Love is keeping the promises even after she's gone.

"You seem to be handling housework better than I do, Dad." Alicia smiled after taking a look around. "It seems like I worried for nothing."

I chuckled. "Thanks to your Mom," she didn't seem to get it, so I added, "I learnt from her."

Alicia nodded and looked straight at me with eyes a little softened, "But are you sure you're alright living alone here?" she said, "Erik and I are more than happy to let you crash at our apartments."

In the span of a year, they both moved into new places for work. At least, I hope they weren't trying to run away.

It was honestly a little hard to get used to the silence after they were gone, but I came to realize that they eventually had to start their own life as well. Without them around, I was able to focus more on you too.

I figured out a lot of things, and I thought I grew a little. I would call Tom occasionally just for a talk, or I'd spend the whole day just watching you, doing what you did. Calling all these boring might not be wrong, but I couldn't think of another way to live the rest of my life better.

It was ironic. Life was much more meaningful after you left. I had a reason to wake up, and looked forward to every single day in our future.

You gave me a reason to live with your death.

"I'm sure."

She held my gaze for just a little longer before letting out a soft sigh, "Okay then. But don't you cast this matter aside. And if you feel like it, just tell us anytime."

I nodded, unable to contain the smile from gracing my face as wrinkles showed up more prominently at the corner of my lips.

Dear, we are old now. But our children are growing up so fast, so well. I can't help but feel happy. If you were still here, you would still worry yourself to death, wouldn't you?

"Erik texted me saying he will reach in a couple of minutes." Alicia stared at her phone and read aloud from it.

"Let's hope he does. It's getting a little later than we planned."

Fortunately, he did show up in less than ten minutes. He appeared; clad in black with a bouquet of camellia flowers in his hand, vibrantly bright as they contrasted his suit. Looking a little out of breath -- most probably from running here -- he said, "Sorry I'm late."

"It's fine, let's get going now."

They made their way out first, as I followed closely behind. I slowed down a little and turned to see you standing in the kitchen; my heart a little heavier than usual.

"I'll be back, dear."

We left the house, all clad in black, and headed to where you were.

*

Erik placed the bouquet of camellia flowers wrapped in white ribbon in front of the gravestone. The rain hit the flowers relentlessly, causing them to become damper and more battered as every second passed.

We took turns spending some time alone in front of your grave, giving the others some privacy by standing a few meters away.

I was first.

Stepping on the damp, grassy and muddy ground, I stared right ahead. It was raining, shards of raindrops piercing the sky and hitting the ground.

The coldness seeped into my skin, the silence oddly not out of place.

It had been exactly one year.

So many things had happened, and as cliché as it sound, it honestly didn't felt that long.

Even though I had been seeing you everyday at home like nothing changed, it still stung having to stand in front of your gravestone. It felt like a hard slap across my cheek.

She's dead.

Your name on the gravestone, the words etched on it, the dates. They all seem to be chanting the same thing. Would it be wrong to say this still felt surreal? Even though it had been a year, none of this felt real to me. I could talk to you all I want at home, and with you around it never felt like you were gone.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

No. You are. You really are.

I couldn't find words to say. And so I didn't.

When I looked up at the sky and let the rain hit my face, water drops slid down my face.

Were they the rain or my tears?

Who knows.

*

I opened up the umbrella to shield myself and Erik from the rain as we walked back, giving Alicia some space by standing two feet away from her. I tried not to look at her or eavesdrop as that would defeat the purpose of giving each of us some space. Before turning away, I caught a glimpse of her smiling though. She seemed genuinely happy. I wonder what she was telling you.

Standing side by side with Erik had me realize he was a full grown man now. When had he been taller than me? It felt like yesterday when he was still that little boy who would cheer up in a blink of an eye when I gave him a new set of colour pencils. He wasn't the typical active child who rambled on and on, instead he would sit by my side silently when I came home from work. I guess he had been one introverted but understanding child.

The only time he acted like a child was coming up to me with a new piece of painting. I missed that excited look in his eyes.

And now, with our shoulders nearing touching, he looked faraway with a distant look. After moving out, there hadn't even been a call from him. Over the years, he had really changed. Well, I suppose everyone does.

I turn away from him, my gaze landing on the gravestone in front of us now.

It was a grave of a couple.

Here lies Samuel Olivers and Emily Smiths.

One day, that'd be me. I would be beside you then.

"I'm done." Alicia said in a raspy voice, passing the umbrella to Erik and moving beside me.

When she caught my gaze, she smiled softly, raising up her tear stained cheeks.

Clearly, time wasn't able to heal our scars completely.

Placing a hand on her shoulder, I pulled her closer towards myself.

*

Erik didn't take long. Or maybe I was too surprised when I saw him from a distance. I could see him talking away, unlike his usual quiet self. But instead of standing up, he was kneeling down and his head was lowered. And even from a distance, the grief that radiated off him was strong.

It was so easy to forget how we were dealing with the same thing in different ways. At home, I was the only one who could see you, but not them.

He stood up then, and without a second look, walked back towards us. The rain chose to pour down at this moment, making it harder to see his face.

They hadn't moved on. Neither had I.

But we were all trying.

In the end, that's the only way to move on.

By trying.

I placed my hands on each of their shoulders, ignoring the rainwater that attacked the sleeves of my shirt and steered them ahead.

"Let's head home now."

Home, where you will be there again.

Not just your spirit – because it was just a matter of time before you disappear again – but bits and pieces of our memories of you sewn together. Those were everlasting.

Before we got to our car though, I recalled something and stopped in my tracks.

"Wait here for a bit, I forgot something." I sprinted back to your gravestone, shaking a little from the piercing wind hitting my face.

Pulling out a small, blue flower out of my pocket, I gently placed them beside the bouquet of Camellias.

A Forget-Me-Not -- tiny but eye catching -- laid there silently.

"I haven't forgotten, dear." I mumbled, "And I never will."

With a smile, I left.

-----

Hey guys! I'm sorry for the wait, but I'm finally back. If you're still reading this, thank you so much! A little worried that my readers are gone. It's been half a year. Oops.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter. This is the first chapter of the second part of the story, so you might realize the difference. Tell me if you liked it or not, and why? Until next time :D