Dad Turned Fifty, I Turned To Ice novel

The day of the funeral was beautiful . Sunny and bright . Many people came , relatives , neighbors , old customers from my parents ' seafood shack days. Everyone was whispering . " What a heartbreaking way to live. " " The Carters ... they sacrificed everything . " " Their whole world revolved around her . " " And now ... God , how do you even begin to move on from this ? " An uncle , his words slurred from one too many , raised his voice above the murmur . " Might be a mercy , really . Now Bill and Liz can finally have a life . Emily , too , she'll have a chance at normal now .

" The words were barely out of his mouth when Dad suddenly charged forward and punched him in the face . " You shut your mouth ! " The roar ripped out of him , a decade of compressed grief and guilt exploding into the solemn air . " That was my daughter ! She had more kindness in her little finger than you'll ever have in your whole damn body ! " Mom rushed over too , throwing the journal at the uncle's feet . " Look at this ! This is what her life was ! Every single day , she was fighting for us ! Carrying this alone so we wouldn't have to ! Who are you to judge her ?

Who gave you the right ?! " Everyone fell silent after reading the journal . Someone wiped their eyes . " That poor , sweet girl ... " " You raised a good soul , Bill . A truly good soul . " " What a waste ... God , what a terrible waste . " Mom knelt before the coffin and finally wept aloud . It was the first unrestrained cry in ten years . The sound echoed through the cemetery . But after two sobs , she instinctively clamped a hand over her mouth . The crying stopped , replaced by choked , suppressed weeping . Her shoulders shook violently , but she didn't dare make a sound .

Chapter 8 88.89 % Dad noticed . Trembling , he pulled her hand away from her mouth . His voice was thick with tears . " Let it out , Liz . You can cry as loud as you need to now . She ... she can't hear it anymore . " Mom stared blankly for a few seconds . Then , realizing the tragic irony of " finally being allowed to cry loudly , " she let out an even more heart - rending , unrestrained wail . Emily knelt down too , wanting to call out " Amelia . " But the sound caught in her throat . She realized she hadn't called her sister's name loudly in ten years . Now she wanted to , but couldn't .

Her vocal cords seemed locked . She strained , her face turning red , but could only open her mouth silently , tears falling in large drops . " Amelia ... Amelia ... " she forced out a breathy whisper , so faint even she could barely hear it . Then , an old man stepped out from the crowd . Grandpa . He had come from the retirement home . His hair was completely white , his back bent . But his eyes were still clear . He stood before the grave , took a deep breath , and began to sing a piece from an opera in his aged but still resonant voice . It was my favorite tune as a child .

I always clapped when Grandpa sang . Halfway through , Grandpa's voice faltered . He stopped , looking at the tombstone . " My sweet girl ... Grandpa hasn't sung a thing since you were little . Ten long years . This one's for you , honey . Can you hear your old grandpa now ? " He tried to continue , but his voice was now choked with sobs . He couldn't go on . He collapsed before the grave , tears streaming down his wrinkled face . "This is on me ... all of it . I never should've left . I should've stayed right here . I could've just ... been here . Even if I had to sit in silence .

I should've been here with you . " My soul hovered beside them , watching Grandpa sing , my parents weep , Emily rendered mute . I reached out a hand , but there was nothing I could do . Chapter 8 admin