It felt odd, standing there…Both Jolly and Pinky were six feet under. Most adults who had come for the funeral had fled. Fled as fast as they could after necessary painful “paying the respects” was done. My parents had left too. But we hung around…A small group of kids bewildered…and scared…Not just by how close death came to us…But…Also about how the word murderer suddenly became more than something in a novel or the headline in a newspaper. Guess that’s how things work. Nothing’s real unless it happens to you.704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMGNkc0ENav
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I stood in the living room of Jolly’s house, my eyes fixed on Jolly’s mother. Guilt was eating my heart even though I kept telling myself I had no reason to be. I wasn’t some superhero on television. My power was close to useless.704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZC4R7oX0tj
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A small figure, huddled in a corner groaned. I couldn’t look at her, at Jolly’s mother, without wanting to scream. Aunt Daisy whom I had known since I was a little girl, the kindest, sweetest woman I had ever seen. She didn’t deserve to have her heart broken like this. I couldn’t even imagine what it would feel to lose two daughters…That too…704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZUI4OXaIW8
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“Daisy…”704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvL75LIMiLg
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Jolly’s father, Uncle Elias, had once been an energetic charismatic man. He looked old now. Too old. Innumerable lines were etched on his face, as if an inexperienced carpenter went haywire with the chisel. His legs swayed now and then as he moved towards his wife.704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwobHp1iGPA
I turned away, anticipating more tears and words that would cut into my already aching heart. But…704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwldbHEBcsj
704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBcwW8R2AjH
I didn’t expect her to get up. I didn’t expect her to face him with blazing eyes and spit out the words,704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOg0aMFwbjl
704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTM5LiWs9ll
“You killed them. You…”704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUdo7YVv8x
To be continued...
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