The Absence That Shouldn’t Have Been Possible
I kept expecting them to arrive.
My mother always believed in appearances—showing up, being seen, fulfilling the expectations of “family.” My father followed her lead in most things.
They had been informed early. They had confirmed they would come.
But as guests began to arrive at the funeral home, I noticed something unsettling.
Their seats remained empty.
At first, I told myself there must be a delay. Traffic. A misunderstanding. Something simple.
But as the service began, reality settled in.
They were not coming.
