The morning of the funeral went mute. The coldness of the rain was a sign of darker days ahead- she thought. Only a few people knew about it or that he even died at all. Some knew, some kept quiet. Lily was less than excited to go around telling people her father had died. What could she say when they asked how?

There was Mr. Stalker at her side, the policeman came to give his condolences. There was around six town folk that were close with Mr. Fullin, so close that they knew his daughter. People didn’t know he had a daughter, you see… The house had been all hushed up since the incident with Lily’s mother. They don’t talk about it anymore; they try not to remember it.

No eulogy was given, no pastor came to talk about life after death. They just dug a hole and planted him like a seed then… it was over. It was over.

Lily seemed to be the first person to walk away, she felt her heart race for the first time since her father’s death.. but she was stopped.

“Lily.” He called out, her next step was halted. She dropped her feet and then looked at him.

“When will you be home?” He was a generous man, letting her stay at the house for almost a week. He didn’t complain, even though, he was dirt poor and had to take care of his daughter by himself. He welcomed her and he’d gotten used to an extra head at the table in the evenings.

She shook her head from left to right, sobbing as she wiped tears from her eyes.

“I’m not going back.”

She had overstayed her welcome, she knew that today was the day she needed to go home. She had to start crawling again; the faster she did that, the faster she’d be on her feet and on her own.

“You can always come back if you feel the need to, me dear.” He gestured her by holding her hand. “Anytime ya’ feel the need.”

“Thank you.” She uttered with a slight smile, hiding the tears behind her mask.

He nodded, biting his lower lip as he turned to leave. To his surprise, he passed a woman dressed in black. She looked like she was just widowed; black gloves, black stockings, black cover on side of her face. The only thing that wasn’t black was the tint of red on her lips. She swayed her hips, holding her purse up to her chest as she marched towards Lily.

Lily had been staring at her father’s grave from afar. She couldn’t help but rub her arms to comfort herself.

“Lily? Lily Fisher?” She tilted her head down to catch a glimpse of the girl’s face. “What a beautiful young woman you’ve become.”

She looked up at her, confused with a nod that she give in agreement.

“I’m-“

“I know who you are.” She stopped her.

“Is that so?” The woman squinted her eyes, interlocked her fingers together, and sighed before saying. “Well, of course, you do. Anyway, as you know, your father used to be of great help to our estate until he got sick…” She placed a cross on her body quickly before kissing her hand and then pointing her finger up to the sky. “God rest his soul” She continued. “He said if anything’s to happen to him, you’d need all the help you could get.”

Lily’s response was less than silent, she gazed at her waiting for something relevant to her situation.

“Well, my dear… We could use a helping hand around the manor. Just to cook and dust a few things. Whenever you’re ready, you know where to find me.”

She cupped her hand on the girl’s cheek, saying softly. “And I’m truly sorry about your father.”

There was a fountain, that stood in the middle of the town square. Lily found herself at it, she was there for one hour, two hours, and three hours. The rain had stopped. She stared at the children playing with each other as rug-haired dogs followed them around. She watched the busy women at the grocery shop as they hustled and bustled, fought, and pushed each other. They all called out what they wanted but it all came out like a blurry vision, a not-so-good choir. Too many voices, the man couldn’t possibly make out what they were saying but time after time, they disappeared, took their children home… and then the men came out. Just after work, they’d looked forward to grabbing a drink at the ol’ brewery.

She paced herself, got up, and held unto her purse. Lily could smell the baked goods, even if they were made early that morning. She passed the place and as with all things, she was hesitant. Her hands vibrated as she pushed the door open, to hear the sound of a bell from it. It startled the girl, she looked around to see the place empty. Empty; she was alone. She didn’t notice the boy that sat in the chair behind the counter. She walked around the displaying glass case, pressing her finger against it. She looked at the buns, the sponge cakes, and the biscuits. They seemed lovely that day.

“Which one will it be, Miss?”

She gently pressed her finger against the part of the glass that aligned with the biscuits. But as soon as she looked up, she let out a loud gasp and started to pant. She nodded and backed away, covering her face with her hands.

Her father was standing infront of her behind the counter. He had a bashed in face, a broken arm but somehow, he managed to hold up the biscuit to her. She could smell and even taste, something metallic on her tongue, she felt it building up in her mouth but didn’t feel it when it drizzled from her nostril.

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“Miss? Miss, are you okay?”

“Leave me alone!” She closed her eyes as tight as she could, feeling for the door. She soon caught grip of the hand and pulled it open. She ran out, she ran into the now beating rain. She felt it on her skin but she hadn’t realized what transpired until she opened them.

“Are you okay, miss?”

All Lily could do was shake her head, she grabbed hold of the kind gentleman’s hand and got up. Embarrassed and ashamed; Lily gulped and continued walking, fixing her mud-filled skirt as she made her way down the road in the less-than-generous weather.

By now, her hair had been stuck unto her face by the water, her feet sapped as she tried to put one foot after another in the mud.

“Miss! Miss!” It was the same voice again.

