Chapter 6: Mourning & Grieving 

Months went by although engaging the occasional nod at each other, LongWei was still giving FengGe the silent treatment, he noticed his physique, he wasn't the scrawny kid no more, he somehow bulked-up and barely recognized him. He needed a second look.

Suddenly something happened downstairs FengGe heard his mum scream, he ran down, LongWei followed him they saw their mum crying kneeling beside their dad lying there on the floor. FengGe knelt beside his dad, he tried to use his gift to heal him, but it was no good he was getting frustrated mumbling 'Why can't I heal him?', their mum then said "He has been ill for a while, we knew it was coming, I just hoped we would have a bit longer with him, before they took him away".

The brothers hugged their mum, FengGe whispered quietly to LongWei barely audible, LongWei nodded agreeingly.

It had been a while since LongWei had acknowledged his Big Brother and he took it as a sign of hope.

The days went by was sorting out their father's belongings, accounts and organizing his funeral, their mum wanted him buried and started crying after looking at the statements. FengGe saw her and took the statement out of her hand and gave her a hug for comfort there was a hint of smile behind her tears. He made her some tea and left her so he could arrange a burial, he knew how much he had but it wasn't enough, so he went to ask LongWei and it was still not enough. FengGe wasn't prepared to give up yet, he was determined to give him a send off to let him know they will be ok to look after mum.

Two Days later...word started getting out as their father was a very respectable man, most of the people in their village that knew them well gave them donations, he couldn't accept it at first, but when more and more people were handing him the money he found it very hard to resist. He kept smiling with tears welling-up, he had no idea his father was that admirable. It was only then he realized that they were already rich with love and respect. He counted what had in his hand and he knew it was enough to buy a good quality non-standard coffin.

He headed to the local funeral directors, as he arrived he saw that the owner was standing outside looking around and noticed him smile. "Ah FengGe, I have been waiting for you, I have just the coffin to bury your dad in...Oh...sorry for your lost he was a very decent man and had helped me out a lot in the past. So here is the coffin for him free of charge!" The owner granted him smiling.

FengGe just stood there eyes filling up and did not know what to say, he opened his mouth and nothing came out, the owner anxiously waited for an answer.

FengGe was still holding the money in his hand, "How about I give you 100 Yuan for the coffin, As I will feel bad just taking it, I know my mum wouldn't want you to go out of business for giving what you worked hard on" FengGe said generously.

"Thank you, you are so much like your father, he would be very proud of you right now and I noticed you already made a name for yourself within this village" The Owner said with gratitude.

"Thank you, would you mind giving me a hand to put it in my cart please" FengGe asked politely.

"Yeah no problem" The Owner said already getting himself ready, it was a few paces to his cart, as they settled it down they both breathed with a sigh of relief. FengGe was off back home, it had took him a little longer than usual as he made an extra stop to get some food for dinner.

It was all quiet when FengGe arrived home, He called out "Hello, Mum?? LongWei??", But there was no answer, he was getting worried, he knew his mother well enough that she may not cope, he remembered telling LongWei to look after her.

He parked his cart around the back where he knew it would be safe and searched the house to only find them in the living room comforting each other, he left as they were as he dished out the food in the kitchen and made a fresh pot of chinese tea. He then helped LongWei bring their mother to the table.

"Come on mum you have to eat something to keep your strength up, dad wouldn't want you starving yourself" FengGe gently said watching LongWei eat. Not even FengGe felt hungry and he only had a couple mouthfuls.

"LongWei, take mum to bed and I will tidy this up" FengGe asked politely. As soon as they were upstairs, he couldn't contain it any longer and his tears came pouring out, unaware LongWei heard him. LongWei carried on walking upstairs carrying their mum, he sat with her and eventually fell asleep.

FengGe eventually finished tidying the kitchen and noticed he hadn't seen LongWei, so he strolled upstairs and saw him next to mum, he decided to go to sleep too.

The next morning he was awoken by Longwei panicking that he couldn't wake their mum up, "Brother wake up...wake up...I can't wake up mum…" LongWei said with tears in his eyes.

