Throughout the journey, neither of them spoke.
Yelena Hughes thought the car had stopped, but when she looked out the window, the scenery was whizzing by, the night so overwhelmingly dark it was terrifying.
When they arrived at the police station, the courtyard was marked by traces soaked through by the rain.
Officer Alden saw Yelena’s figure and quickly ca out. "Yelena."
He was in charge of her father’s disappearance case till now. Having finally reached a result, he did not know how to face her.
"Officer Alden, where’s my dad?"
Everyone knew it wouldn’t be a good outco.
Officer Alden took two steps inside as he heard Yelena feign levity, saying, "Really, he’s back but didn’t go straight ho."
Jasper Yale glanced at her. She wasn’t one to avoid reality, but at this mont, the fear was evident on her face.
Officer Alden halted his steps, "Yelena, how about you call your mom over?"
"No need," Yelena shook her head, "I’m enough, I can handle it."
Yelena was led to a room, Officer Alden wanting her to be ntally prepared.
"We’re not sure if it’s your dad yet, just judging by the clothes from the ti he disappeared..."
"Can’t recognize his face anymore?"
Officer Alden’s lips twitched, unsure how to find the words.
Yelena curbed her trembling, "Does this an sothing happened to him a long while ago? Is the only way to identify him through the clothes now?"
She was exceedingly calm, frighteningly so.
But Jasper saw the spark in her eyes had been snuffed out completely, replaced by the dull ashes of despair.
"It might not be him. Let’s head inside first."
Jasper couldn’t go in; he stood by the door.
No heart-rending cries emanated from within, it was as if there was nothing but an empty room, no one having entered.
Yelena gazed at the familiar clothes, stained beyond recognition.
"These are my dad’s clothes."
"Look carefully again."
"I bought this for him with my first paycheck; he liked it and often wore it..." Yelena’s eyes blurred heavily, "Then a button fell off, couldn’t find it. My mom randomly sewed one on, look..."
Yelena pointed at the third button on the clothes. "It’s different."
She stepped closer, showing no fear, and Officer Alden patted her shoulder. "Let’s do a DNA test."
"Alright."
When he left last year, he was a living person, but now he’s returned in this state.
Yelena also wanted to rush over, the gut-wrenching pain driving her to embrace him tightly.
Seeing this, Officer Alden held her back, "Yelena, calm down. You’re a good child, you..."
Officer Alden could no longer find words to console her; at such tis, no one could remain calm.
Jasper heard the sound inside, and suddenly disregarded everything else, rushed in, and pulled Yelena into his arms.
He glanced to the side, rely swept his eyes over, then looked away.
"Dad." Yelena called softly, the voice seeming to be trapped in her throat.
Jasper took her outside; she still wanted to go in, but he held her tightly in his embrace.
Yelena was trembling head to toe, not from cold or fear, but uncontrollably; she shut her eyes and told herself to be strong and not collapse at this mont.
She still had many things to do.
Yelena didn’t need anyone’s comfort; the things to be faced wouldn’t vanish because of the words ’condolences.’
She cooperated to do the DNA test, but the result wouldn’t be available today.
Yelena could only wait at ho.
When Jasper drove her ho, her mood had cald, tears dried, emotions sorted, and as she got out, she even said "thank you" to him.
Jasper didn’t get out either; at tis like this, better to leave her alone.
Officer Alden said that once the result was out, he would notify Yelena first thing.
She dared not let her phone run out of power, even neurotically wanting to keep it plugged into the socket constantly.
Yelena hadn’t told her family, not letting a hint of it slip.
That day, Anne Hughes brought out a large plate of pumpkin pancakes from the kitchen, "Sis, I learned to make these with mom, quickly try them."
The little pancakes were exquisitely made, fried to a golden crisp, looking delicious.
"My little Anne is impressive."
"Anything you like to eat, I’ll learn to make."
Lindsay Walsh brought out the bowls and chopsticks, pleased with her daughter’s well-manners. The kitchen was filled with the holy atmosphere, it was a lively but ordinary day.
The ringing phone interrupted everything, Yelena looked over and saw the caller ID, almost dropping her chopsticks.
But she couldn’t avoid it.
"Hello, Officer Alden."
"Yelena, the result is out."
"Tell ."
"It’s your father. You should bring your mother over."
Yelena uttered a good, then hung up the call.
Lindsay Walsh brought out the cooked dumplings, "Oh, I didn’t bring the vinegar, just look at my mory."
"Mom, I’ll go." Anne said, intending to get up.
Yelena grabbed her wrist, "Anne, there’s sothing you need to prepare yourself for."
"What is it?"
Yelena stood up, hugged Anne, letting her face bury against her chest.
"We found dad."
The room suddenly beca silent, Lindsay Walsh stunned as she stared at Yelena, "Where is he then?"
"Mom, dad was already deceased when he went missing."
Anne, hearing the word ’deceased,’ struggled intensely, Yelena held her tightly, "Anne, don’t do that."
"No, I want dad back, I want him alive, dad—"
Lindsay Walsh also started to cry, at this mont, only Yelena couldn’t afford to lose composure.
This family still needed soone to hold it together; she had to bring dad ho, arrange the funeral, and notify all the relatives.
There were so many things to do.
Yelena’s head was spinning, but she couldn’t let dad remain in that place any longer.
According to the old customs of the hotown, all family mbers had to be present.
Yelena managed the funeral arrangents alone, not taking him to the funeral parlor but setting up a shrine in their garage.
Living a lifeti, one shouldn’t end without a ho to return to.
Anne threw herself over the coffin, crying herself hoarse, her voice gone, "Dad, co back, my sickness is almost cured, don’t go out anymore, dad—"
The coffin had been sealed, staying at ho for two days, and now it was ti to go to the funeral parlor.
Yelena went over and hugged Anne, "Anne, don’t cry."
"Sis, you let dad co back, I miss him so much."
Yelena glanced sideways, Lindsay Walsh was limp over there, two relatives were comforting her.
Yelena’s heart ached with bitterness, Anne was already crying herself breathless.
Afraid Anne might have sothing happen, "Listen to ," Yelena pulled her over, "Take good care of mom, we need to send dad one last ti, Anne, you’re not a child anymore, help watch over mom, alright?"
Anne nodded, her eyes swollen red from crying.
Four strong relatives lifted the coffin, Yelena hugged the photo, walking at the front, Lindsay Walsh’s cries hoarse and heavy, a family of four, now it was them sending him off for the last ti.
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