Old Shadows

Aurora stared at her reflection in the mirror. She wore a knee-length black gown with small buttons down the front. Her hair was tied up neatly, her expression composed...but her eyes carried a heavy familiarity.

Another funeral.

Another goodbye.

She let out a faint sigh, lips curling slightly in a sad smile. No matter how many years had passed, the memory of that day stayed fresh.

⸻

^*^

It had been a regular afternoon. Aurora had just returned home from school, already rehearsing the fake smile she would wear to convince her parents everything was fine.

Her sweater concealed a fresh injury...another girl at school had clawed her arm during an argument. But Aurora didn't want to worry her family. She just wanted to make it through the day.

But as she reached the doorstep, something felt off.

She could hear voices. One was her mother's...frantic and low. The other...a man's. Unfamiliar. Official.

She walked in to find the town sheriff standing in their living room, holding a folded paper in his hand. Her mother's face was pale, her eyes red and puffy.

"What's going on?" Aurora asked, heart already pounding.

Her mother moved toward her. "It's your father..."

Aurora's gaze snapped to the sheriff.

"He was in an accident," he said softly. "His car skidded off the bridge... and fell into the river. They found only the body."

The words hit like ice. Cold. Sudden. Unreal.

Aurora froze, her eyes widening, lips trembling.

She didn't cry at first...she just smiled faintly, like her brain refused to understand. But as her mother's arms wrapped around her, the tears finally fell.

⸻

Now, years later, here she was again—dressed in black, about to face another funeral.

She stepped outside.

Everyone was ready. Aunt Sarah turned to her with a soft smile.

"You look lovely," she said gently.

"Thank you. You look good too," Aurora replied with a small smile.

Vivian stood nearby, watching her with a curled lip, clearly unimpressed.

"Let's go," she muttered.

⸻

The funeral was packed. Clearly, Mr. Vane had been loved deeply.

People were teary-eyed, some holding white flowers as they approached the grave. His family sat together, faces etched with grief.

Aurora stayed close to her relatives until a familiar group approached.

"Good day, Sarah," Isaac greeted warmly.

Aurora turned to see Mateo and the rest of the group—Jennifer, Melanie, Raymond—all dressed in black as well.

"How are you all?" Aunt Sarah smiled at them.

"It's been a while," Mateo spoke.

"Mr. Vane's death was sudden," Jennifer added.

"I heard he had a long-standing illness," Melanie chimed in, sounding more curious than sad.

"He'll go to heaven for all the good he did," Aunt Sarah sighed.

Aurora stood quietly, feeling a strange nervousness settle into her chest as Mateo's eyes found hers. His gaze was unreadable, but it lingered long enough to make her heart flutter.

Vivian's eyes flicked between them.

"How are you, Mat?" she asked, stepping closer to him, trying to sound casual.

Mateo turned slightly. "It's Mateo. And I'm fine, Vivian."

The correction was sharp. Vivian flinched.

She had liked Mateo for a long time...ever since she first transferred to Morsvil. Despite her brother being part of their circle, none of the group seemed to take her seriously. She had even confessed to Mateo once, but he had rejected her without hesitation.

Still, she hadn't given up. Seeing him near Aurora now only deepened the sting.

Raymond turned to Aurora. "How are you doing, young teach?"

"I'm alright," she said with a polite smile.

"Let's play that game again sometime," Isaac said with a mischievous grin.

Vivian's eyes widened.

"You guys are friends?" Aunt Sarah asked, raising a brow.

"Yes," Isaac replied smoothly. "She's smart and fun."

"That's good to hear."

Aunt Sarah excused herself to speak with Mr.

Vane's family.

⸻

Mateo stepped away from the group and came to stand beside Aurora. She straightened, already feeling the tension his presence brought.

"Do you want to know why that man was so loved?" he asked quietly.

Aurora nodded, curious.

"Mr. Vane helped save Morsvil during the old war. He risked his life to protect this town when it was falling apart. When there was famine, he provided food and shelter. He took in orphans and gave homes to families."

Aurora's eyes softened. "I didn't know."

"He also brought in a skilled physician from another town," Isaac added, approaching them again. "That's how so many people survived."

"He even built several clinics and shelters," Vivian spoke up suddenly, uninvited.

Aurora nodded. "He truly was a great man."

"That's why he's so respected," Mateo said, his tone lower now.

"Anyway," Melanie scoffed, arms crossed. "Enough about Mr. Vane. He lived a long life. He's gone."

"Mind your words, Mel," Raymond snapped.

She rolled her eyes. "I'm just saying. He was old. Let's not act like he was immortal."

Jennifer gave her a warning look but said nothing.

Aunt Sarah returned shortly after.

"You all should come inside," she said. "The family is receiving guests now."

"We'll be right there," Peter replied for them.

"Let's go," Mateo said, glancing at Aurora.

She hesitated. She could feel all the stares...the questions, the unspoken assumptions. Why was he acting this way around her in public? She needed to talk to him soon.

⸻

Inside the Vane mansion, something shifted.

Aurora walked through the corridor, suddenly feeling lightheaded. A small headache was beginning to creep in.

She quietly broke away from the others and wandered the hallway alone. The house was old—elegant, but with an eerie silence clinging to it.

Her eyes landed on a collection of old photos hung neatly on the walls.

One picture caught her attention: a black-and-white photo from what looked like the 1880s. A proud man stood tall in the middle...it had to be Mr. Vane's father. Beside him, a woman held a child. Her black eyes looked tired, even in the frozen image.

But it was the third figure that made Aurora pause.

A smaller person stood slightly behind the others, holding a newspaper. Something about the pose, the stillness, the aura of that figure sent a shiver down her spine.

She leaned closer.

Who was that?

Why did it feel like that person... wasn't supposed to be in the photo?