The sky hung low, heavy clouds pressing down on the cemetery on the western edge of the city. Etched in cold stone on the headstone was a young, handsome photo of my son, Yosef Braun.
His smile was bright, as if he had only left temporarily, but below the photo were the dates that marked the brief span of his life.
Isaac and I stood in front of the grave. His tall frame was slightly hunched and the umbrella in his hand tilted gently in my direction, trying to shield me from more of the rain and wind.
I turned to look at him. His side profile looked rigid with tension, the dark circles under his eyes were so deep they seemed impossible to fade and his entire being was draped in sorrow.
Yet, I alone knew the truth that while some of these grievances might truly be for his blood-related son, the biggest part was more likely for the unexpected disruption of the “correction” plan.
I kept my eyes locked on the photo of my son, but my mind kept replaying the findings the lawyer had uncovered.
My son had been preparing for my sixtieth birthday party at the birthday venue when he received a phone call and rushed out of the banquet hall. After the car accident, the vehicle that caused the accident did not stop at all and vanished into the dark, rainy night.
My son had died trying to save me.
No mother could possibly move on from that. The pain was truly unbearable.
“… By the mercy of the Lord, may His faithful servant Yosef Braun be received into eternal light and rest...” The pastor's voice seemed to come from a faraway place.
Just then, the sound of footsteps approaching suddenly sounded. Hearing that, my body stiffened and I turned my head.
Sofia appeared in a perfectly tailored black suit, holding a dainty black lace-trimmed umbrella. Beside her stood a tall, slim young man, Jack Miller.
He was dressed in a brand-new black suit, looking a bit nervous. His eyes darted everywhere, unable to see directly at the photo on the tombstone.
I once had so much sympathy for this “poor child” my best friend had raised out of wedlock. I treated him like my half-son. I cared for his well-being, helped him and even used Isaac’s company resources to open doors for him.
And Sofia had always been deeply grateful, calling me the savior of her and her son.
At this moment, under the cold rain, every lie was being washed clean.
I stared hard at Jack’s young face.
Those brows… that bridge of his nose … the line of his jaw… the expression he made when he pressed his lips together … Now, upon closer inspection, he bore an uncanny resemblance to the man standing beside me, who was sunk in sorrow, Isaac.
So, the clown in this story had always been me.
Sofia stepped closer. Her eyes locked on me and Isaac. Her voice trembled with suppressed sobs. "Riley, Isaac, I’m so sorry for your loss. Jack and I are here to see Yosef off one last time.”
Her gaze darted quickly over Isaac's grief-stricken face before settling back on me. Beyond the feigned sorrow, there was a hint of inexpressible excitement lurking within.
Jack kept his head down and muttered, "Uncle … Auntie … I’m sorry for your loss.”
Isaac seemed to be jolted out of his daze by their arrival. He lifted his bloodshot eyes and looked deeply at Jack and gave him a nearly imperceptible nod, then murmured something vague before his gaze turned unfocused once again to the cold, wet gravestone.
I turned away because I couldn’t bear to look anymore.
The funeral ended in cold, stifling silence.
The ride back was deathly quiet.
I leaned against the cold car window, staring blankly at the rain streaming past outside. Every wound on my body that had not yet healed was screaming in pain, but none compared to the cold, bone-chilling void in my heart.
Isaac sat beside me. After a long silence, he finally spoke, “Riley …”
He paused, as if searching for the right words before saying, "Yosef had already gone and I know there is nothing that can make up for it, but … life had to go on. Sofia and her son are just a widow and an orphan. And with Jack having just graduated from university, he needs someone to give him a hand."
He turned his head to look at me, his voice tinged with a barely perceptible hint of hesitation. “I think we should bring Jack into the company. Let him start from the bottom, so he can get familiar with the business and gradually move him up to the management level. After all, we have to make plans for the living, don't you agree?"
I stared at him and laughed coldly.
Let Jack join the company? Groom him for a management level? Taking care of Sofia, a widow and her “poor son”? Aren't those just excuses to pave the way for his biological son, under the guise of "taking care" and "making plans for the living"? How eager he was!
I clenched my hands and replied hoarsely, “Do whatever you want. I’m not in the mood to care.”
Hearing my words, Isaac looked at ease. He gripped my hand in a show of affection.
But I immediately pulled my hand away. Besides, once I recovered all my assets, the company would likely head toward bankruptcy and what happened to it in the future had nothing to do with me.
