A Sunny Funeral

They stood in their black clothing, some mourning, bodies to comfort themselves. It wasn't rainy or gray outside- this wasn't the movies. But a part of her wished it was raining so she'd have a reason to bring an umbrella. She stared at the hole wondering if they'd just made this one or had the made more for others? There always had to be more, everyone died sometime. Only it was hard believe that people could, would die. They always seemed to be able to live on no matter what.

It had come as a shock to her when the phone rang late one night. She hadn't spoke to or heard from her sister in five years. She grimaced remembering all the hospital visits, police calls for help or notifications about her. Her mother, a single parent trying to juggle two daughters when she only had time for one, did the best that she could. But as she got older, the nights that her mother was away taking care of her sister got longer, and their family slowly turned into her.

"Ms. Tomas?" asked the voice. She hadn't really been sleeping listening quietly to the rain.

"Yes, who is this?" she asked. Four twenty six am no one called her at this hour.

"It's about your sister…" the voice told her

It was funny how it had rained when they notified her about the death but not at the funeral. It was supposed to rain. the clouds were suppose to be a sea of your emotions reflected in the sky. But this wasn't the movies she had to remind herself. Her mother hadn't given up hope for to her to try to get to the sister who was now the stranger; who would become even stranger once she left for college. Her father only visited once a year at best loving his travel and not wanting to give that up for anyone.

She supposed that, that hole in the ground, a cold hole for her sister, reflected the bonds of family. She wanted to snort as soon as she thought it. Stupid. Stupid like the people who had come today- her mother and a few friends. If she could call them friends more like drug dealers and pot heads wanting a free snack.

"A few words from her sister," said the minster.

It should have been raining but it wasn't- in fact it was a sunny day and the sun seemed to caress her cheek as she tried to find the right words to give others peace.