The funeral had ended. And the priest had quietly offered his final condolences to the bereaved.
Because of Anna’s condition, she had remained on the field when the coffin was taken to the burial place. Family and friends followed along, including Anthony’s Auntie, Susana.
Daniel had requested to stay by her side, but Susana had fought against it until the priest spoke on his behalf.
“I think it would be fine if he stayed behind, ma’am.”
That was when she gave up on the matter.
One after another, mourners left the old football field, some carrying flowers, folding umbrellas, and exchanging quiet words of sympathy. Workers began dismantling the canopies while the choir packed away their instruments. Now the football field was almost empty.
Anna remained where she was. Her heart drummed against her chest as though it wanted to escape. Cold sweat filled her palms, and her breathing was shallow and rapid. Her eyes darted wide, scanning every shadow, while her fingers gripped the white handkerchief so hard that her knuckles turned stark white.
She seemed to be waiting to see if she could see the man again. Somehow.
The folded white handkerchief rested tightly in her hand. She had smoothed its creases so many times that the fabric had become warm beneath her fingers.
"You must have imagined it, Anna…"
Daniel approached quietly. His hand was behind his back.
“It's over now.”
She didn't answer.
"They've all gone," he continued, looking into the sky.
Daniel was trying to ease the tension, but still, there was no reply.
Finally, she spoke after a brief sigh.
"I know who I saw."
Daniel sighed.
“Anna...”
“I saw Anthony.”
His expression softened with concern.
“You've had the hardest day of your life. So… it’s understandable if your eyes were tricking you”
"No."
She turned sharply toward him.
"I looked into his eyes…his eyes." Anna gestured, pointing to her own eyes. "They were Anthony's."
Daniel held her gaze for several seconds before speaking.
"Grief does strange things to us sometimes."
“…”
“I don’t think… you really saw him. Couldn’t it be your eyes playing …”
“I did! I know what I saw.”
Her voice rose before she restrained herself. Several relatives turned to look at her. Her cheeks flushed, causing her to lower her voice again. Her eyes moved toward the handkerchief in her hand. She unfolded it, waving it before Daniel’s eyes.
Daniel stared at it; his heartbeat seemed to slow.
Silence settled between them.
For the first time that afternoon...
Daniel had nothing else to say to convince this woman out of her stupor. He sat quietly behind the wheel as they drove home beneath a sky heavy with gathering clouds.
Rain began tapping softly against the windshield.
Anna watched the droplets race each other down the glass. She sat frozen in the quiet car, her mind drifting far away. One hand rested limp against the cold door handle. Her bare foot curled up and rested flat on the cushioned seat beneath her. Staring at the drops of rain moving down the windshield, her eyes held no spark. They looked through the world as if she were a doll.
“They're burying him...”
she whispered.
Daniel kept his eyes on the road.
“Yes… so...”
“But… I still saw him.”
Daniel kept quiet. Why would he worry himself with an argument which would lead nowhere? After all, her eyes weren’t his. The silence was longer than before.
Anna frowned. Then she closed her eyes.
“I thanked him.”
Her own words sent a chill through her spine.
As she opened her hand, the white handkerchief greeted her, neatly folded. If only she could wake from her sleep, but reality stared at her. Everything happening was real.
Impossible.
Her breathing became uneven.
“Daniel...”
“If, really, Anthony was standing there today...”
She couldn't finish her words when her thoughts travelled back in time...
to the night everything changed.
…
Three Months Earlier.
Anthony had come home. He wanted to make amends and to catch up on time he had missed with her. He had been away on camping trips, missing anniversaries due to his football career. Now it was over as he had retired. He straightened.
“Ou… ouch…”
He winced at the pain in his right leg. The injury had become troublesome. Slowly, he walked to the entryway. The door wasn’t locked. His brow furrowed.
Anna never left the door open. What changed?
Silence rushed at him when he stepped inside. Everything was as they’ve always been: from the arrangement of furniture to the statue at the corner of the living room to the curtains. Everything was perfectly in its place and familiar, except...
A smell assaulted his nostrils. No, it wasn’t from the humidifier sitting on the coffee table.
It wasn’t a perfume, but something else with a musky undertone.
Is it smoke?
Anthony paused.
