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Post by Merav Malahi de Valentin on Jan 7, 2009 0:04:12 GMT -5
It was sunrise when I went to the Yeshuite quarter. Zahav had been Sabaean, so his rituals were similar to those of the Yeshuites. I'd done the best I could, washing and wrapping his body myself, reading psalms, having the pine box brought to the cemetery, and arranging for ten men to come and say the prayers. I'd tried to spread the word to see if people would come. Now all there was left to do was wait.
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Post by Darien Kachine on Jan 7, 2009 0:14:48 GMT -5
Dressed in somber greys I made my way through the morning streets to the cemetery.
I caught sight of Merav instantly and made my way to her. I was glad she’d asked me to be here, I wanted to give her whatever support I could in her time of loss.
I stopped next to her, close enough for her to feel my presence, but not so much as to intrude.
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Post by Merav Malahi de Valentin on Jan 7, 2009 0:18:15 GMT -5
I was nervously smoothing the skirt of my plain black mourning gown when I heard a slight rustle and turned. There was Darien. I felt a wash of relief so powerful my knees almost buckled. "Good morning," I said in a near whisper. I thought my voice would crack if I spoke too loudly. I turned my body so I could look at him. "I'm...glad you came."
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Post by Darien Kachine on Jan 7, 2009 0:21:35 GMT -5
“Good morning,” I said, my voice low and filled with my sorrow for what she was having to deal with. “I’m glad you asked me.”
I reached out and took her hand, lacing my fingers with hers and squeezing her hand gently, willing some of my strength to her.
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Post by Merav Malahi de Valentin on Jan 7, 2009 0:24:47 GMT -5
"Oh," I sighed softly as he took my hand. "Thank you..." I let out a sob. "It was so awful when they brought him back...I never should have let him take that job at that inn."
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Post by Darien Kachine on Jan 7, 2009 12:17:52 GMT -5
I drew her against me and enfolded her in my arms. “It’s not your fault,” I murmured, my hand softly stroking her hair. “It was an accident. If it was his time to leave us then it wouldn’t have mattered where he was or what he was doing.”
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Post by Merav Malahi de Valentin on Jan 9, 2009 0:06:11 GMT -5
I clung to his shirt, weeping into his chest. "But he was so young," I sniffled, "and so strong. He didn't deserve to go like this..."
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Post by Darien Kachine on Jan 9, 2009 12:47:42 GMT -5
“It’s never the right time for anyone to go. I am so sorry Merav,” I whispered, holding her tighter, trying to give her support and take her grief.
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Post by Merav Malahi de Valentin on Jan 13, 2009 0:19:38 GMT -5
As he held me in his strong, warm arms, I felt comforted, and gradually, my tears gave way to sniffles, and I looked up with my wet, but no longer running, eyes. "The men will be here soon," I said. "I asked them to come say the prayers for him."
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Post by Darien Kachine on Jan 13, 2009 0:46:45 GMT -5
I reached into my pocket and withdrew a kerchief which I offered her. “Just tell me what you want me to do,” I said softly.
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Post by Merav Malahi de Valentin on Jan 18, 2009 15:05:07 GMT -5
I took the kerchief with a small "Thank you" and dabbed my eyes with it. "Just...stay close," I said.
Out of the corner of my eye, I could see a group of men approaching. They came up to me. "You are Miss Valentin?" asked one of the men in heavily accented d'Angeline.
I nodded. "And this is my friend, Mr. Kachine."
He gave us a heavily appraising look. "I am Shmuel ben Simcha. We of the hevra kadisha [burial society] are very sorry for your loss. Are you a family member of the deceased?"
I shook my head. "He was my friend. He had no family in these lands."
He nodded. "We will begin soon. Jonah will inspect the body to ensure it may be buried..." already a younger man was walking towards the pine coffin "...after which we will pray for him and bury him." He gave us a meaningful look. "You, his friends, you may help us bury him."
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Post by Darien Kachine on Jan 18, 2009 17:27:29 GMT -5
I glanced at Merav, wondering how much she wanted me to be involved. I would follow her lead and do as she asked.
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Post by Merav Malahi de Valentin on Jan 25, 2009 13:03:19 GMT -5
I nodded. "I'll help, a little," I said. "I'm not very strong." I wouldn't ask Darien to help bury him, but I wouldn't stop him from doing so either.
The young man who was inspecting Zahav waved and Shmuel looked to us. "It is time," he said.
