It felt odd, standing there…Both Jolly and Pinky were six feet under. Most adults who had come for the funeral had fled. Fled as fast as they could after necessary painful “paying the respects” was done. My parents had left too. But we hung around…A small group of kids bewildered…and scared…Not just by how close death came to us…But…Also about how the word murderer suddenly became more than something in a novel or the headline in a newspaper. Guess that’s how things work. Nothing’s real unless it happens to you.669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5Wnf9iPHY
669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmCYFIwQKOe
I stood in the living room of Jolly’s house, my eyes fixed on Jolly’s mother. Guilt was eating my heart even though I kept telling myself I had no reason to be. I wasn’t some superhero on television. My power was close to useless.669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8tVaHhXiR
669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZr1HnsQ0w
A small figure, huddled in a corner groaned. I couldn’t look at her, at Jolly’s mother, without wanting to scream. Aunt Daisy whom I had known since I was a little girl, the kindest, sweetest woman I had ever seen. She didn’t deserve to have her heart broken like this. I couldn’t even imagine what it would feel to lose two daughters…That too…669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUrhZ3THRL1
669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡswkJqMWMmn
“Daisy…”669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡphqDF5swkf
669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIcmbMrJdhu
Jolly’s father, Uncle Elias, had once been an energetic charismatic man. He looked old now. Too old. Innumerable lines were etched on his face, as if an inexperienced carpenter went haywire with the chisel. His legs swayed now and then as he moved towards his wife.669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Dgo1IMot3
I turned away, anticipating more tears and words that would cut into my already aching heart. But…669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsza11oCo9S
669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5txmewD52
I didn’t expect her to get up. I didn’t expect her to face him with blazing eyes and spit out the words,669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJk3nI0GiZQ
669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4nRk72fNYM
“You killed them. You…”669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82cSZSCIbm
To be continued...
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