Touching his nose, Anthony’s eyes scanned the living room. A long bottle with a sparkling red wine stood atop the cellar. It seemed the person forgot to close it. Also, two wine glasses were missing from the rack.
Did Lilian visit today? Anthony wondered.
Grandeur was Lilian’s favorite wine, and she loved to smoke too.
Lilian normally kept Anna company whenever Anthony was away on his usual trips, sometimes spending the lonely nights with her. To Anthony, Lilian was family.
Anthony walked farther in. The roses he had prepared were sleeping peacefully in his hand. His duffel bag slid off his shoulder and dropped beside the stairway with a soft thud.
He stood at the base of the stairs listening intently to the sound that had stolen his attention.
Then, laughter filled the air. The sound was distant and muffled. There was a light giggle, followed by a deeper voice. Anthony blinked.
Ah… a man’s voice. He froze on the spot.
Then he listened carefully, following the sound; it led him to the guest room. The door was left open, and the television was on. Taking a deep breath, he took the remote. The television went off with a click.
It seemed Anna had a guest. I hope she would be around, Anthony pondered. She might have gone to escort her, forgetting to lock the door outside. She shouldn’t be careless; it’s dangerous out there.
His hand reached for his mobile phone, then he decided against it; else...
This was supposed to be a surprise.
Anthony placed his phone back into his pocket. He prayed for her safety wherever she was.
Anna giggled from upstairs. Oh… She’s back… already.
“Anna?”
No answer.
Then he heard laughter. His smile disappeared.
“Anna?”
Still there was no answer.
The laughter came again. It was different from Anna’s, and it came from upstairs. Anthony climbed slowly. Each step he took made the voices louder than the last.
The bedroom door wasn't fully closed. Through the narrow gap he saw…
Time stopped. Or rather, he paused. For several seconds...
Anthony stood there. The roses had broken free from his grip, sprawling on the floor, pleadingly. He was unable to breathe, unable to think clearly.
His hand slowly pushed the door open. The squeaking sound of the door broke the noise in the room. The laughter died instantly.
Anna turned.
Her face drained of color. She jumped off the bed, clutching the sheets around her body.
“Anthony...” Anna's panicked voice diffused into the air.
Daniel stepped back.
“Listen...”
Anthony laughed.
Not because anything was funny. But his heart had shattered too completely for tears.
“How… long?”
Neither answered.
“I asked...”
Anthony’s voice trembled.
"...how long?"
Anna wiped at tears already forming.
"It… It… It… isn't what you think."
Anthony stared at her. Then at Daniel. Then back at her again.
“Not what I think?”
There was a long pause. Then Daniel finally spoke.
"You should calm down."
Anthony's eyes snapped toward him.
"You…"
He stepped closer.
“You tell me to… calm down? Really…”
Anthony held his head in disbelief. Wow!
“Anthony…”
“No, you… listen to me…”
Anthony’s voice echoed through the room as he pointed directly at Daniel.
"You stay away from my wife."
Anthony’s hands curled into fists; his blood was boiling. He took one step backward, then another, his jaw clenched so tight it ached. The air in the room felt like smoke, impossible to breathe. He turned sharply on his heel, shoulders rigid, and strode toward the door—anything to get out before the heat brewing within him swallowed him whole.
Daniel followed him, raising both hands in resignation. He held Antony to stop him from leaving.
“Let's talk… please...”
“Leave me alone.”
Anthony screamed at Daniel. He shoved Daniel with both hands, a blind, furious thrust that sent the other man stumbling back into the wall.
Daniel’s face shifted from shock to a kind of startled reflex, not anger, but a primal urge to push back. His own hands shot out against Anthony’s chest.
It was just enough.
Anthony's heel skidded on the polished edge of the marble stair. For one suspended second, he windmilled his arms, trying to reach for something to support himself, just anything.
But…
Grasping at empty air, Anthony tumbled over the edge of the staircase.
Time slowed.
His shoulder struck the banister. His body twisted. The ceiling spun across his eyes.
Anna's face was horrified, but she couldn’t do anything.
“Daniel… What… What have you done?”
Warm blood spread beneath his head after the crash on the marble floor.
“Anthony!” Anna screamed his name.
Then...
Anthony's eyes fluttered.
Anna's scream became distant.
The ceiling blurred.
Darkness swallowed everything.
And then…
Nothing.