"Little brother, just breathe" said FengGe calmly and LongWei slowly calmed down and walked to the bedroom FengGe checked her breathing and shook her gently. "She is alive, but refusing to get out of bed…" "We can't just leave her like this…" LongWei interrupted.

"Yes I know that, you will have to look after her as I have work…we will have to take it in turns to cook" FengGe said as LongWei nodded agreeingly, "If you want to work as well, you will have to get some evening work then I will look after mum when you are away...OK! ….LongWei?..." FengGe said as he walked over to him. FengGe wrapped an arm over LongWei's shoulder, he snuggled closer and leaning his head against his chest.

As the funeral is only days away FengGe feels there is still a lot to do, he had been single-handedly organising the whole thing, he felt it was his duty to look after the family now like his father did before. He wasn't sure how well he was doing, he knew his father would be proud.

The night before the funeral he had found it hard to sleep which was quite unusual for him, he laid there awake, thinking about everything, he tried to switch his thoughts off and close his eyes. He saw nothing but blackness, swirls started forming and thought nothing of it, he just focused on the swirls…

He woke that morning seemingly refreshed, but as soon as he stood on his feet he felt a little light like he was somehow floating. He looked down at his feet they were definately touching the floor 'Then why do I feel like I'm floating??' he asked himself feeling confused.

He knew he could not dwell on it as he needed the whole days service to go smoothly as possible, so he went down to the kitchen and saw LongWei had already made breakfast with mum sitting at the table with the faintest smile. "Oh Morning Brother, there's enough for you as well." LongWei said delightfully.

FengGe nodded and helped him carry the plated food to the table, they sat down and ate breakfast and having general conversation, then FengGe talks about plans for the service "LongWei all I want you to do is look after mum and I will do everything else...OK" FengGe said, LongWei just nodded agreeingly.

FengGe smiled and even with the food he had consumed he still felt like he was floating and lighter still, which he didn't think was possible. He knew it was some sort of sign but didn't know what it would lead to, there were so many questions in his head that he wanted answers for throughout the whole service, so much so it almost interfered with his speech.

'To start I would like to thank you all for coming it means so much to my mum, LongWei and I, you have been so supportive, It shows that our dad is a very respected man and forever will be it seems.

Life is cruel, but it is fair first,

Life opens so much opportunities,

You choose whether to take them,

You go through Life,

Till your end of days,

Where it becomes dark…

...it does not have to stop…

...for there is Always…

...Light at the end of the tunnel.

Thank you for listening'

LongWei saw the tears in his eyes and gestured him to sit and stood on the platform "Everyone can now follow us to the burial site, if not then you can wait for us at the restaurant" LongWei then walked back to mum and FengGe and the three of them walked behind their dad being carried out by six of his friends.

They loaded him in the cart and horse-drawn a few kilometres, about halfway up the mountain they stopped and the six friends carried him up to his final resting place, they lowered him gently into the earth and slowly shoveled the earth over as each person said their final farewells. The six friends carried on shovelling the earth to fill the hole as everyone made their way back down to the restaurant.

Everyone was chatting and there were a few laughs here and there, which did bring a hint of smile on FengGe's face. His mum did not say anything throughout the day, after dinner she managed to say "...T...T...Thank y...y...you FengGe and to you LongWei, y...y...you have made your father proud...…...and...l...I'm proud of you also. .....Errr…...Thank you everyone for coming and showing your respect" LongWei then took her back home to rest. FengGe stayed behind to sort out the bill and see everyone off to get home safely.

It wasn't till he arrived back home that he started to feel like he's floating again, he still had no clue what it meant, then he heard LongWei crying in his room, he rushed upstairs and comforted LongWei. They didn't say a thing, FengGe stayed till he fell asleep, he crept out and saw an old photo of his dad he stared at it 'I miss you dad' he said with tears running down his face, that evening he cried himself to sleep.

Something happened that evening that he was unaware of, as he was too distraught to think about anything else.