"Memories" by Alicia K

It was seven o’clock when we got to our destination, the familiar broken roads, reckless driving, and small apartment complexes welcomed us as usual. Everything was the same except the time we would usually go to San Gabriel, it was way too early for our arrival, but every family member was required to be present by 7:30. 

As we piled out of the car, it was strange, no one was running to bear hug our favorite great aunt at the front door, or formally greet our great-grandparents. Maybe it was because we weren’t at the house where I grew up at instead, we were at a small white building ten minutes away from the place that held so many memories. 

As each of us slowly walked towards the brown double doors from oldest to youngest, suddenly I heard sniffling behind me, I turned to see each of my three siblings having tears running down their faces, I didn’t understand why. I turned back around and continued walking through the doors and into the building. On both sides were rows of brown pews, I ignored everything and walked towards the front where our great grandmother was sitting, hugging a packet of tissues. Still knowing my manners, I acknowledged her as traditionally, and all my siblings followed in pursuit. 

Yet my mother did not follow the custom, she sat right in the empty seat next to our great grandmother and hugged her tightly, tears streaming down her face as well. At that moment I couldn’t comprehend the scene that was occurring, my mother and my great grandmother were never on the best terms, nor were they very fond of each other, and they both knew that. But then I realized why we were there in the first place, and why the seat next to great grandmother was empty. I looked away from the scene and towards the front of the room, and found our great grandfather. But it wasn’t actually him, it was just a picture of him in a black suit with a blank

face decorated with flowers. Behind the frame was an open casket, I didn’t need to look to know where great grandfather was really. 

Throughout the service, as the sniffling slowing went away, I still couldn’t figure out why everyone was crying. The only logical explanation I figured out was that despite all the bad blood within the family, at the end of the day they were still all considered family and made years of memories they would always cherish, especially with great grandfather.