Granny Rebecca was lying there still as a statue, looking like she was just taking a nap. If it wasn't for the fact that she wasn't breathing, you wouldn't have guessed that she had passed away.
Cornelia lifted her eyes and looked at Granny Rebecca silently, not moving at all. No one knew what she was thinking at that moment.
Zack, standing beside her, said, "Cornelia, take a good look now. Remember what your granny looks like because you're not gonna see her again."
Abigail nudged Zack, whispering, "Zack, cut it out. Don't push Cornelia too hard. Give her some time to process."
But Zack was hell-bent on pushing Cornelia to the edge, hoping she could find some hope in her desperation. "Cornelia, your granny always hoped you'd be a brave and strong girl. In her eyes, you always were. But now, you can't even face reality. Where's the brave and strong girl she saw in you? You're acting like a scaredy-cat. If your granny knew how weak you're being, she'd be so disappointed."
"Everyone out, I want to talk to my granny alone." Maybe Zack's words struck a chord, but Cornelia finally spoke up, her voice steady, her emotions under control.
But that calmness in her was equally worrying.
Zack and Abigail turned their pleading eyes to Marcus. "Marcus..."
Without hesitation, Marcus said, "You guys go ahead. Give her some time alone with Granny Rebecca."
Even though Abigail and Zack were worried, they left. They hadn't interacted with Marcus much, but as long as he was there, they felt at ease. They believed that Marcus could help Cornelia through this pain.
Abigail and Zack left, but Marcus stayed. He stood behind Cornelia, not saying anything, just quietly waiting.
Eventually, Cornelia said, "You should go too. I want to be alone with my granny for a while."
To Marcus, any normal word from Cornelia was a sign of improvement. He believed that given a little more time, Cornelia would come to terms with Granny Rebecca's departure and adjust her emotions. All he could do now was to make her aware that she still had him.
Marcus walked up to her and embraced her. "Cornelia, remember what you said today. No matter what happens, you've got me. I'm always by your side."
"You'll always be with me?" Cornelia scoffed and said, "My granny also said she'd always be with me. But she still left me."
Marcus replied, "We can't control life and death. Death is a fact of life that we all have to face. It's something that can't be changed. Only death can separate us."
He added, "We're all here for you. If you need anything, just holler."
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