'Are you ready?' my father asked me as he fixed the bow tie of his suit. I think this was the first time I had ever seen him wear something so nice, even though today was the worst days of my life. I never thought I'd be looking into my mother's casket, at least not this soon.

The cathedral where we held the funeral was a biting cold, and the dress I was wearing didn't help it. The black sequins would glisten in the light, and it didn't help that it got caught on almost anything it touched. I shouldn't be pissed off at those things. This is the day I am to mourn my mother.

Every other minute someone new entered the cathedral, all in tears. I was trying my best to hold it in, but I knew it wouldn't be long before I would flood my eyes with that salty solution. 

'Rachel, you're a very strong woman,' my grandmother told me as she hugged me tighter than ever, 'She may have left too soon, but I know she'll still be proud of anything you do from up there.'

My grandmother was shorter than I was, and she was wearing a dress similar to mine, but it lacked the sequins and it was of longer length. She may be in her early sixties, but she still rocks it like she's only twenty.

'Thanks, nana,' I told her in reply, 'You always have some words of encouragement.'

She smiled back, but it wasn't a smile of joy. It was a cover smile, a cover of the sadness I knew she was trying to hold back since I was doing the same. She patted me on the back and went to sit next to my grandfather. One by one, other family members and family friends came to me and either told me how strong, brave, or amazing I was. It wasn't until the service actually started when all those words began to sink in.

My father stepped up to speak first. 'Amanda, my most beautiful wife and a most beautiful mother, left this earth too soon. She was my other half. I met her twenty two years ago Freshman year in Biology. We thought we were the shit in that class, and we clicked instantly. Our first date was Froyo from the local shop just down the street, and until this year that's where we spent every anniversary of ours. She didn't just commit her life to me, but I committed mine to her. She survives through our two strong, brave, and amazing children Robert and Rachel, her beautiful and courageous parents Nathaniel and Bernadette, and all who were close to her. Today is the day we remember my wife, my best friend, and my soulmate. May she rest in peace.' As he stepped down from the podium, he began to tear up. It was my turn to speak.

My whole body was shaking, and I was a nervous wreck. I never liked public speaking, but I knew I had to be brave because this was for my mother. 

'You got this,' my brother, Robert, told me as I walked up to the podium.

I fixed the microphone to my height and began to speak. 'I'd like to thank you all so much for coming. My mother greatly appreciates it. Now, today is a day of mourning, yes, but I feel as some of you don't know how my mother died. It all started the night that I had slept in, her car went missing, and she was nowhere to be seen.'

***

'Ma'am!' the officer yelled as I awoke in a dark room. 'Are you okay?'

I kept blinking so I could get used to the light, and I was so fixated on this I never answered him. 

'Answer my god damn question!' he demanded.

'I'm fine, sir. What am I doing here?' I ask.

He gives me a look, a menacing one. 'Well, you found someone dead. So, as detectives, we have to question you on how you found this man.'

His French accent was thick, and sometimes I couldn't take him very seriously. 'Well, what kind of questions?' I asked, just trying to spark up a little conversation.

'First, we need to know how you know the guy. When did you first meet Ross Harper?' the detective asked as he pulled out a notepad from his back pocket and a pen from his right ear. The room may have been dark, but the heat was extremely unbearable. My face was drenched in sweat.

'I met him during the layover of my plane. I went down to town square to go sight seeing when he came up to me from behind and asked to take me to coffee before his meeting. I liked him and I'm pretty sure he liked me. I was to return after my flight to Bejing, but I started to feel weary when someone I met on the flight who resembled so much of my mother never got back on. My mother died three years ago and I was afraid if she was so much similar like she was, she could be in trouble. So, I-'

'Slow the hell down!' he yelled, interrupting me half sentence. 'You just met this guy today?'

'Yes, sir.'

He smirked. His lips curled and he wrote a few things on his notepad before he responded. 'So you just meet a guy and you instantly fall in love with him? It took me years to fall in love with my ex-wife and to think she divorced me for some bum who had a "good paying" job. Bullshit if you ask me.'

'Shouldn't this be about me?' I ask.

'Not everything is about you, Rachel!' he insisted, 'This is about the death of a young man. Now, finish your story, please.'

'As I was saying, I went to his apartment. Now, keep in mind I texted him prior, and it took him a while to respond but he did. He told me it was fine that I was coming over and-'

'Let me see the text,' the detective, whose name was Conroy, demanded. 

I wiped a gallon of sweat off my forehead before reaching into my left pocket and grabbing my phone,  unlocking it, and handing it to Detective Conroy. 

Rachel: Ross, Juliet hasn't gotten on the plane and I'm worried!

Ross: Are you alright? What are you doing now?

Rachel: I'm on my way over. 

'So, the woman's name was Juliet?' I nod in agreement. 'I don't see a text that states he wanted I you to come over.'

I stood up from my chair and slammed my hands onto the table. 'Detective Conroy, what the hell do you expect from me? I found a man dead, in his own apartment. That's not the first time I've seen the remains of someone I loved.'

'Oh please, you knew him for one day. I wouldn't consider it love! And what do you mean it's not the first time?'

I still stood there, heart pounding, sweating, and heavy breathing. 'I was also the one who found my mother, dead in her own car!'