Roma helped Janet get off the car as they arrived at the old house. There were already several cars parked in front of the gate. Puzzled, Janet accidentally caught a glimpse of Sven's car as she walked into the old house.
Was there a party today? Why was Sven here?
Jerry was smoking in front of the door. Janet looked at Sally in surprise. His brother was rarely seen smoking.
He would only have a cigarette or two when he was frustrated or depressed about something.
It seemed like Jerry and Sally had a fight.
Sally's red teary eyes met those of Jerry's. He put out the cigarette, came over to the living room, and placed his arm around his wife who held his sister's hand.
There was no one else in the living room but them. "Where's Dad?" Janet asked.
Jerry looked at his sister, "Upstairs, Jane..."
He bit his lip before he said anything else. Janet looked at his brother in wonder, "Bro, what is it with you and Sally? Why did you make her cry? Apologize to her."
Jerry was smart enough to know what she meant. Janet misunderstood the situation. She thought that Sally's eyes were red because the two of them fought.
Jerry took them upstairs, without saying a word. An atmosphere of gloom surrounded the whole second floor.
Then... she heard sobs.
Janet grew increasingly anxious. Who else was crying?
She was afraid to ask Jerry who it was.
As they approached Melody's room, Janet could feel her hands shaking because the one who was crying seemed to be... her mom.
The three of them stood by Melody's room's door. Inside were many people.
Ella and Samuel, Viola and Vincent, Sven, and a middle-aged man that Janet had never seen before were there.
Melody was in her bed, her eyes closed.
Viola and Ella were crying, while everyone else wore a melancholic look. Janet tried her best to stop herself from trembling. She moved closer to the bed and uttered, "Grandpa, Grandma... Mom, Dad... Sven... Is Great-grandma sick?"
Melody's eyes were closed. She seemed to be calm and at peace. Her pale, frail face looked content.
Janet felt somewhat relieved because her great-grandma looked like she was sound asleep.
But... Samuel broke the silence, "Jane, your great-grandma... is gone."
Gone?
Janet smiled, "Dad, you can't joke about that. Great-grandma is here, isn't she? What do you mean she's gone?"
Ever since she was born, Janet had never experienced the loss of a family member, not until now. She had wanted to argue with Samuel more on what "gone" meant, But Ella held her daughter tightly, trying to hold back tears, "Jane... Your grandma is not around anymore!"
No matter how hard Janet sought to contend, she could not escape the facts before her eyes.
She sat down by the bed, weak and limp, and took hold of Melody's hand.
It wasn't until then that she realized how... icy cold her hand was.
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