The Love From Vengeance

195 HIS FUNERAL

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195: HIS FUNERAL

LUKE’S POV

Burning in intense rage, I pushed Harriet away from me hard. “Let go of me, Harriet!” I yelled, my anger boiling over. She stumbled and fell to the ground, her smirk finally fading.

“You can’t do this to me, Luke. You can’t just leave me like this! I’m not going to let you.”

“I can do whatever I want, Harriet. And right now, I want to find Ariel and make sure she’s safe.”

“She doesn’t deserve you, Luke. She never did,” Harriet spat. “I’m the one for you. You are meant for

1. me. We are meant for each other.”

“That’s not for you to decide. Now tell me, where is she?”

“I don’t know. But even if I did, I wouldn’t say a damn thing.”

“You better tell me now, Harriet. I know how brutal and crazy you can be.”

“You don’t know me at all, Luke. You never did,” she hissed, standing up and brushing herself off.

“I know enough to know that you’re capable of anything,” I retorted, my fists clenched at my sides.

“You know what? Fine. To find your precious Ariel. But don’t come crying to me when she breaks your heart again,” Harriet sneered.”

“And who told you she broke my heart, huh?”

“Oh, please, Luke. If you’re going to start telling me lies, save those sh*t for someone else,” she spat

before marching off.

of anger and frustration. I needed to find Ariel fast. But where could she be? My

you now? Where am I going to search? I’ve gone through so many places, and I haven’t yet seen you. What

THREE DAYS LATER

low in the sky as I made my way to the small, quaint cemetery on the outskirts of town. I adjusted my tie nervously, feeling the weight of the

1. attending the funeral of Luke. The tragedy of a

family, not mine. I

air was heavy with grief, and the atmosphere

faces

parents, Manuel and Elizabeth, standing at the

195 HIS FUNERAL

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unimaginable grief they must be feeling. I made my way towards them, offering a silent prayer for strength and comfort. And I still needed some for myself. But they needed it the most since they were the ones who spent years with him. The ones who watched him grew. But I was the one who witnessed him

spoke of life’s fleeting nature and the precious gift of each moment. I listened, my thoughts drifting to the time I first met Lukel, a bright- eyed, energetic child. I could tell when I saw him

forward, her voice trembling as she spoke of Lukel–his infectious smile, his boundless energy, the joy he brought to their lives. Tears streamed down her face, and Manuel reached out to

emotions: sadness, anger, and disbelief. How could a child so young be taken away? Why do such tragedies happen

a lone violin filled the air, its mournful melody weaving through the crowd. I closed my eyes, letting the music wash over me, a balm for my aching soul. I thought of Luke, of the moments we would never share, of the

drew to a close, the sun broke through the clouds, casting a golden light over the cemetery. I felt a sense of peace settle over me, a quiet acceptance of the cycle of life and death. I looked around at the faces of the other mourners, seeing our shared grief and our shared

and Manuel, my heart heavy with sorrow. I took their hands in mine,

sorry for what happened.”

in her eyes. “Thank you, Luke. Thank you for being here. But we’re the ones

you say that?” Manuel asked

the father of Lukel and Janice,”

“Is what

sigh. “Yes,

knew about it? Ariel never told me. And speaking of Ariel, where is she? I haven’t seen her in the past two days. Is she with you,

me, she’d come to this funeral. But since she’s not here, I think you already

I’ve been really worried about her,” Elizabeth entered, her

195: HIS FUNERAL

broken.

informed the police about it?” Manuel asked her.