Christopher knelt before Mindy's grave, setting down a bouquet of daisies - her favourite flower - before gently touching the stone with his fingers. A gentle breeze blew by, rustling the leaves and causing a strand of hair to fall over his face.
The air was quiet and solemn, and he felt a lump form in his throat as he looked at the gravestone. He took a deep breath, steeling his emotions, and began to speak softly. “Hey, babe… It’s been a while since I last came here….Lily’s birthday was a few days ago…It’s hard, knowing she grew up without her mother…”
He said in a low, gentle voice, his fingers tracing the letters engraved on the stone “I did my best to make her birthday special...Felix made her favorite brownies, Hyunjin made us a painting, Innie made her chocolate milk and Seungmin got her a necklace...just like you would have...”
He said, his voice cracking slightly as he recalled the memories with her.
He took a deep breath, steadying his voice, and continued “We held a small birthday party for her and told her stories about you...how beautiful, kind, and smart you were….You are and always will be her favorite person. Even though she never got to meet you..."
Tightness formed around his heart as he spoke, his eyes glassy with unshed tears and his voice wavering slightly from raw emotion.
“Lily’s growing up...already seven years old and so beautiful, just like her mother...She’s a bit cheeky, but it’s cute and reminds me of us...”
He let out a small laugh at the thought of his daughter's antics, imagining how Mindy would have reacted to her cheeky personality.
He cleared his throat gently, trying to compose himself “I’m trying my best to raise her, with the help of the members of course. It’s not easy, though...She still asks about you constantly. Why you’re not here.”
He swallowed hard, his voice barely above a whisper “It hurts, so much...knowing she is growing up without you…That you’ll never get to see her or hold her…”
A single tear rolled down his cheek as he spoke, his heart heavy with grief and longing “It sucks, you know…I try to be strong for Lily, but sometimes it’s just…too much. I wish I could just...see you again. Even for a moment. Hold you in my arms…kiss you once more…”
Hr spoke hoarsely, a pained expression on his face as he poured out his feelings. He couldn’t help but reach out to the gravestone, gently touching it and reminiscing on their moments together “Sometimes I dream about you…I dream that you’re still here with me…with us. And when I wake up, it’s like losing you all over again…”
He whispered softly, his tears now openly streaming down his cheeks.
He took a trembling breath, his voice slightly cracking “I miss you...so much. Every day. I wish our life together didn’t end so soon...We had so many dreams and plans…And you were meant to see out daughter grow, just like this.....”
He said in a low tone, trying to control the pain and sadness in his voice.
He took a deep breath and looked up at the clear blue sky, his eyes reflecting a deep sense of longing  “But I know you’re up there somewhere, watching over us. And I promise, I’ll make you proud. I’ll raise Lily to be the best version of herself. I’ll show her your life, your kindness, your passion, everything…Everything that made you so amazing. I promise you…”
With tears still streaming down his face, he stood up slowly, gently placing his hand on the gravestone once more “Happy birthday, babe…We love you and we miss you. Both of us. I'll see you soon…”
He whispered, his voice filled with both hope and heartache.
As Christopher turned to leave, he couldn't help but look back one last time, the love he felt for Her etched visibly on his face and in the tearstains on his cheeks.
And just like that, He left the cemetery, carrying with him a mixture of bittersweet memories, profound love and a heavy heart...As he walked away, the wind blew gently through the trees around him, almost as if it were a whisper from the heavens, a silent reminder of the love that transcends all boundaries and continues to live on.
Even though Mindy was no longer physically there to witness it, her presence still remained in the hearts of those who loved her. And as her family continued to grow and thrive, her legacy lived on through the generations, a testament to her enduring spirit and the love she had left behind.

2024.05.18