Sharlene let out a deep sigh as she went over the details of her grandmother’s wake. She had been raised solely by her grandmother after her parents separated, and now, the weight of arranging the funeral rested entirely on her shoulders.

Her head throbbed from the stress of the expenses, but she quickly pushed the thoughts aside. Her grandmother had loved and cared for her like a mother—she deserved this last act of respect.

“Ash,” she called softly.

Her daughter looked up. “Take a break for now,” Sharlene said with a weary smile.

To avoid any conflict within the family, she had taken full responsibility for the wake. All she wanted was a peaceful farewell for the woman who had raised her.

“Can we talk, Sharlene?”

The voice startled her. She turned and found herself face-to-face with her husband.

“You’re here? And you didn’t even think to tell me, Martin?” she said—disappointment clear in her voice, more than anger.

People were moving in and out of the house, helping with the preparations. Suddenly, Martin grabbed her arm and pulled her aside, out of everyone’s view.

“What is this?” he demanded sharply, his tone laced with accusation.

“I’m holding the wake here at home—to save money,” she explained, trying to keep her voice calm.

“This isn’t even your house, Sharlene! Why didn’t you tell me? I come home and see all this chaos?” Martin’s voice rose.

Sharlene closed her eyes, trying to contain the frustration bubbling inside her.

“Please, Martin. My head’s all over the place right now. I don’t have the energy to argue.”

“Don’t expect me to pay for any of this. I’m already covering everything else in this house,” he snapped.

Her eyes hardened. Martin hadn’t given a single cent for their child’s needs in months—yet here he was, complaining again. She wanted to shout, to slap him, but she swallowed it all down.

“You don’t have to,” she said quietly. “I’ll handle it—like I always do.”

“Good. That’s how it should be,” he shot back.

“Dad!” Ashley’s voice cut through the tension. Sharlene turned to see her daughter running toward Martin, who softened only for the child.

“Papa’s just going to rest for a while,” he told her gently, ruffling her hair.

Then he looked at Sharlene. “I’m heading to a friend’s place.”

She said nothing. Let him go. There were more important things to deal with.

“Papa will come back, right?” Ashley asked, worry in her eyes.

Sharlene forced a small smile and nodded. “Yes, sweetheart. He’ll be back.”

“Go inside for now, okay?” she added softly.

Ashley nodded and went back into the house. Sharlene remained outside, scanning the area. Rows of chairs were neatly arranged under the tents in front of the house, and her siblings had gone out to buy supplies.

She sighed deeply. The financial burden pressed heavily on her, but she couldn’t complain. Even though she had siblings, they always hesitated when it came to contributing to family expenses. So, she carried it all—alone.

Stop thinking like that, Sharlene, she told herself. You can’t afford to break down now.

People thought she was lucky—married to a man with a stable job. But they didn’t know the truth. Her marriage was a prison built on a mistake. Martin had only married her because she got pregnant after a single night together. She had long suspected he was cheating, and all the signs pointed to yes.

She wanted to leave him—but she couldn’t. Not for herself, but for Ashley. She didn’t want her daughter to grow up in a broken home the way she did. The pain of that childhood still haunted her.

Her hand tightened around the back of a chair. Pretending not to see the truth was exhausting.

“Sis.”

A gentle tap on her shoulder snapped her out of her thoughts. It was her sister, Vivianne.

“We already bought everything. We’ll come back later.”

Sharlene nodded. “Thanks,” she murmured.

She walked toward the front and sat down, her eyes settling on her grandmother’s framed photo. She hadn’t even had time to speak with the doctor who last saw her. After work, she had rushed straight home to take care of everything.

Am I the only one who’ll cry for you? Am I the only one you trusted?

Tears welled up.

You were the only one who truly stood by me. The only one who made me feel I wasn’t alone in this world.

A soft tap on her shoulder brought her back.

“My condolences,” a woman said gently.

“Thank you,” Sharlene replied, her voice quiet. The woman sat beside her.

“Your grandmother’s body just arrived,” she said.

Sharlene nodded. The funeral workers carefully set the coffin in place. The flowers, candles, and viewing area were all ready.

Stepping forward, Sharlene placed a framed photo of her grandmother on the table beside the casket. Her grandmother looked peaceful—almost as if she were only sleeping.

She went back to her seat as more guests began to arrive.