Bab 282: Goodbye Jade!
The early October softened the warmth with its breezy wind that passed across the golden leaves scattered on the ground. Foliage landscapes filled with colors so bold and homely, alarming the end of the summer and the beginning of leaves tumbling to the fertile soil with soft showers. The remaining greens fluttered to the strengthening wind as the fall enriches the earth, preparing it for the new season as the circle of life.
As it is was the beautiful transition, Saturday bloomed to its full ripe, for the mourners gathered at the ceremonial grounds to pay their respects to their beloved Jade. The eldest daughter of Jade took in charge to care for the guests as she was first to arrive and meet Jenna, after such a long time. She kept admiring Jenna and saw qualities and etiquettes of hers to match with her mother's. Indeed, she got raised by Jade, a certified approval from the eldest reflected in the expression she carried with Jenna. There was not much crowd, and the only ones that attended were people who met Jade and knew of her.
Jade's two daughters and their partners, along with her younger brother. Jenna only heard of her great uncle and saw him in pictures, but meeting him today was the first-hand experience. She got reminded of Jade through their similar features, and he seems to be more of the quiet type. Yet, when he talks, he was clear on his point. Jenna received his blessing for all the time she spent taking care of his sister and praised how beautiful she grew to become a fine lady.
"Jade talks about you a lot in her letters and calls. She was very proud of you, dear. Though I never met you, I could get the presence of Jade from you. She raised you kind-hearted that I could comprehend without action," the great uncle's words moved Jenna to her already gagging tears.
He ended his attention with a warm hug to give her more love.
The kids, otherwise, Jenna's cousins, were absent as they evaded the event due to their absence of memory about Jade. Plus, a graveside service with only a few members means a lesser crowd. However, some of the relatives of Jenna's great uncle were present. The torn apart family realized how dire their relationship turned out after a long time gathering.
Probably, the one who regretted the most was the eldest child of Jade, who still retained her unwavering affection for her mother. The youngest mourned, but there was no much sorrow to her face. She seems to accompany the event only due to her sister's influence.
The pastor waited for the guests to finish with their greeting. Once done, the pastor signaled, and very soon, a hearse carrying Jade's body entered the spot. Already transferred to a decent casket, Jade's body rested on it. A circle of gasps followed the sight, and Jenna's heart torn from seeing her grandmother so pale and white, very dead with no life. She controlled her emotions as the ceremony was about to start. The pastor reappeared in front and commenced a prayer.
People dressed in their dark colors prayed along with the pastor to send the soul to heaven and let it rest in peace.
After a short invocation, the pastor invited Jenna to share a few words before they start with the burying process.
**
"Just like how John Keats, the great poet, valued Autumn with his beautiful Ode, I would like to sing my grandmother's praise for the final time in front of her."
Jenna stuttered with the crumbled piece of paper to a great struggle. She thought for a while, whether to deliver this speech about Jade that she wrote, or to speak out. There was only one answer to that question.
"I- I have a million things to say about Jade, but I think I'm going to speak what comes to my mind!" she informed the little crowd, crushing the paper inside her palm with a heavy sigh.
"Dear grandma,
When I was unlucky to have my parents die at an early stage of my life, you stood by my side to never let me feel deserted. With your love, you won my heart and made it grow strong that I am off today! Grandma, you spent more time with me than my parents, and I know for sure that I am going to miss you- I'm already missing you every second. I know that you want me to stay brave, but it is hard. Now that I'm here, surrounded by people to whom your existence has more definition, I am happy to say that I don't feel abandoned anymore. I have a guardian who cares for me, who yells at me and who even spoils me against my wish. I am going to be alright, and I'll keep making you proud. I will live my life as you taught me. That's enough of promise from my side."
"I can't take a long time, so I pray for your peace and-"
"And I know that you will watch us from above. You were the inspiration I needed, and you were the light that guided me all through my life until now. Despite the struggles you endured to survive, I know behind all those harsh decisions, you never abandoned anyone. I only have the memories of you telling me the tales of your family and how much you love them always. Well, today, your family is here to send you off peacefully. I hope you take our love and respect.
May your soul rest in peace! Grandma!"
**
Jenna ended, and a round of 'Amen' soared amongst the crowd, and the pastor returned to continue the ceremony.
After another round of prayer, the burial process began, and everyone watched the casket slowly lower to the ground, next to where Jade's husband got buried.
Nevertheless, to their mismatched feelings, the daughters shed tears from watching their mother for the final time. Jade's brother followed with teary eyes and a soundless prayer.
The process ended and finally set the coffin into the pit. The pastor requested the family members to cast their last look at the deceased, and with that, they closed the casket. A brief gathering to recite a few lines from the bible, and the ceremony ended.
Everyone stayed put for a few minutes until eventually, one by one, people dispersed with a farewell to Jenna along with a hearty wish for her well-being.
Jenna's great uncle hugged her once more before departing. He insisted Jenna to stop by for the holidays to join in a family dinner. The youngest aunt said her wishes to Jenna and left while the eldest stayed behind, waited till everyone went. She approached Jenna and expressed her guilt in living all these years apart from Jade. However, there was a reason behind it and that it mattered to the daughters at that time. Hence, the separation occurred, splitting the family apart. The eldest aunt also placed her most honest request to pay occasional visits and keep in touch as they can take this moment to mend the broken bond. With no more of Jade in this world, it seems pointless to still dwell with the past. Jenna graciously agreed.
"Jenna, would you consider staying with us for a while? I mean, without Jade, it can get hard to pass the days-" the eldest offered, knowing the void that follows from the absence of the warmest person.
"Thanks, but I have to decline. I do appreciate the thought. It's just that I- I am doing alright. Yes, it might take a few days, but I have my friends whom I consider as my family. So, I guess I will be fine," Jenna reassured.
"Alright then, take care, Jenna. Please do come and meet me as I'll do the same. It might be hard to suddenly spring on to you and tell you to believe me, but I hope we can work things on our own. Probably, if my mother was alive, this is what she would have wished for-"
"I think so too,"
With a final farewell, Jenna was left alone with no one present on the site. As soon as the eldest daughter departed, Jenna got joined by a company.
"How are you doing?"
"It sucks, Ms. Grey," Jenna sighed.
Lillian stayed away from the ceremony yet watched everything to detail. She was present on the spot willingly to be a part of the service though Jenna invited her to join the gathering. Lillian let Jenna take care while she was farther, hoping that at least this unfortunate even could bring the torn-apart family somehow together, and it worked to an extent. At least the eldest aunt agreed to manage things for the better.
Lillian patted Jenna on her back and gave her the support to move forward.
"It's alright. You have me, apparently Shane as well, you can count my father by default as he had made several calls to check on you, then Anna-" Lillian started to list people that still care for Jenna.
"Thanks, Ms. Grey,"
"Would you at least now stop with this Ms. Grey's way of addressing?"
"Never,"
"Why?"
"Because this way only feels closer, and it gets weird if I start to address you on the first name bases all of a sudden!" Jenna joked, and Lillian found her smile despite the sadness to be reassuring.
"Alright, let's get lunch," Lillian said and pulled Jenna closer as they walked out of the ceremonial terrain.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone