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—Liar!
Mitchell threw his chocolates at the TV in front of him.
Drew and Silena took that as their cue and nodded at each other in complicity before entering the room.
—Hey, baby —Said Drew, using her sweetest, most saccharine voice.
—Are you ready, sweetheart? —Asked Silena, in exactly the same tone.
Mitchell sniffed and took a tissue paper to wipe the mascara tears off his cheeks.
—I am —He finally said—. Let’s go.
Drew and Silena walked closer to their brother and helped him to his feet. Then, they linked arms and walked with him to the garden.
The rest of their family was waiting for them there. Just like the three of them, they were all solemnly dressed in black.
Katie was standing with a shovel next to a hole recently dug in the ground; Valentina was next to the fire pit with a box of matches; Lacy was beside her with a bouquet of flowers; Piper was with one of her high school friends and was holding a cardboard box; and Clarisse was just standing there, supervising the whole thing with a grave expression.
—Whenever you’re ready, honey —Said Silena, gently releasing her brother’s arm when they reached the fire pit.
—We're right by your side, my love —Added Drew, kissing his hand before letting go of it.
Mitchell’s desolate eyes fell on the fire pit.
—Start the fire, please.
Valentina obeyed him.
When the piece of tinder started burning, Piper opened the box and approached her brother.
Mitchell looked at Silena and nodded.
—With this sacred act, we let go of a past love —Proclaimed the eldest sister—. As the flames consume the memories of it, let them also burn the sadness that it left in our hearts.
Mitchell started taking things out of the box and throwing them into the fire: a movie ticket; a small plush toy; some dried flowers; a rubber bracelet; some candy wrappers.
Once the fire consumed the last object, Katie walked to Mitchell and ceremonially offered him the shovel.
—Let these ashes fertilize the soil —Said Drew—. May them prepare it for new things to grow, the same way a new love can now be born in our purified hearts.
Mitchell began removing the ashes from the fire pit and taking them to the hole that had been dug in the ground. Then, Katie took back the shovel and refilled it with dirt.
—Because love is the most powerful force —Said Lacy, as she left the flowers over the buried ashes.
—Love is the most powerful force —They all repeated at once.
Everyone stood in a serious silence until Piper's friend broke it with a whisper.
—This is so weird.
Clarisse was the first one to glare at her.
—Shut it, kid.
—Don’t disrespect the ritual, Emma —Scolded Piper—. Mourning is a fundamental part of getting over a heartbreak.
At that moment, Aphrodite walked into the garden, straight towards her son.
—How is my little prince feeling?
—I think I’m better now. Thanks.
—That’s my darling boy —Aphrodite hugged him in her arms and kissed the top of his head—. I have Mamma Mia! waiting in the family room and there's ice cream for everyone... If you feel like it?
—Yes —He murmured, his face buried in her mother’s shoulder—. Yes, I'd really like that.