Kiss Me if You Can

One day

For the past few days, Mother had been busy organizing the garage. After Father suddenly passed away, Mother became lethargic and seemed to give up on everything, repeating only her usual routines for several years. Of course, Emma and I welcomed this change with open arms.

The time it takes to overcome a loss is different for each person. Mother needed the longest time of anyone in our family. It's understandable. While Emma and I were grieving over our father, she had lost the companion she had sworn to spend her life with. So, all we could do was wait. Then, one day, Mother finally decided to keep going—living life without Father.

The ones who are left behind must live on somehow.

@Funhap

"Take your father's car."

On the morning they decided to have a garage sale, Mother handed Joshua the keys and made a request.

"Drive carefully, don't rush."

"Of course, thanks, Mom."

Joshua couldn’t contain his joy and kissed her cheek. Mother had given Emma a pair of earrings she cherished, a gift Father had given her when he was alive.

Afterward, they began pulling out various items, including Father’s belongings, and started to set them out. As they placed the items in front of the house, people from the neighborhood came out one by one to check them out. Mother’s old sewing machine and jewelry box were placed near the front as they seemed to have value, so Joshua made sure they were displayed there.

"Joshua, Mom wants to put this out too."

Emma's shout brought Joshua into the house, where she was referring to the barbecue grill they had placed in the backyard. Sometimes, when Father cooked barbecue, the family would gather around and eat dinner there. Father would hold a beer in one hand and tongs in the other, endlessly grilling meat. After Father passed away, they had never used it again.

Joshua, momentarily stunned, quickly snapped out of it and checked the grill. Thanks to Father’s habit of always cleaning it thoroughly after use, it was in good condition and ready for cooking. After checking to make sure it was properly connected, he picked up the grill and walked it toward the garage.

Meanwhile, some people had been snooping around the things they had laid out. But that was about it. Soon, they left, and Emma, who had been nervously watching, slumped her shoulders in disappointment.

"Don’t try too hard."

It was meant to ease her burden, but Emma didn’t see it that way. She shot him a harsh glare.

"We’re going to sell all this and pay the electricity and water bills for this month. Do you know how tight our budget is? You just keep lazing around!"