*Melody*

It wasn't long until I finally left the hospital and was back home.

This cast on my arm is a complete nuisance. I'm having trouble even playing keys on the piano most of the time, even taking showers is annoying with this thing!

I get all antsy not being able to pick up my violin or play the cello.

Mystic Blood will be on hold until I have fully recovered.

I've also returned to school where everyone has welcomed me back.

My dad and Alice also begun to plan their wedding before my dad's tour and are deciding to have it next month before my dad leaves on tour.

Today was a Saturday but I can't say it was going to be a happy one unfortunately.

It was my biological mother's funeral today.

Uncle Andy managed to arrange a private funeral for her, and my father was on board with it.

I finished brushing my hair at my vanity set as I looked in the mirror.

I wore an silk black dress that reached around my knees, black ballet flats, and a black kimono shawl to cover my cast a little and make myself look more presentable, my hair combed to the side and make up done light.

I sighed as I looked down.

Despite her drug influence, I still wish I had a chance to know her properly and not under those circumstances.

I can't spend the rest of my life having ill thoughts over her. 

I feel like this could also be closure for my father.

There was a knock at the door and I turn to see it was Alice, wearing an elegant dress with lace sleeves.

"Hi... You ready?" She asked.

I nodded. "Mhmm."

She nodded as she walked over to me. "This is a good thing you're doing for your mother... You have a good heart, Melody."

I smiled sadly. "I still wish I had gotten to know her a bit better... Or that she had survived," I said.

Alice gave me a sad look. "I'm sure she never had ill thoughts towards you before. She took a lot of drugs, her mind must not have always been in the right place... I'm sure deep down, you had a place in her heart..."

I smiled and looked down, holding back tears. "I hope so... Thank you..."

She smiled as we hugged each other. 

"You'll be a wonderful mother, Alice," I smiled.

She chuckled. "You think?"

"Honest. You are kind and so caring. I mean.... I'm nothing to you, yet you've treated me so nicely since we've met," I said.

"Because why would I be like one of those cruel girlfriends who treat the daughters of their partner so harshly? Especially when the daughter is probably the kindest most talented, polite and lovely girl I've ever met," Alice smiled.

I smiled bashfully. "I'm glad you're going to marry my father, and.... I do already have your wedding gift," I said.

"Really? You shouldn't have," she said with a small laugh. "What is it?"

"Not yet," I said. "On your wedding day."

She chuckled softly. "Alright."

Soon there was a knock at the door and we turned to see Uncle Jake there, dressed in a black suit.

"Hey... Its almost time," he said.

I took a deep breath and nodded.

***

*Jinxx*

We watched as the casket was lowered to the ground, tombstone already in place.

Melody clung to my side, a bouquet of flowers in her hands, as we all watched in silence.

Tahlia and Rupert also came to pay their respects.

I sighed as I hugged my daughter close and she leaned her head against my shoulder.

Since I received the news of Victoria's death, I felt guilty I guess.

Guilty that I didn't think of maybe making her get help, get clean to maybe have some sort of involvement in our daughter's life.

I don't like that fact that she used Melody to get a ransom to pay gambling and drug debts, but she didn't deserve to die. She sacrificed herself for Melody, and I'm actually thankful for that.

Maybe deep down in her heart, she did love Melody, and only wanted what was best for her. 

Melody walked up once the hole was buried and covered in grass patches, and placed the bouquet of flowers at the bottom of the tombstone.

"Rest well, Mother," She said, placing her hand on the tombstone.

The others placed their flowers on the tombstone next to Melody's as then Rupert helped Melody to her feet.

"I guess that's all for now," CC said .

"Umm.... Can I have some time alone for a bit?" I asked.

"Yeah, yeah," He said, nodding. "We'll wait in the parking lot."

I nodded as Melody gripped my hand with her good one before heading with Alice and Tahlia on either side of her with the others.

Once I was alone I turned to the grave and sighed.

"Hey Vicky..." I sighed, looking at it as I held my bouquet in my hands. "I, umm.... I wish I knew what to say right now... Melody got closure, but... I don't know if I can..."

The wind softly blew as I continued.

"Honestly, I feel.... I'm angry... Because you put Melody in danger like that," I confessed. "You abandoned her, that was painful enough for her, and then..... Now, you.... Eitherway, I don't think you deserved to have died like this..."

I frowned as I looked at the flowers.

"I feel responsible for this... Maybe that night if I had offered, or, even forced you to get help, then.... Then maybe you would be alive," I said. "In Melody's life or not, you would be alive and with a second chance at a good life..."

I looked back at the tombstone.

"You lied to me, when you said you didn't care about her," I said. "Because if you didn't, you would have just let her be another statistic to police about human trafficking... You would havev let her become a victim.... But you didn't."

I looked up and took a deep breath before kneeling down and setting the flowers down by the rest of the flowers.

"Sometimes, I... I think about how life would have been life if one or both of us raised Melody instead of a housemother in an orphanage... But either way...." I said, trying to find my words. "Just know that... That she is the greatest kid you would ever know. She's smart... Talented... Caring.... has a good heart.... She has a bright future ahead of her, and.... She's going to be just fine...."

I then got up to my feet.

"I hope you realize that I never hated you..... And Melody will never hate you either. I don't even think she's capable of doing that... Her heart's too pure to hate anything... But... But just know that your daughter never thought ill of you.... and I don't either," I said. "Rest easy, Vicky... See you in the next life...."

And with that I walk back to where my family and my friends waited for me.

"Are you alright, love?" Alice asked as her and 

I took a deep breath and smiled with a nod as I walked up and hugged Melody, kissing the top of her head before pulling back and pulling Alice into my arms and hugging her.

"You've been by my side through everything, and I'm so thankful to have someone like you in my life as well," I said.

She smiled as we hugged and then walked out of the cemetery and left to go back home.

~~~~~

It doesn't end here yet. Going to try to keep adding more to the plot to make this at least longer than 40 chapters. Might try to make this story end at 50 chapters. 🏵 

🎧Currently in Sapph's playlist:

MÖWE ft. Jerry Williams "Boy Oh Boy"

https://youtu.be/7c_7uPulK-g

♡~ sapphire.