I didn't respond to any of them. I walked straight out of the courtyard, flagged down a passing motor rickshaw, and gave the driver the name of a restaurant in town.
The place wasn't crowded. I found a seat by the window and ordered the spiciest thing on the menu.
Twenty years of swallowed grievances, twenty years of thankless sacrifice — it all seemed to go down easier with the scalding broth.
I ate slowly. There was no rush. What was meant to happen would happen regardless. I didn't need to suffer for their sake anymore.
When I'd eaten my fill, I paid the bill and walked back toward the Finch house at my own pace.
The sky was nearly dark. Most of the relatives who'd come for the memorial had already left. The only sounds came from somewhere near the courtyard.
I'd barely reached the gate when I heard the screaming — raw and shrill.
I pushed the door open. The courtyard was chaos.
Chester and Elena lay flat on the ground in front of the main hall, motionless.
Carmen sat on the ground, slapping her thighs and wailing.
"My boy! My baby boy, how could you just leave me like this!"
Alden stood off to the side, his face drained of all color, trembling from head to foot.