Red_Roses_and_Black_Dahlias_-_Macy_T

She sniffled and her arms shot up as she hugged me tight. I squeezed my
own arms around her, and inhaled her scent. She smelled like home.
“I don’t want to go.” She whispered against my neck and I closed my
eyes. I knew this would happen, I knew I couldn’t protect her from it, but it
still hurt like hell hearing her say that.
Even though I initially wasn’t too keen on her attending the funerals, I
knew in all objectivity that she needed to go. She needed the closure it would
give her, whether now or when she was older. She needed to see the caskets
go into the ground to understand that mom and dad would not be coming
back.
As hard as it would be at her young age.
“But we have to.” I whispered back, pulling away slightly so I could look
at her face. “We have to, baby. Don’t forget we’re doing this for mama and
papa, not anyone else.”
“But they’re not here anymore.”
My heart tightened. Sometimes it felt like it would never get easier, living
without them.
“They’re always here, Valentina. They’re watching over us, and they’re in
our hearts too. I know it’s hard, but you’re so strong, baby. You’re so strong
and they would be so proud of you.” I could feel the tears burning my eyes
but wouldn’t let them fall.
"La muerte no existe, la gente sólo muere cuando la olvidan.”
Death doesn’t exist, people only die when we forget them.
A small smile grazed her lips as she recognized the words mama so often
spoke when we were younger. She leaned into my hand holding her cheek
and nodded.
“This is the last thing we have to do. The last effort, then everything will
go back to normal, I promise you, baby.” I kissed her forehead and hugged