The funeral was a blur of grief and muted conversations, the weight of the loss hanging in the air like a heavy fog. Ariel stood near the back of the gathering, her gaze unfocused as the somber tones of the eulogy echoed through the room. Her grandmother, the woman who had always been a source of comfort and wisdom, was now gone. Ariel's heart felt like it was being crushed under the realization, but she hadn't cried since the news had first hit her. Now, surrounded by family and friends, she felt the sting of her grandmother's absence in every whispered word and every sympathetic glance.

As the service drew to a close and people began to make their way to the reception hall, Ariel lingered by the door, her eyes scanning the room. The crowd was a mix of distant relatives, family friends, and acquaintances her parents knew through their work. She didn't recognize most of them, but she felt oddly detached from everything. Her thoughts were tangled with memories of her grandmother: her soft voice, the way she'd hum lullabies when Ariel was a child, the way she always made time for her despite her busy life.

"Ariel."

She turned at the sound of her name, surprised to see Rose approaching her. Rose had been a family friend for years, but Ariel didn't know her well. She remembered her mother talking about Rose during family gatherings, always with a tone of fondness. Rose was warm and easy to talk to, the kind of person who had a way of making people feel comfortable in their own skin. Today, however, her usually radiant smile was tinged with sympathy.

"I thought I'd find you here," Rose said softly, her brown eyes studying Ariel's face. "How are you holding up?"

Ariel gave a small shrug, trying to muster a smile but failing. "I don't really know... It's just a lot. I didn't think it would hurt this much."

Rose nodded in understanding, her expression sympathetic. "Grief has a way of sneaking up on you, doesn't it? I remember when I lost my own grandmother, I felt the same. It's hard to make sense of it."

Ariel felt a pang in her chest at the mention of Rose's own loss. She nodded, her throat tight. "It's just strange. I thought I was ready for it, but now... I don't know."

Rose stood beside her in silence for a moment, and Ariel was grateful for the quiet. She didn't feel like talking, but she also didn't want to be alone. The chatter and clinking of glasses from the reception felt distant, as if it were happening in another world.

"You know," Rose said after a beat, breaking the silence, "I'm part of a little group that meets regularly. It's a good way to clear your mind, take your thoughts off the heaviness of everything. It's really informal, but I think it could help you."

Ariel turned to look at her, intrigued but cautious. "What kind of group?"

Rose smiled gently, her eyes glinting with something that Ariel couldn't quite place. "We meet once a week to connect with ourselves, with nature. We meditate, talk about life, just... be together. It's very peaceful, and you'd be welcome to join us if you'd like."

Ariel raised an eyebrow, a flicker of hesitation passing through her. "Meditation? And just talk?"

"Exactly. It's a safe space," Rose said, her tone warm and inviting. "No judgment, no pressure. You don't have to believe in anything in particular to be part of it. Just come and see if it helps."

Ariel considered it. The idea of being with a group of people who would understand the weight of what she was feeling—without the usual expectations of pleasantries or small talk—was tempting. She hadn't known where else to turn for comfort. The thought of spending more time with her parents, who were busy making arrangements and phone calls, felt distant and hollow. And her friends at school, while kind, didn't fully grasp what she was going through.

Rose continued, sensing Ariel's internal struggle. "It could be a good way to just step away from everything for a while. To find some peace, even if just for an hour or two."

Ariel swallowed, glancing around the room at the family members gathered, their voices rising and falling in the background, their faces marked by a sadness that seemed to resonate with her own. She didn't want to be here, didn't want to be part of the noise. Maybe something quiet, something different, would help her process it all.

"Okay," Ariel said, her voice tentative. "I'll come. When is the next meeting?"

Rose's smile brightened, a sense of relief passing over her. "It's this Friday evening. We meet at my place, just a small group. I'll text you the details, and I'll be there to welcome you when you arrive, alright?"

Ariel nodded, though part of her was still unsure. The thought of something new, something unfamiliar, felt both exciting and frightening. But the idea of connecting with herself, of getting out of the loneliness of her thoughts, seemed like it might be just what she needed.

"Thanks, Rose," Ariel said softly. "I appreciate you inviting me."

"You don't need to thank me," Rose replied with a soft chuckle. "I just want to help. I'll see you on Friday, okay?"

Ariel watched as Rose walked away, her mind swirling with the weight of everything. It was strange to think about what the group would be like, but for the first time since she'd received the news of her grandmother's passing, she felt a small glimmer of something: curiosity.

Perhaps it wouldn't hurt to step outside of her world, if only for a while.