"Saying Goodbye to the Light"

As they left the funeral home, Ashley felt a sense of numbness wash over her, a feeling that had become all too familiar in the past two days. The warm sun on her skin and the gentle breeze in her hair seemed to be at odds with the cold, heavy feeling in her heart. She walked beside Alev, her eyes fixed on the ground, as they made their way to the graveyard. The sound of birds chirping and the rustling of leaves in the trees seemed to mock her, a harsh reminder that life went on, even in the face of death. The graveyard was a place Ashley had visited many times before, but today it seemed different. The graves seemed to stretch on forever, a sea of white headstones and marble monuments that seemed to whisper the names of the loved ones who lay beneath. Ashley felt a lump form in her throat as she thought about the finality of it all. She was about to say goodbye to her daughter, and the thought was almost too much to bear. As they walked through the gates, Ashley's legs felt like lead. She was walking, but she wasn't really present. Her mind was elsewhere, stuck on the memories of Emma's bright smile and infectious laugh. She remembered the way Emma used to run to her, arms open wide, and the way she used to snuggle up beside her on the couch. The memories flooded her mind, and for a moment, she felt like she was drowning. And then, it hit her. The reality of what was happening, the finality of it all, suddenly became too much to bear. Ashley felt a wave of nausea wash over her, and before she knew it, she was throwing up. She stumbled to the side, her hands on her stomach, as she vomited onto the grass. The sound of her own retching seemed to echo through the graveyard, a harsh reminder of her own mortality. Alev was by her side in an instant, holding her hair back and whispering words of comfort in her ear. But Ashley was beyond comfort. She fell to her knees, her body shaking with sobs. She felt like she was losing her mind, like the grief was consuming her whole. She thought about all the things she would never get to do with Emma, all the milestones she would never get to witness. She thought about the way Emma used to make her laugh, and the way she used to light up the room with her presence. As she looked up at Alev, she saw tears streaming down his face. He was hurting too, and for a moment, Ashley felt a sense of solidarity with him. They were in this together, and they would get through it together. Alev knelt down beside her, wrapping his arms around her waist. "I'm so sorry, Ashley," he whispered, his voice cracking with emotion. "I'm so sorry she's gone." Ashley nodded, her body shaking with sobs. She knew that she would never be the same again, that a part of her had died with Emma. But as she looked up at Alev, she knew that she wasn't alone. She had him, and together, they would face whatever came next. The sound of the funeral director's voice, clearing his throat to get their attention, seemed to bring Ashley back to reality. She took a deep breath, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, and stood up, her legs shaking beneath her. It was time to say goodbye to Emma, and Ashley steeled herself for what was to come.