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The sun is bright today, though I dress in black clothes. My hands sweat from holding the black umbrella for too long and the humidity of the air. My stepmom, or she, stands crookedly beside me. It takes all my strength to not hurt her, lest even say a word. The clear sky and shining sun must have been what she feels inside, but for me, my heart is a withering space of emptiness. Not even rain could compare to the number of tears I've shed and still shedding.

My little sister tugs softly at my dress while wiping her tears, I crouch down to meet her height. I smooth my hand on her hair and ruffle it slightly, the way our father used to do, hoping to comfort her, but it only brings more tears to her eyes.

I look up to my stepmom and glare, she covers her mouth with a handkerchief, but I could see a slight smile touch her lips. My anger churns greatly, but I remain in my composure. The way my father taught me.

Many of my relatives are gathered here, no doubt an effort to claim the inheritance that belongs to me. It is mine. The truth urges to come out, but my relatives will use their wealth into keeping me silent, but I am too young to die, they wouldn't allow it, but all they had to do is to keep my alive. If that happens, I'll leave the inheritance to my sister.

I continue to cry my heart out and stare at my father's coffin. It is red with swirls of golden lines. A sign of royalty. He is royalty, to me, he is everything I have...besides my little sister. Some other men start digging a space for the coffin, lugged the coffin, threw it in, then they step back for us to put our flowers, to whisper our prayers for him to pass into Heaven.

When it is finally my turn, I take my sister's hand and walk with elder towards my father's grave. We drop our flowers and watch as they slowly descend, we close our eyes and murmur our hopes, "Father, please guide me, please keep me safe, and may you please rest happily until we come up with you."

We walk back to the end, then look as our stepmom muttered her lies. My sister grips my hand tighter as she looks at her, I feel her hate radiating, creating a dark atmosphere. For such a small child, she bears much responsibility,

After the funeral is finished, we home, the court meeting is tomorrow, I'll save my energy for that.

When I get into my bed, I mumble a simple prayer and put on my comfy sheets. I gave a strange dream...it is about father.

"Marie, you must never tell anyone about this."

I see father holding a piece of paper. "Father, what is that?"

"Nothing, dear, for now, but it will be something big when I die. Promise you will never tell anyone. Never reveal it to your stepmother."

"I promise!!"

I see him saying something that I can't make out before he started to show me where he hid it, but my dream is already crumbling into pieces. The pieces fall into the void. I hear laughter, I see people laughing at me. I see them pointing at me.

"Stop it!!" I cry. "Stop!!"

My knees buckle as I cover my ears. But when I do, the sounds become louder and louder.

I wake up sweating. My birthday is tomorrow, and father promised he would celebrate it with me. I bring my knees up to my chest, He isn't here. He never will be. He's not coming back.

I see something in the shadows, I know it's staring at me.

"F-father?"