Fifteen Chinese Lanterns

Two cousins, uncles, aunt and sister, filed silent through the parlour door, stood round her body's grey composure, transfixed, unmoving, no sound, unsure. Three brothers knelt beside her casket, none knew what to say or do. No words masked grief, or gave grief outlet, save that our Lord had suffered too. Uncle, called to say the prayers, conducting service, asked by brother, friends gathered in the hundreds there, to mourn with father, sisters, mother. Older sister, sat still, frozen, numb, with chosen words rehearsed, prepared, unspoken, choked, she could not come, fixed, unmoving from her chair. Teenage driver, broken arm still in a sling, with others a survivor. Yes, forgiven, but no other comfort words to bring for dread mistake while he had driven. Cousin's boyfriend brought some Chinese lanterns. Fifteen Chinese lanterns lifted from the square. Fifteen Chinese lanterns, high over snowy mountains. Fifteen Chinese lanterns, one for each short year.