C H A P T E R T W E N T Y - F I V E
Prayers To Mournings

Delia had heard Beth was getting worse. Her scarlet fever was taking over her and she was becoming weak.

     She could recall a time when she went over to the March's home. Knocking on the cold wood door, Jo answered, looking relieved to see Delia there.

     "I'm glad to see you, Lia." Jo grinned, her excitement dropping into gloominess.

     "I take it you're here to see Beth?" Jo asked, taking Delia by the hand and guiding her into the living room.

     "I just wanted to pay her a visit," Delia answered, walking up the stairs to Beth's room. The whole house was quiet.

     Delia wasn't sure where Marmee was but she didn't care, she just wanted to see what she came there for.

     Quietly, the two of them snuck into Beth's room. As Delia thought, she spotted Beth laying in her bed, trying to take a nap but couldn't seem to find a comfortable position to do so. Her body was burning up, her body covered in sweat.

     On the bedside table, there was a towel soaking in a bowl with water, as well as a container of soup that Beth had finished eating.

     Delia frowned, staring at the girl.

     "Beth...?" Jo mumbled, stepping a foot into the room, her fingernails were digging into Delia's skin. Beth turned her head slowly, as though she were in pain and was scared it would cause her more suffering.

     "Hi, Beth." Delia smiled sadly, walking towards the girl while forcing her hand from Jo's grip.

     "Delia..." Beth grinned weakly, barely a whisper escaping her ghostly coloured lips. Her face was drained of any colour of blood, almost as pale as snow.

     "How're you doing, darling?" Delia questioned, crouching down next to Beth's bed. She took the sickly girl's hand, hoping it would give her reassurance.

     "I think you know..." Beth said, stifling a giggle from Delia calling her a 'darling'.

     "The pain will be over soon, Beth. Evil never wins." Delia trembled, not sure what she meant from her words that moment. Did she mean... death?

     "I know what you mean by that, Delia. No need for an explanation of your words." Beth muttered, turning her head to the right to look out her window. The rolling green hills and tall green trees visible.

     "Beth... I didn't mean it that way..." Delia winced at the idea of Beth going away to another land.

     Jo leaned silently against the banister of the door, standing with his hands crossed and her mouth in a downward curve.

     Delia thought she was holding back tears, she was standing there silently before she had to leave the room. Jo didn't want Delia or Beth to see her at her lowest.

     "It's fine, Delia." Beth turned her head back towards Delia, letting out a deep breath in her direction.

     "I heard about you and Laurie," Beth commented, studying Delia's reaction. "It seems that gossip spreads fast in this neighbourhood."

     "Yes... it does, doesn't it? Jo seemed quite happy the other day when she found out. I think she knew it would work out for you two in the end." Beth stated, taking a strand of her hair and placing it behind her ear.

     "Jo seems a bit miserable..."

     "I think she is, she needs something to do or else she'll just sit that chair over there all day, looking after me."

     "That's very honourable of her though, you must admit. She cares deeply for you." Delia spoke softly, stroking Beth's hand gently, scared to hurt her.

     "She's a great sister. I just hope she doesn't dwell in the past after I leave. I want her to be happy but she can't keep up the independent woman charade forever." Beth explained patiently, her voice thinning, becoming softer and more inaudible.

     "I hope you could live forever, Beth. I'll pray for your recovery." Delia sobbed through her sentences. Her words getting stuck in her throat.

     "It's no use... but, I—I appreciate it, Delia." Beth croaked, managing a smile.

     "The gods have more in store for you, Beth. There's so much more life to live, it's just the beginning." Delia reassured, squeezing Beth's hand three times to comfort her.

     "We'll just have to see how my story goes..."

*   *   *   *   *

That moment would be engraved into her mind for many sleepless nights. The memory would serve as torture in her nightmares or make an appearance in her dreams.

     A hand squeezed her shoulder, bringing her back to reality. Laurie frowned at her before pulling Delia in for a side hug.

     All of them wore black clothes, reflecting the tragedy that struck.

     Mr. Laurence stood there silently, feeling as though he had lost a granddaughter.

     From time to time a tear would form in the corners of his eyes and he would take his towelette and dab at the tears, staring at the paper as it soaked him the instinctive liquid of sadness that poured out from his eyes.

     Marmee and Mr. March cried on each other's shoulders. Marmee seemed very open with her emotions, not afraid to show her sadness as it radiated onto everyone else that stood around Beth's grave.

     Jo was a curious case, Delia knew she was holding in her tears. Jo liked doing that, not showing her sadness because she knew she had to be the strong one to uphold everyone else. She didn't want to fall into a spiral.

     Jo knew her sister wouldn't want her to cry at her death but to move on and find happiness.

     Meg stood next to Jo, her features were puffy and red from the tears she had shed.

     All of them stood there for a moment of silence before walking off, feeling the need to burst out in sobs, tears ricocheting as they flowed down all of their cheeks and off their faces.

     Jo was the last to leave.

     Delia noticed she was still standing there for a solid few more minutes. Her facial expression blank as though she felt nothing. But the emotions in her head were screaming to be let out.

     Sometimes you can't look on the bright side, as everyone knows, all good things but come to an end.

A U T H O R ' S   N O T E

This chapter takes place a while after
Laurie's proposal. Jo did go to New York and
such, Amy is still in Europe on her trip with
aunt March, so yeah!

Thanks for reading this chapter and
epilogue is out very soon (maybe it's
already out lol)...