Chapter thirteen

Ida's POV

"May her soul rest in perfect peace"Was the last line the priest said before he closed his bible.He made the cross sign with his fingers at Grace's grave before he kissed them.

"Thank you"My mother shook his hand.

"May the Lord be with you"he told my mother and looked at Grace's for last time before he went away.

It was just Mom,Michael,Rea,the servants and I that attented Graces funeral.

I stood by Grace's grave as tears fell down my cheeks.The weather wasn't very pleasing today because it was extremely hot.

I held my mother's hand and all the memories I had had with Grace came flooding in my eyes.I squeezed her hand as I watched my tears falling on the grass.

My dad couldn't attend her funeral because he had an important meeting.At least I had Rea,mom and Michael with me to mourn her.

"Why did she have to leave us"I asked my mother in a crying tone.She  looked up at me from the grave and answered.

"Because people come and go.Nobody stays on this earth forever.We'll all die someday"

She was right.

I placed a bouquet of rose on her grave and wept bitterly.

My mother rubbed my back

"It's ok honey"She told me with a comforting tone in her voice.

"Lets go honey"

I rose weakly from the grave and hugged my mother soaking her black dress with tears.She patted my back.

"Micheal go on we'll come home soon"She told Micheal without pulling me away from her hug.

"Ida I want  to go somewhere with you"She told me as she kissed my hair.

I looked at her suprised as I slightly pulled away from the hug.

"Where?"I asked as I cleaned my tears with a handkerchief.

"You'll never know until you come with me.

She pulled me away from the hug and held her hand out to me to take it.

I put mine in hers and she pulled me towards the car.

The breeze was cool and warming and the tall trees danced to it.

The grass was green and a large pool of water was ahead of us.

When we walked close to the water I realised it was a lake.

"This place is where I like to poor all my feelings"

She laid down on the grass and patted the ground.

"Come and lie down with me"she told me and I obeyed.

I put my arms behind my head as I stared into the sea blue sky.

"I know how you feel"she began.

"I was only five when my mother died.That day I refused to eat and drink water.A grain of rice didn't touch my mouth and I stayed in my room for three days.My dad and most of my family  relatives came to talk me into it but I refused to eat.I was broken and I wanted to die.

That night when everyone was asleep,I sneaked out and came to this lake"

I turned to look at her but she was staring in the sky.

"Do you know what happened?"She continued.

"No"

"My mom spoke to me.She told me to move on and forget her"

She turned her head and looked in my eyes.

"People will come and go but you have to  remain strong-"

I looked into the sky again.

She continued"-I know that Grace's death has weakened you but don't to let it.If you remain weak you will not be able to fight what is coming next at you"

She moved her hand to touch mine."Strong girls never cry,they become stronger women"

Xoey's POV

I didn't see Ida at school today and I was really sad especially when I had to sit alone during lunch time.

My mother had her head bowed on the dinning table when I went home.Lots of papers where scatterd on the table.I unlaced my converse sneakers and shook them off.

"Mom,Mom"I whispered into her ear as I shook her shoulder.She didn't even make a movement.

I picked up a paper that must have fallen off the table.

I opened it and read the full letter.

It was a letter from the lanlord saying that he would kick us out if we didn't pay the rent.

I put the letter on the table and picked up another from the pile.

A letter from Dianna's school.

I read it.

My mother rose her head from the table and she stared at me with red eyes.

"What are you doing with that letter"she asked angrily as she tried to snatch the letter from my hand but she couldn't because she was locked between the dinning chair and table.

She pulled the dinning chair away.

It fell as she snatched the letter from my hand.

"Mom why didn't you tell me that we are going to be kicked out of this house if you don't pay the rent and that Dianna would be kicked out of school if you fail to pay her fees"

She took the dinning chair from the floor and sat on it.

She scratched her hair as she placed the letter she had taken from me in the pile.

"Are those letters from revenue athority telling you to come pay your task or a letter from-"

"Shut up!Just shut up okay"

She squeezed her eyes and opened them to stare at me.

I stopped talking and starred at my mom with disapointment written all over my face.

"Mom you -"I stopped when the door opened and Dianna walked in.

"Why were you arguing?.Where you?"

"No"my mother lied.

"Don't you have any homework?"I asked her.

"I think I have"she responded as she tapped her finger on her chin.

"Then go and do it"I shooed her.

"Okay.Okay I'll go"She lifted  an arm up"but let me first kiss mom on the cheek before I leave"

She walked past me and kissed mom on the cheek and left.

"Mom you know you shouldn't keep secrets away from each us.We are your  children you should tell us everything"

"I know I should have told you that's why I asked your Aunt Doris if we could stay at her place and she said yes.You know she lives in a big house right"

I nodded a 'yes'

"Well move very soon.Well start packing on Saturday and move in on Sunday"

But that wasn't what was on my mind.

"Mom"I asked her,confused"how do you pay my fees when it's so expensive ?"

"That does not concerned you.Your duty is to go to school and learn"she told me.

"Can you prepare the lunch,please I have a headache and get me a trash bag"

I did as I was told.

She gathered the letters and dumped them in the trash bag.She tied the knot five times before she went out with it.

"I know you are hiding something from me mom and I'll find out what it is"

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Love;Vanessa