Burden of the Blessed by R. Joseph LeBlanc & J. Marie LeBlanc

Author:R. Joseph LeBlanc & J. Marie LeBlanc [LeBlanc, R. Joseph & LeBlanc, J. Marie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: young adult, Science Fiction, sword and sorcery, Space Opera, fantasy
Publisher: R. Joseph & J. Marie LeBlanc
Published: 2017-11-04T04:30:00+00:00

~15~

Later that afternoon, we buried my mother and the remains of my sister out in our backyard. It was common for Telshakran families to bury their dead close to their homes, but my father had not intended on burying anybody there that soon. He covered the graves with the few flowers he found and marked their final resting places with large rocks. My father would later replace these rocks with proper grave markers, but in that moment, it was all we could do to honor their memories.

Under his strict orders, I was to pay my respects to their graves each morning and each evening before bed. Death was a new concept to me, and although I didn’t fully understand what my father’s intent was at the time, someday I would. My father had lost his soul mate. The death of my sister was tragic enough as it was, but without my mother there to help him through it, my father became more and more withdrawn from the world around him. He was a hollow, broken man with nothing left inside to give to me, the one family member who had survived that terrible day.

Often in the months that followed, I’d find him sitting in front of the video screen, blankly watching messages from the Church over and over and over again, as if not retaining any of the information being presented to him. My father had become nothing more than a shadow of his former self. He was physically there, but there was no light behind his eyes. He continued to go through the motions of taking care of me like any parent would do, but the father I’d known and loved was lost forever. I know in my heart he would have been a better parent to me if his grief hadn’t become rooted so deeply in his soul. Looking back, I realize there was little, if anything, I could have done to help him through those dark times.

Despite my father’s distance, I wasn’t completely alone. The voice of my mother continued to guide and care for me. She talked me through all my worries and troubles and fears. She made me keep my room tidy, helped me pick out my clothes, and taught me how to keep them clean. It was as if my mother had never left me. Even though I couldn’t see her, I could still hear her and feel her presence everywhere I went.

Momma, can I ask you something? I thought one winter morning as I made my bed. The sheets were wrinkled, and the blanket was uneven, but my mother made me keep working at it until it was acceptable.

Of course, Vigil, you can ask me anything, she replied in my mind. Her voice sounded slightly nervous, but I didn’t know why.

Where’s Linna? How come she doesn’t talk to me like you do?

I don’t know, sweetheart.

Do you think she’s okay?

Yes, I’m sure she is.

How do you know?

I just do. Your sister is probably sitting with Ein right now, smiling down upon you.

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