Silent Reverence

Valerie left for Mrs. Hensley's place at five in the morning, before Gwen even started her shift.

She took a bus all the way to Brookfield, and it wasn't until the next day that she finally made it to Mrs. Hensley's son's funeral.

The funeral was shrouded in soft, mournful music, and the air was thick with grief and solemnity.

Valerie stood at the back of the crowd, her throat clogged, words stuck