The group stepped into the room and looked around uncomfortably. The room appeared to be empty, devoid of life, which was rather fitting, since it was a funeral parlor.

“Are we in the right place?” Charise whispered.

“This is the place we were told,” S replied.

“Well, maybe the family hasn’t gotten here yet,” Emily suggested.

“What family?” AJ asked. “The only family she’s ever mentioned is her grandma.”

“Well, then, her grandma should be here,” Ophelia remarked.

“But where?” Tiffani asked.


“I’m here,” a soft voice spoke up from a dimly lit corner of the room. An elderly woman rose slowly from a chair and stepped toward them.

Ophelia, a slight smile on her face, held out a hand and said, “I’m very sorry for your loss, ma’am.”

The woman lightly squeezed Ophelia’s hand and replied, “I’m not the only one who lost her, dear. You and your friends have lost Gabby as well.”

“Yeah, I guess.”

The woman turned her sharp eyes to the rest of the group. “Gabby’s said so much about all of you, I feel as though I know you all. Emily… AJ… Tiffani… but where is Angela?”

“Chronic absenteeism,” Ophelia explained, rolling her eyes.


“I see. Well, then, so be it,” the woman responded. Her eyes lit up when she saw Charise and S. “And you two… oh, Gabby talked about you two so much. You really made an impact on her. She was so proud of all of the things you did.”

“I’m flattered, Mrs…?” S replied.

“Oh, just call me Gran. My husband’s been dead for years, and I don’t care much for my first name.”

“Fine. Gran. Your granddaughter was a wonderful teacher. It’s a shame she had to die.”

“Mm. I suppose. But sometimes these things happen, and you can’t do anything to stop it. What happens, happens.”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right.”

“Now, I’m going to need to ask a favor,” Gran continued. She smiled awkwardly and held out her arthritic hands. “Gabby requested that someone play the piano, and… well… I can play, but my hands have been giving me trouble. Do any of you…?”

“S and Charise play piano,” Ophelia spoke up.

“I’ll do it,” Charise added.

“Wonderful,” Gran said, nodding. “I have the sheet music with me. Gabby loved these songs.” She strode over to the chair and picked up a small pile of papers. “This one, she loved when I sang it to her before bed, when she was very little.”

Ophelia squinted at the paper, then up at the old woman. “This one?” she asked, raising an eyebrow. “Are you sure?”

“Positive. Why?”

“…No reason. Just a little surprised, that’s all.”

“Why?”

“Just thought she was a lot older…”

“I don’t get what you two are going on about,” Charise sighed.

“Nothing you need to be worried about,” Ophelia and Gran replied simultaneously.


Charise began to play the piano, first hesitantly and then more confidently. She knew this song well; it was one that S had taught her not long after she’d started receiving piano lessons:

“When I find myself in times of trouble, mother Mary comes to me,
speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
And in my hour of darkness she is standing right in front of me,
speaking words of wisdom, let it be.

Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be.
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be…”

As she played, she began to think about how Ms. Gibson had always given her good advice and listened to her and treated her as an equal, and how stupid she’d been to fall for Dunstan in the first place, when S, kind, caring S, was there the whole time. And suddenly, she realized that tears were falling down her face at a faster and faster pace, and that she was having a harder time singing. With a clang and clatter, she lowered her head to her arms and began to sob.

For a few seconds, all that could be heard was her sobbing. Then, a voice began to sing, picking up where she’d left off. The voice was hoarse from too much crying and raw with emotion, but it was still a good voice. Charise raised her head to see who had begun singing, and to her astonishment, it was Ophelia, who was walking over to her, still singing. Charise smiled a little to herself. Why can’t I be like her? she thought to herself. No matter what happens, she always just keeps on going, not letting anything stop her. She’s a survivor type.