by Nicole Anthony
As soon as the church service ended Shehara quickly got out of the
church, mass had run an extra fifteen minutes today she thought as she
pulled out her car from the parking spot. She got home as quick as
possible remembering not to exceed the speed limit and because she
recently got her licence she took pride in showing off that she could
drive as if she got it five years ago.
As she got home, her mother was still grieving and couldn’t get over
the fact that her husband, Shehara’s father had died. Very recently Mr.
Silva had died of a heart attack. It was very shocking; a week had
passed and her mother couldn’t believe it that he had died. It was
pretty annoying the way her mother acted when people even reminded her
about him, but it was a hard time for her and Shehara could relate to
it.
 Next week she would be going to her friend Raaya’s house while her
mother spend the week at her aunt’s place, they would each try to change
and forget their painful circumstances. Shehara chose Raaya’s place
because she knew Raaya would comfort her, she was her best friend. She
always helped Shehara during hardships, you name it financial crisis,
study crisis or family crisis Raaya was by her side. But Raaya wasn’t
sure how to comfort Shehara during a death as Raaya has never
experienced a close or loved one’s death...yet and her family tried to
keep death as far away from Raaya as possible.
“Yes, of course she’ll be very happy here, she looks very thin also.
Must be she didn’t eat...well I’ll fix that....I’ll feed her!” said
Raaya’s mother, Shenali to Shehara’s mother “Well, I do very much
appreciate it also....it’s very hard losing some one....” and again
Shehara’s mother started sobbing “mom, you know what, I’m fine you
should go, aunty Chula is waiting also, so go and I’ll be fine” said
Shehara. She quickly hugged her mother and took in her bags.
“Shehara, I’m really glad you’re here!” said Raaya as she welcomed
her guest “yeah, me too” she hugged Raaya and put her bags in the
visitors room.
It was nice with a toilet, a library and an air conditioned bed room.
“Raaya....” Shehara started. “Yes, Shehara?” Raaya calmly asked “Do
you think he’s in heaven?” Shehara asked, doubtfully “Well, look
everyone does some good in their lifetime, even bad people they do bad
but still even one good deed is surely done right?” asked Raaya “Well,
yeah. But daddy? him?” Shehara questioned again “Look, as far as I know,
God appreciates every little thing and that is a very big thing, would
you appreciate your maths teacher adding you a few marks to your test
paper?”
Raaya asked “Well, with Miss. Suniyakanthi a few is like two or three
marks, what is to appreciate in that?” asked Shehara “Well, it’s still
something sweet in Gods eyes! She did a good deed and that when she dies
will be counted as a deed and will help her get into heaven!” Raaya
explained “So...that means even the tiniest thing counts? Because daddy
did lots of good deeds...so does that mean...” she couldn’t even finish
the sentence, she was shocked by how Raaya tried to console her “Yes!
YES! He did go to heaven...and right now...”
She took Shehara’s hand and lifted it up, pointing it at the starry
dark night sky, it was so beautiful! “She made a constellation of a
man’s face with her fingers connecting the stars “see that?” she asked
“yeah, cool constellation!” she said, then thought “oh my god! Daddy!”
she said “yup! that’s him looking down at you!”
Raaya told “well, tell him I love him!” she said “oh! Shehara, he
knows”. They both had dinner and quickly changed and got ready for bed.
As Shehara pulled up the covers and started falling asleep she
remembered something, she got up and looked out at the sky and said
“good night daddy!” and after that she got out of bed stood in front of
Raaya’s bed and whispered,
“I LOVE YOU!” |
