Ivory Petals

Soft and moist earth covered her frail hand…her pale skin a stark contrast to her black gown…once golden hair now sodden with rain. Onlookers could barely contain their own grief as they watched the young girl let the soil rest in her closed fist. She stared unseeing below her, green eyes seeing nothing. Not the coffin lowered in the dirt, not the bouquet of white roses resting on top, not the green grass that bent to her seated form. Mud soaked into her gown but nothing could reach the pale angel. She was frozen like a porcelain doll; Beautiful but cold.

A mourner stepped forward, his appearance so similar to who had rested below for some time now. He dropped to his knees beside her, his Armani suit becoming its newest victim to the wet soil. She turned to him and struggled to speak.

"I-I c-can't. I ju-just…" She broke off, staring forlornly at the coffin. Silence reigned through the procession as they waited on bated breath for the girl to proceed with what needed to be done. The man wrapped the distant seraph in his arms. But she felt nothing. Only the earth in her hands as a constant reminder.

Knowing what she had to do, she pushed herself from the man's embrace and kneeled closer to the edge of the grave. With a deep steadying breath, she unclenched her fist and let the dirt trickle from her hand. Each soft thud of dirt cut into the girl, her tears finally falling. A gasp tore from her throat as a small clump of earth hit a rose petal. She watched in aberrant wonderment as the petal disconnected itself from its brethren. Her eyes followed as it fluttered down the long green stems and tumbled down onto the glistening wood. A gentle splash of rain landed on the center of the ivory petal. That small bead of water seemed enough to drown the girl.

The mourner stepped forward again and wrapped his hand around her upper arm. Her body stood on its own accord, her knees buckling the moment they straightened. The man supported the girl as he led her away from the scene, motioning for the others to pay the respects. As the man's mother stepped towards the grave her tired and aged blue eyes scanned the gravestone, a shriek of pure sorrow disrupted the silence of the churchyard followed by hysteric sobs and screams. Yurika shut her eyes to stay her tears as she passed the open grave. Her hand pressed against her mouth as she heard the girl shrieks to let her go back. Her husband placed a gentle hand to her elbow; his own eyes filled with tears and urged her forward. Fellow grievers slowly began to stand and pass the grave as the rain steadily continued.

The gentle pitter patter of the rain slowly dissipated, leaving a delicate mist as the grave diggers replaced the earth and grass. One gently wiped the marble gravestone with a handkerchief before glancing up at the marble angel. Her ivory wings outstretched to her sides, her face turned downwards as if to watch the grave beside her, and a gentle smile playing on her expression. The man crossed himself as he chanted a soft prayer for the one who had passed. Picking up his shovel, he followed his partner back to the office to get prepare himself for another day.

Amon Nagira
1975-2033
Faithful Husband
Loving Father
Loyal Protector

Robin Sena Nagira
1985-2035
Devoted Wife
Loving Mother
Eve and Hope of All

Got you guys. You probably thought it was another Robin at Amon's grave huh?Nope, their daughter. Anyways, they died young...wow, really young...