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.

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

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

THREE DAYS LATER

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

1. of Luke. The tragedy of a young

knew his family. Yes, his family, not mine.

the gathering, I could hear the soft murmurs of the mourners and the sniffles of those trying to hold back tears. The air was heavy with grief, and the atmosphere was suffused with a sense of profound loss. I scanned the crowd, recognizing familiar faces twisted

and faces

saw Andre’s parents, Manuel and Elizabeth, standing at the front, their

195 HIS FUNERAL

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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

scent of freshly turned earth. The minister’s voice was a soothing murmur as he 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

stepped 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

child so young be taken away? Why do such tragedies happen in the world? The questions swirled in my mind, unanswered and unanswerable.

over me, a balm for

me, a

crowd began to disperse, offering their condolences to the grieving parents. I approached Elizabeth and Manuel, my heart heavy with sorrow. I took their hands in mine, offering a

sorry for what

up, tears glistening in her eyes. “Thank you, Luke. Thank you for being here. But we’re the ones who should

why do you say that?” Manuel asked her.

of Lukel and Janice,”

at me. “Is what she’s saying true? Are

deep sigh. “Yes,

breath. “How come I never knew about it? Ariel never told me. And speaking of

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

and I’ve been really worried about

195: HIS FUNERAL

broken.

informed the police about it?” Manuel asked