Funeral

Seraphina woke up early, the first light of dawn filtering through the curtains. She slipped out of bed and headed downstairs. She found Genevieve already in the kitchen, brewing a pot of coffee. Her mother looked up, offering a weak smile.

“Morning, sweetheart,” Genevieve said softly. “Did you sleep at all?”

Seraphina shook her head. “Not really. Too much on my mind, I guess.”

Genevieve nodded, pouring two cups of coffee. “I understand. Today’s going to be hard, but we’ll get through it together.”

They sat in silence for a moment, sipping their coffee. Seraphina felt a mix of anxiety and determination. She glanced at her mother, who seemed more fragile than she had ever seen her.

“Mom,” Seraphina began, “I’m really sorry for everything… for not being here.”

Genevieve reached across the table, taking Seraphina’s hand. “It’s not your fault, Seraphina. We all have things we regret. But today, let’s focus on saying goodbye to your father.”

A gentle knock on the door interrupted their mom