Chapter 20

Keith

After the religious rituals and prayers had been carried out for my mother, I took a deep breath and stepped out into the hallway, ready to begin serving the guests.

No doubt, I was dressed in my best suit, and my hair was neatly combed, everyone knew I always looked my best on days like this which always drew neighboring ladies to our home. But deep down, I felt a mix of sadness and anxiety. Today was not a day for celebration, but I knew I had to put on a smile.

"Keith..." My father called out to me, and I met his gaze as I approached him. He looked at me with pity, as if he expected me to have gone to my room to cry. That would have been a likely reaction for me in the past, but for some reason, I wasn't feeling the need to cry this year. "You're okay?" He whispered as I got closer and I smiled reassuringly.

"Nothing to worry about Dad," I whispered back.

"Here's Father Nicholas and Sister Elizabeth, you remember them huh?" My dad introduced as