Sofie pulled her long straight hair back out of her face and behind her slouching shoulders as she held in the tears that were threatening to come. She kept telling herself it was too cold to cry and that if she started crying she wouldn’t stop. She knew from experience.
Sitting at his grave, saying goodbye to her father was still too painful, even though she had done it too many times to count. He had been gone for 3 years and still she came and mourned her loss and his absence. And it was just this last year that she realized that the precious memories of him that she treasured were beginning to fade. She could feel herself grieving the loss of those moments too. It was too soon. Those memories were her life line to him. She had lost him too soon.
She hugged herself tighter, huddling against the chilly breeze. As she closed her eyes, she heard someone slowly approaching. She wasn’t ready to face anyone.
“It’s time to come home.” Mark’s warm, steady, and wonderfully familiar voice broke the stillness of the cemetery with a gentleness that eased the ache in her heart just a little. Almost like a cozy blanket. “Your mom is worried.”
Turning, Sofie looked up at her best friend from childhood. “How long have you been here? Have you been looking for me?” Reaching into her jacket she smiled in chagrin. Her phone was not in her coat pocket like she had assumed. “What time is it?”
“It’s only 3.” He smiled and sat down on the cold ground next to her. He sat there, quietly giving her the support she hadn’t known she’d needed until he was there, sitting beside her.
Sofie sighed. “You didn’t answer my other question. How long ago did my mom enlist your help?” She broke away from staring at her father’s headstone to glance at him.
He had been looking out at the surrounding trees but when she looked over at him, he turned to study her face. It was as if he could sense that she had been watching him.
“I haven’t been looking.” He gave a soft smile. “I already knew where you were.”
With a chuckle, Sofie nestled into Mark’s side. “You followed me? How’d you know when I would be leaving my house? I didn’t even know I was going to leave when I did.”
“No.” He wrapped his arm around her. “I didn’t need to. But when your mom texted me a few minutes ago and asked if you were with me I told her I’d bring you home. Because if I knew you, and I do because I know I’m right, you walked here without thinking about needing to get home after.”
Sofie laughed and nodded. “How do you know me so well?”
“Time, mostly.” His head leaned on hers. “And I care about you.”
They sat that way for several minutes, him holding her as they both quietly looked at her father’s headstone. Mark once again was the one to break the silence. “I need to text your mom so she doesn’t worry. Is that ok? Do you need more time with your dad? I can get you more time if you need it.” He glanced down at his phone. “Did you get a good cry in?”
Sofie shook her head. “No. I didn’t cry this time. I just missed him. I needed to be close to him. Mom seems to think that if I stop coming here I won’t hurt so much.”
Mark stood and held his hand out to her. As he pulled her up, he gave her a hug. “I understand. With too much chaos in our lives, it helps to sit back and draw close to those people and things we value most.”
“I value you.” Sofie breathed with a smile, snuggling into his warmth. “Maybe I should have come to your house.”
He chuckled. “You knew I’d be here. Maybe you didn’t consciously think it but you knew I would be…”
She gave a soft shrug. “Maybe I did know. You always seem to know when I need you and show up.”
“That goes both ways. You have been there for me so many times.” He pulled out of their hug with a smile that was practically begging her to pull him back into an even tighter hug. “Let’s go home.”
They stood there for a moment, just looking at each other. Sofie finally felt a little of the peace she was aching for at her dad’s grave, a peace that could only come from the living breathing person standing in front of her. She sighed and squeezed his hand.
“Thank you for coming.”
At his shy smile and nod, her whole being inexplicably brightened. “Mom is going to be thrilled that she managed to get you to come over. She loves you.” Sofie nudged him. “I might even get a little credit for it.”
Mark shook his head. “You know she is going to take all the credit.” In a more serious tone, he leaned into her, “And all you need do is ask and I’ll be there.”
Sofie nodded. “I know.”
As they began to walk, he hip checked her and laughed. “Do we need to go the long way to my car?” He pointed over to the winding path through the cemetery leading away from his car.
“Tempting.” She smiled. “Delaying the inevitable scolding from my mom seems a little too appealing right now.”
“Aww and here I thought it was tempting because you just wanted to spend more time with me and didn’t want to share me with your family.” Mark’s eyes sparkled with humor.
“Oh that too.” She laughed. “I definitely like not having to share you with my family. Why do you have to be so well liked?”
“So that they keep inviting me over and you’ll never be rid of me.” Mark winked and offered her his hand.
She took it without hesitation.
Hand in hand they walked silently over to his waiting car, a soft smile on his face.
