Dedicated to my grandfather who just recently died.

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Wizardmon was dressed in black for Palesa’s funeral. Everyone was ready but they couldn’t find one person: Chi. She’d been upset and hadn’t talked to anyone since they arrived, and now she’d vanished.

“Chi! Come on out!” Wizardmon called. “I know your upset… Chi… come on… don’t you want to say goodbye to your mother?”

Rhys came up behind him, Myo trailing not too far behind him. Both were wearing black and looking upset.

“Did you find her?” Rhys asked.

Wizardmon shook her head. “I have no idea where she is. I know she’s upset… we all are. And now Ubora is all she has…”

Myo sighed and clicked to Stella. She flew from a tree branch to him. “Go find Chi for us, ok? We need to talk to her.” Stella chattered and flew off. A few minutes later she landed in a tree above some bushes. They walked over and looked in. Chi sat there, sobbing.

They looked at each other then sat down beside her.

Wizardmon patted Chi on the back. “Chi… it will be ok. Mother is in a better place now. Trust me, I know. Rhys and I have been there, remember?”

Chi continued crying. “Th-then w-what w-will ha-ha-happen when y-you d-die a-a-again o-or Rhys o-o-or M-Myo or Da-Da-Daddy?”

“Chi… that won’t be for a long time.” Myo assured her. “You won’t have to worry about one of us leaving you very soon.”

Chi looked up at them, her face red and soaked with tears. “I th-thought I d-d-didn’t ha-have to wo-wo-worry about M-Mother d-d-dying either!”

Rhys hugged Chi, tears in his eyes. “Chi… I miss her just as much as you. But you shouldn’t worry about us dying. If you just keep worrying about the end… life won’t be any fun. I swear to you we are not going anywhere for a long time.”

Chi let him hug her. She leaned her head against his chest and cried. “I m-miss her… It’s j-j-just not th-the s-s-same.”

“Shhh… it’s going to be alright…” Rhys whispered. Then Chi realized, he was crying too.

xxxx

At Witchan funerals the spouse was supposed to talk first, then the children, then other family members, then the friends. After Ubora the eldest son was to go first. Myo stepped forward.

“I barely knew my mother. Though I have a few memories of her, enough to know that she has always loved me. Mother took me in when I had nowhere to go. And I don’t think I ever told her this when I was a child or when I was living with her… so I’ll say it now.” He turned to the coffin. “I love you, Mother. Rest in peace.”

He sat down and Rhys got up.

Rhys sighed. “I’ve always loved Mother. When I was young I would cling to her. She was my refuge. Every night when I was young, I could always count on being sung to sleep. And when my brother and I were taken away, I thought of her often. I just wish the time I had with her when we were reunited was longer. What I’m trying to say is exactly what Myo said.” He too turned to the coffin. “I love you Mother, and I’ll miss you.” He went and sat down.

Wizardmon was next and after he talked it was Chi’s turn.

"I just want to keep this simple about my feelings for my mother. I love you Mother, and I know I'll see you again... someday." Wizardmon said, looking to the coffin.

Wizardmon sat back down and patted her shoulder.

Chi gulped and stood up. First she took a big breath then let it out. “My mother… she wasn’t just my mother. She was my best friend, my guardian angel, and my protector all rolled into one caring and loving person. She always had enough time for me and always loved me. And words can’t describe how much I miss her… and I know she doesn’t want me to cry… but I still think I’m going too…” Tears began flowing down Chi’s face and a few people looked at her sympathetically. Wizardmon stood and walked to Chi, putting his arm around her.

“What my sister is saying is we all loved are mother very much and we’ll miss her very much, more than she can ever know.” Wizardmon said, looking down at Chi.

Chi nodded. “And I want to thank her… for everything she’s ever done for me…” She still had tears flowing down her face and then she began sobbing. Wizardmon hugged her, trying to comfort her to come extent.

After the others had talked it was the eldest daughter’s job to shut the coffin so it could be lowered and buried.

“Do you want me to do it?” Myo whispered to her.

Chi shook her head and walked towards the coffin. Her mother lay, paler than usual and eyes shut. She looked like she was sleeping. Chi swallowed her tears and shut the lid with a dry click. “Goodbye Mama… I’ll miss you.” She set her hand on the coffin, then ran towards her brothers who hugged her.

XXXX

Now... this was my way of dealing with the loss of my grandfather. I knew I wanted to write something... something to give me comfort. So I chose this. It seems the years are just flying by... I still remember when my grandfather would bake me cakes for no reason and when he would draw a lot and work in his workshop. And towards the end he just got worse and worse...

Anyways, I'll miss him and and I pray that God will take care of him and keep him happy.