B1:Prologue

It was a clear and tranquil day, one perfect for enjoying the beautiful beaches of Kailua with shimmering clear water, warm sun, sand and a cool breeze. It was the perfect day, he thought to himself, you would've loved to go to the beach today. He held back his thoughts as he looked over the horizon out into the deep blue sea. I never thought it'd end like this baby, I never thought my life could change so much. But I've done everything you've wanted and this is the last thing. I'll love you forever.

The man silently burst into tears as he stood there overlooking the bay, dressed elegantly in a tuxedo, slacks and tie despite the warm weather. Behind him was a somber crowd of people, dressed similarly and the aura of loss and sadness hung like a heavy fog among them. One woman had done nothing but bawl into a handkerchief as her husband gently guided her by her elbow.

He looked back at the crowd and decided it was time, time to spread her ashes as she had wanted. How fast had the ceremony and cremation gone, only this morning and yet the noon sun was shining fiercely upon them all sweltering them in playful heat. As if the world was saying that it was all a joke, that there's no way there could be a funeral on a beautiful day like this. But there was, and it was a curious one at that.

"I feel a part of the ocean, so let me fly over it and let me become a part of it."

Those were the very last words she said when she heard her fate. Her last words about her future anyway, other than the regret of a life too soon ended and the endless string of 'I love you.' Everything had changed for both of them, and yet, here he was alone holding the weight of the world on his shoulders, unknowingly and unwittingly feeling more fragile and alone that he ever thought was possible.

He approached two people that he met three times before, her parents. It was a bit awkward as he came closer to the sobbing mother, and the comforting father. She bawled into her handkerchief while her husband stroked her hand, and gently patted her back from time to time. The tears were streaming down her face, now grown with age, but it was a kind face, one that had seen the life and worth in her daughter that had died less than a week ago.

Had it been a week, he thought. Everything just blurred right past him the days becoming one long chain of events, and his consciousness not separating anything more significant than a change of his own life. His boss had heard the news and gave him time off, but it was maddening him and he came back to work, against the requests of everyone he knew. But that's all he knew he could do for now, to keep himself occupied, since it was all still surreal. Even now, he thought, I can't believe she's gone.

"It's time," he stated sorrowfully, and he motioned for her urn. The urn that was filled less than three hours ago with her remains, and her mother burst out sobbing even louder among the crowd. Her father had tightened his face, as if there was nothing more painful he had ever experienced in his life, but he remained silent and strong for his wife's sake and not so much his own.

"This is for you," he whispered to the blowing wind. And gently, he uncovered the urn holding the ashes of his cremated fiance, took a small handful and tossed it into the breezing wind that swept over the bay and far far far into the endless sapphire expanse.

One by one, each attendant in black took a handful, whispered their goodbyes, wishes, aspirations, sorrows, and wisdom to themselves, and released her to the earth. And one by one they each turned and got into their cars to drive off.