life can be incredibly unfair at times, especially when we are faced with the loss of someone we love. It can feel like the world is collapsing around us and that there is nothing we can do to change the situation. We may feel angry, frustrated, and helpless, but ultimately, there is nothing we can do to bring back our loved ones. As difficult as it may be, we must come to accept that death is a natural part of life and that we have no control over it. Instead, we can hold onto the memories and cherish the time we had with that person. We can also find comfort in the fact that they will always hold a special place in our hearts and will never truly be gone as long as we keep their memory alive. It may not be easy, but we must try 197 NIGH TO THE GRAVES to find peace and acceptance in the face of life’s unfairness, Just as I’m trying to do concerning Riley, I drove to a different location, where my grandfather’s grave was, I made my way through the rows of weathered tombstones, clutching a bouquet of fresh daisies in my hand, their delicate petals bobbing with each step I took. The air was cool and crisp, carrying the scent of earth and fallen leaves. Finally, I reached my destination—a simple headstone nestled beneath the spreading branches of an ancient oak tree. The marble was weathered and moss–covered, but the engraved words were still clear. My beloved grandfather is right there. I kneeled before the grave, the damp grass soaking through the knees of my jeans. I placed the daisies gently at the base of the headstone, arranging them with care. Silence enveloped me, broken only by the distant cawing of crows and the rustling of leaves in the breeze. “Hey, Grandpa,” I began, my voice barely above a whisper. “It’s me, Luke. I’ve missed you.” I paused, my throat tightening with emotion. Memories flooded back–of fishing trips by the lake, of shared laughter over bowls of ice cream, of quiet afternoons spent tinkering in the old workshop. “I wish you were here,” I continued, my words heavy with longing. “There’s so much I want to tell you. So much, I wish I could share with you.” I reached out to touch the cold marble, tracing the letters of my grandfather’s name with trembling fingers. The reality of his absence weighed heavily on my heart, leaving a gaping void that could never be filled. “I hope you’re proud of me, Grandpa,” I whispered, my voice thick with unshed tears. “I’ve tried to live my life the way you taught me–with kindness, with integrity, with love. But… it’s hard sometimes. It’s hard without you here.” A gentle breeze stirred the branches above me, sending a shower of golden leaves drifting down like confetti. I looked up, my eyes shimmering with unshed tears. The beauty of the moment mingled with the sorrow in my heart–a bittersweet symphony of emotions. “I made a promise to you. To keep Ariel safe and treat her like she’s the only woman in the world. You’ve always wanted the both of us to be together and united. But it’s something I never wanted and despised so much.” I exhaled deeply and continued, “Well, I’ve come to realize that she’s a nice person, a great woman. And I thought she had totally fallen in love with me, putting aside the past. But I guess I was wrong. I’m going to blame her; it’s all on me. I was a fool, a monster, and an idiot. I couldn’t realize that, but now, my thoughts are all changed.” “Your words will still be stuck in my heart. Your letter made me find out about your death. The vows made to you won’t be broken. I promise I will find Ariel. I know you’re watching me from up there, seeing my actions, and probably disappointed in me for letting you down. But everything will be fixed; I have hope. I’ll find Ariel and put billions of smiles on her face.” “And I also promise I’ll never forget you, Grandpa,” I vowed my voice firm with determination. “I’ll carry your memory with me always in everything I do. You’ll always be a part of me.” 197, NIGH TO THE GRAVES. 3/3 “Goodbye, Grandpa,” I murmured, my voice barely audible over the rustling of leaves. “Until we meet again.” With one last lingering look, I turned and walked away, the memory of my grandfather’s presence lingering in the quiet of the cemetery, I walked to my car and got in. I have to say, these days have been tough, and I genuinely had no idea what I was going to do right now.