Lily froze where she stood and to her luck, the boy could not see the tears that fell from her eyes for the rain hid them. She raised her head, and her eyes met his.

“Miss, you forgot your bag.” He waved it in front of her, he noticed the lack of life in her eyes and knew she hadn’t the strength to speak or move another muscle.

He held her and spun her around, back to the shop, took her inside, and straight to the bath he’d set for his sister.

The rain was so hard, she couldn’t hear what had transpired in the home’s kitchen but what she did do was stop herself from falling into the tub of water and drowning.

“She’s in there?” This woman weighed four times that of Lily, she was huge but jolly. Guests, she didn’t like guests or people in her home. She stomped through the house and headed for the room where Lily was. She changed her question, slapping a towel over her shoulder. “What’s wrong with her?”

She stared into the room and turned back to her brother, who continued to make tea.

“She was left in the rain, Tammy. Looked like a sick dog.” He explained, then walked over to his sister and held her back. “Come on then, go in.” He gave her a slight push. “All I did was drop her in, I didn’t touch her or anything, that’s why she still got them clothes on.” He added. “Oh, go on.”

She slapped his hand away playfully before getting in and on the stool. When Tammy sat down, the stool disappeared beneath, her brother would tease that her legs were like drumsticks.

The look on Lily’s face softened Tammy right up. Tammy knew this one was in shock, something had happened.

“Aw, poor baby.” She muttered, grabbing a cloth and dripping the water on her head. She then carefully undressed Lily, who happened to be staring at the wall. She took off her skirt and her shirt.

Lily thought it would be easy to let go, to just go about like this was nothing. Like his death was nothing but she couldn't. She felt herself floating in a pool of emotions and she was fighting it, fighting the water from pulling her frail raft under. She felt lost, she felt broken but she knew it would come but why? Why did they want her father dead? He’d never hurt anyone before now, has he?

Before she knew it, she was sitting in a nightgown, four times big for her size and she’d been wrapped in the softest blanket ever. The material of the blanket was not what made it soft but it was the love around her. Tammy’s love, even if it wasn’t love and only just nurtured feeling. When Lily ever thought about this day, she would say it was the luckiest she’d ever been; to meet these people was a sure blessing. And maybe it was him, the boy that sat opposite her. He kept staring, he never stopped when she opened her eyes… he was there, and he reached her side within an instant.

“Are you okay, Miss?” Attentively he questioned. Maybe this time she'd answer, maybe the third time is the charm.

She blinked, then blinked.. then blinked again.

Who was this person? She didn’t know him but his voice, it was familiar and, and calming. His hair was like that of Isobel’s, it was dark but it had more curls in it than a judge in a gray wig. His face wasn’t that of Prince Charming but it had the loveliest smile, a smile that would make any girl who noticed it, faint.

Why was he smiling? Somehow, after all, that Lily had been through, she smiled and so did he. She slowly lifted her feet and placed them on the floor. He fell back at her movements, barely catching a glimpse of her face as her auburn hair fell back in place.

“Jacob, would you give the girl some air? Jesus.” Tammy, who was reading the day’s paper, sucked her teeth at the boy as she flipped the page.

He glanced down and then back at her. “Would you like some tea?” As he was about to reach for her forehead, she turned away. “Oh, sorry.” He smiled again and she froze. “I was just checking your temperature.” She then took a breath and turned her head back to him.

“Yes, thank you.” It came out soft and unsure.

“Where do you live, darling?” Tammy asked, dropping the paper on her thighs.

“From the hillside. I’m Mr.” She couldn’t even say his name, she lowered her head and then choked out. “I’m Mr. Fullin’s daughter.”

“Fullin’s daughter!?” Her eyes seemed to be out of their sockets in amazement. “ I never knew he had a daughter. You hear that, Jacob… Mr. Fullin’s daughter.” She laughed.

“Mr. Fullin’s daughter?” He asked himself, pouring the tea when they all heard an “Ah!”

“Jacob? You okay, boy?” Tammy leaned forward in the two-seater she was taking up.

“Yeah, I-I’m fine. I just got a burn, that’s all.” He let out a weak laugh, making his way to Lily's side.

“Don’t shake the tray, she’ll know you’re not the marrying type, eh?” She chuckled, taking a cup and giving a nod of thanks.

Jacob took a laugh too before handing a cup to Lily who was silent during the whole session. She placed the cup on her lips and stared at the fireplace, she tilted her head at the flames how they looked like they were fighting each other.

“I’m sorry about your dad.” It came in quiet, his voice.

Her eyes fell to the cup, it seemed like that was what she heard then sighed. “I am too.”

How does one react to such an act, having a loved one slain? Why did her father have to leave her alone? What was she supposed to do now that they has gone away? Was there anything that could save her? It was as if the world had stopped turning and in that moment, she had let the world around her fad into t black and white screen. She was going to cloud her mind with false realities of something that could have been and something that will never be again. She would allow pity parties to be thrown but she would see to it that she couldn't be bothered to hear a word of condolences for something she could accept was alive. In that way, she will fall into her pit of cool gray, stuck in a timeline where she once was rather than one were she never was.