One more death
The police found him still holding on the rocks, looking down the sea and sobbing uncontrollably. They called out for the psychologic assessment emergency unit while trying to get Albert away from the edge. When the psychologist arrived, he could only mutter completely unintelligible things with a voice rough of calling out for his sister. In the meantime, the marine rescue unit was called to recover Mayra's body, and another police unit personated to her parent's house to give them the terrible news. John dropped off the twins at his parents' house, while Asha was driven to the scene by the policemen. She was completely in shock, but she recovered as soon as she saw that her son was much worse. She ran at him and held him tight.
-Albert, are you okay?- it was a silly question, of course, he was not okay, but she needed to know anyway.
He looked up at her blankly, he didn't seem to understand what was going on. He would only focus his stare at the place where he had last seen his sister alive, maybe in hope that if he stared long enough she would come back.
-Miss Barker, I am Luke, the psychologist. I have been with your son for at least half an hour now. The policeman told me that they had to fight to get him away from the edge of the cliff. He won't react to anything for a while, seeing his sister commit suicide was too much for him. Nothing that he has said since I have been here makes any sense. He keeps repeating that it was his fault, and a name: Marla. Does it say anything to you?
Asha shook her head.
-Thanks for helping my son out, we have been through some rough times lately, this is just the last part of it. By the way, call me Asha.
-Asha, I think you both should go home, I will come with you and help you through the bureaucracy and the grief. I will stay for the night if you need to, and as long as your family needs me I will be there for you.
He then walked up to a police officer and asked him to drive them back to Asha's house. They had to push Albert inside the car as he wouldn't leave the bench on his own. He hadn't said anything since the moment Asha had arrived there, and he didn't complain either about the treatment he was receiving. It was as if he were empty inside. Again, when they arrived home they had to drag him outside the car with John's help.
-You should put him to sleep.- recommended Luke.- It will help him recover from the shock.
Luke, John, and Asha helped him out on his pajamas and then into his bed. Asha decided to take his phone so he wouldn't be disturbed by anyone. Albert fell into a deep sleep quite fast and didn't wake up until the following morning. Myriam called him while he was sleeping and Asha picked up the phone.
-Hi, Albert?
-Hi, I'm his mother, are you a friend of Albert?- Asha asked.
-Well,... I'm his girlfriend. Is he okay? We haven't talked to him since yesterday, and he told us that he would call.
-He is sleeping now, Mayra, my daughter, his sister died today.
-Oh, no, I'm so sorry! Is there anything we can do? We have to come support you and Albert in these terrible times.
-Albert does need support, that's true. I think it would help a lot having his friends around. He is in complete trauma right now.
-This is so terrible,... he loved her a lot, I know it. And it's true he needs us. We will be arriving tomorrow. If there is anything that you need, anything, just call me.
Asha hung up feeling grateful for his son's friends, she could hear how John and Luke were taking care of all the paperwork that her daughter's death required. They were also informing everyone they knew about it as well as of the time of the funeral. It made her relieved not having to do all that, but it also made her have more time to think about all what had happened. She was getting tired of having to bury people before their time: her husband, her mother-in-law and, now, her daughter. Why did everything happen to her?
John and Luke found her crying, curled up in a ball, on the sofa. They tried to convince her to go to sleep, but she needed to feel useful. Since they had already done all the work, she hit the kitchen and started cooking maniacally. It helped her not to think about anything, and it also meant that she would have enough food for anyone who decided to pass by. But as soon as she finished with anything she had on hand to cook, she had to face the real world. Her daughter was gone and there was nothing that she could do, it was then when she finally conceded that she was in need of some sleep.
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