54

I left the room, compress. By this time, there were already many people gathered in the condominium, dressed in suits or black ceremonial dress and giving the deceased their due respect.

When I found Lucy, she was sitting on the swing in the back garden. She was wearing a long black dress with some dark embroidery. Her hair was combed with great care, adorned with a small, elegant white flower that was above her ear. As she stared blankly at the peach blossoms, newly born on the trees, a terrible lifelessness radiated from her gaze.

With the passing breeze, the delicate flowers left the branches of the trees and fell on her. Over her black dress, the glittering petals were dazzling to the eye. Really blinding.

Gently, I plucked the petals from her hair and her dress. At that moment, I felt the need to comfort her, but no suitable words came to mind. Any words I might have said seemed futile. After all, the man in the crystal casket was the love of her life.

After a while, I patted him