A shiny black coffin slowly lowered into an earthen hole. A teen boy turned to his right to survey the crowd at the funeral. Knowing everyone would be watching him, he turned back to the grave of his mother. The only parent he had ever known. His father had left his life shortly after his sister was born and at the time he was only two anyway. So his father was nothing more than a man that passed along DNA for him. He had watched his sister during the whole ceremony and her expression shocked him When everyone else was crying, she sat there with the blankest look that he had ever seen on his sister’s face.

“Tara, we need to go. They will expect us at the hall soon.” He looked over at his sister and she hadn’t even flinched. “Tara, people are leaving. Let’s go.” Still she stood there staring at their mother’s grave. Nathan was not a loud or violent person but something in him broke and he grabbed his sister. “Tara, damn it we have to go. People will expect us at the hall for the reception. Just say goodbye.” He looked into her eyes and saw how cold and unforgiving they looked. He felt suddenly guilty as he saw one tear roll down her cheek and he grabbed her into a hug.

“I’m sorry Nate. I just can’t say goodbye. I can’t leave her.” Without saying anything he slowly turned. He knew Tara would follow. Tara always followed him. As if by some unknown magic, Tara threw a rose on the coffin and gracefully started walking away. As they got into the car to leave Tara softly whispered,

“I can’t believe she’s gone.” Nate replied.

“Me either.”

The next few days went bye in a bit of a blur. People asked them how they were in the hallways. Neighbors brought food over for them to eat. Their distant cousin Tricia, whom they had always been quite close with, was staying with them since they were both under eighteen. It was a Saturday when everything decided to change. Tara had stayed in bed all day. This was becoming a new routine for her and she decided that she liked laying in bed listening to music all day. Nathan was downstairs working on his homework, something he preoccupied himself with all the time. They both had their ways of coping, Tara slacked off and Nathan tried harder than ever to get good grades. Tricia knocked on the door.

“Nate, let me in I’m holding about a ton of groceries and I have news.” Nate opened the door and grabbed some of the groceries. After the groceries had all been unloaded and taken care of, Nate and Tricia sat on the couch.

“So what’s this news you were mentioning?”

“I’ll tell you as soon as Tara comes down.” Tricia got up and yelled up to Tara to come down. After about three tries she gave up on it. “Nate go upstairs and get her to come down would you please?” As unpleasant as Nate knew this was going to be, he did it anyway. He walked down the hall and to Tara’s door. He knew she wouldn’t hear him if he knocked simply by the volume of the music that was playing, so he went right inside.

“Tara come downstairs. Tricia’s got some news for us but she has to tell us together.” Tara stared back at him. Nate took a second to look at her. Tara was completely dragged down from their mother’s death. Her beautiful red hair that usually shined brighter than the sun hung limp and greasy. Her eyes lacked the bright sparkle they usually held. Her eyes were now lackluster and dim. Tara just laid there and looked at him.

“God Tara just get your ass up and come down. I want to her the damn news.” Nathan realized how mean that sounded and he mentally reproached himself for acting out at her. He made a note in his head to do something nice for Tara to make up for what he said. Tara looked taken aback by what he said so she got up and followed him downstairs to the couch.

“Tara it’s nice to see you out of your bedroom for once.” Tricia smiled at Tara in a feeble attempt to make her feel better. Tara glared back her in mild hatred. Tricia frowned when she realized her attempt failed. Nathan broke the awkward silence.

“What’s the news?” Tricia turned her head towards him.

“We found your father and you guys are going to live with him.” When Tricia said this she expected the two of them to be happy at the fact that at least they would have one parent, this is not the reaction she got.

“What the hell does he want to do with us?” Tara blurted this out and she could tell Nate felt the same way.

“In your mother’s will if she ever died you were to go live with him if we could find him.”

Well let’s pretend we didn’t find him so we can stay here with you.” Nate was silently hoping this would work.

“No, Nate, I have to go back to Oregon and you guys need someone who can stay with you. He’s your father. He’ll take good care of you.” Tara decided it was her turn to speak.

“So, where does he live and when are we moving?” Tricia winced when she asked this because she knew they weren’t going to be happy.

“He lives in England and you leave in two weeks.”