CHAPTER 360

Emily’s POV

"I can’t believe they’re really gone," Phoebe whispered, her words scarcely heard over the subdued, sorrowful murmur that filled the space.

I nodded, unable to meet her gaze. My eyes were too swollen from the tears, my face too blotchy to look at myself in the mirror, let alone at anyone else. The room was heavy with grief, and every breath I took seemed to come from a place deep within my chest, weighed down by the crushing reality of our loss.

The funeral home was filled with people. Faces I barely recognized came and went, offering condolences that hardly registered in my numb mind. My parents’ caskets were closed and surrounded by flowers that seemed too bright, too lively for the somberness of the occasion. Each arrangement was a stark contrast to the darkness I felt inside.

Phoebe stood beside me, her hand occasionally brushing against mine as if to offer comfort. I felt her eyes on me, filled with concern, but I couldn’t bear to look at her. I was too exhausted fro