I nodded, and we began to walk closer to the grave.
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Post by Darien Kachine on Jan 25, 2009 13:10:28 GMT -5
I held Merav’s hand and walked beside her. I was here to support her and wouldn’t do anything to intrude on her grief, so I focused on her to take cues from her.
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Post by Merav Malahi de Valentin on Jan 31, 2009 23:10:26 GMT -5
We all gathered about the grave, and the men began to mumble their prayers in Habiru. I didn't understand all of it, but I was able to gather enough, whispering my Amens when I was supposed to. My eyes were trained to the ground, I didn't want to look at that pine box until the very last moment that I had to.
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Post by Darien Kachine on Feb 1, 2009 0:48:27 GMT -5
I didn’t know the language so I stayed quiet, not wanting to cause insult by speaking at the wrong time. I said my own silent prayers to the gods, asking them to care for Zahav and watch over him.
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Post by Merav Malahi de Valentin on Feb 7, 2009 21:20:48 GMT -5
When the mumbling stopped, I looked up at the men. "We will lay him to rest now," said Shmuel.
Two of the men were already putting straps under the coffin, in order to lower it into the earth. I nodded my assent, and the men began the process. Lifting the coffin, they moved it so it was held up over the grave, before slowly lengthening the straps, so the box was lowered into the earth. I felt dizzy and I swayed on my feet. "Darien, help," I whispered.
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Post by Darien Kachine on Feb 8, 2009 11:48:22 GMT -5
Instantly I was against her, supporting her body with mine and wrapping my arms around her to brace her. “I’m here,” I said softly.
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Post by Merav Malahi de Valentin on Feb 15, 2009 14:35:44 GMT -5
"Thank you," I whispered weakly. Now that I thought about it, I couldn't remember the last time I ate. Yesterday? Two days ago? It seemed a blur.
The men began to mumble the final prayer for the dead, and one of them approached us with a shovel. "Miss Valentin," he said, "are you all right? You may do the first three shovels, as his friend."
I tried to find the strength to make my knees more solid. "I will try," I said. I moved to take Darien's hand in mine. "Can you make sure I don't...fall?"
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Post by Darien Kachine on Feb 15, 2009 17:06:02 GMT -5
“Of course,” I said softly, taking her hand and going with her to the pile of dirt. I stood close so as to be of any help she needed.
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Post by Merav Malahi de Valentin on Feb 23, 2009 18:53:34 GMT -5
I held out my hands, and was given a shovel. "Use the back," I was told. "Three scoops." Flipping the shovel so the scooper was upside down, I took some dirt and put it into the grave. It fell and landed with a hollow thunk and my stomach lurched. Painstakingly, I did another two scoops, before handing off the shovel to the men, who began to cover the grave in earnest.
"Let's go, Darien," I whispered. "I need to go home."
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Post by Darien Kachine on Feb 23, 2009 19:13:17 GMT -5
Nodding, I slipped my arm around her waist, supporting her against me as I led her away. “I’m so sorry Merav.”
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Post by Merav Malahi de Valentin on Mar 1, 2009 23:07:22 GMT -5
"Me too," I whispered, single tears rolling down my cheeks. "Gods, me too."
I turned my face up to him. "There's a hired carriage waiting, and my neighbors brought some food to eat."
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Post by Darien Kachine on Mar 1, 2009 23:10:03 GMT -5
“Alright,” I said. Once we were far enough way for it not to be an insult, I scooped her up in my arms and carried her towards the carriage.
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Post by Merav Malahi de Valentin on Mar 1, 2009 23:20:20 GMT -5
I was far too weak to protest as I let him carry me towards the carriage, though I didn't mind much at all. "Darien," I murmured,"really, thank you for everything."
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Post by Darien Kachine on Mar 1, 2009 23:36:35 GMT -5
“I only wish I could do more,” I told her softly, laying a gentle kiss on her forehead.
We reached the carriage and I carefully set her inside before joining her, sitting next to her and gathering her against me again.
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Post by Merav Malahi de Valentin on Mar 3, 2009 19:55:15 GMT -5
I closed my eyes and leaned against him, feeling utterly drained. "Valentin house," I told the driver, and the carriage was set into motion.
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Post by Darien Kachine on Mar 3, 2009 20:48:54 GMT -5
I held her close, placing a soft kiss on the top of her head as the carriage carried us toward her house.
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