Mother Knows Best

"Thank you for coming." Handshake, nod, move on.

"Thank you for coming." Hug, back pat, next person.

Lisa stood in a all-black suite as the parade of people gave their condolences one at a time. Each one was nearly the same, they were all starting to bleed together. Friends of mom, co-workers of mom, acquaintances of mom, etc. The shoes were starting to carve into her feet and her eyes were tired. One look over at the casket as it shined in this oppressive lighting. Shiny wood with the traditional golden handles. Beside it was a picture of a woman with round face and a full smile. She had a her hair in tight coils that sat prominently next to her dark skin. Lisa lingered on the photo. It was from the last cruise. It was drinks and smiles. So many pictures were sent from all the bars and buffets.

A cold hand on her palm ripped Lisa back to her duties. "My condolences. Marget was a vision." A frail lady in a dark gray shirt and skirt chirped. The cold hands were startlingly frigid. "Thank you. I appreciate you coming." Lisa said with a gentle smile. As soon as the little woman let go, Lisa attempted to subtly rub her hands together for warmth. Icey like a tiny tundra.

"People need to stop touching others so much."

Lisa smiled to herself. Her therapist said to expect to hear her mother's voice due to the death being so sudden and the stress of managing all of the arrangements. Lisa looked over to her father and brother next to her. They stood solemn and put together in the suits she bought them and the ties she tied for them.

"Men. Useless but necessary."

A little chuckle snuck out. That was Marget most memorable lines. It was eerie, as if she was still here. Lisa looked up at the flower arrangements adorning the casket and then saw another picture of her mother. Lisa bristled. She didn't make all these plans and pay all this money for people just bring whatever photo they wanted.

Now that there was a lull in the guests, Lisa was about to walk to the casket and 'adjust' the photo when the picture turned to look at her.

'Great, some AI nonsense.' Lisa huffed.

Then the picture expanded into a full body apparition. There she was: Marget Cliff. Wearing her signature jeans with a floral top. Marget was there. Lisa looked at the coffin. Marget was also in the coffin. Lisa looked back at the more pressing of the two and couldn't find the ability to do anything but watch.

The apparition wasn't looking at at Lisa. Lisa traced the gaze and found it landing on her brother, KC. It moved to KC and seemed to stand right in his peripherals, but KC didn't seen to notice. "I'm sorry for your loss man. That's rough." one man said as he patted KC on the back. "Yeah, take your bereavement leave." one chimed. "Take this time to be with your family."

Lisa would have rolled her eyes if they were plastered open in shock. The men took turns giving shallow assurances and back pats to KC but the "thing" just stood there trying to get his attention. Translucent but not clear. Visual but not defined. It reached out to touch KC and he shivered. "You ok, man?" One asked. "Just felt a chill." KC answered, shrugging his shoulders and shaking it off.

It pulled the hand back to their chest and cradled their palm. "KC."

'Oh no. This wasn't covered in therapy.' Lisa thought. It sounded like her. Exactly like her. Not a memory, not a recollection. It was her mothers voice. It called for her brother again. More heartfelt this time, more anguished. "KC. Baby, its me! Look at me!"

Lisa could feel her tears starting to water. 'No. No, please.' Lisa could feel her wishes rattle in her heart but fail to make it to her mouth. Lisa's feel felt heavy and body was trapped. Words were cement and her lungs were stone. "Mom?"

It snapped to look at her like a cat when it's hunting. The tears stop. Everything stops. The room is nothing but silence and the thumping of Lisa's heart. It looks angry. It looks livid. It looking that way with her mother's face.

The room is shrinking. The lights are expanding and crowd suddenly seems more dense and louder than it was before. "You." It hisses. Lisa can feel it boring its eyes into her. Her body feels the danger and in a second turns to leave. Now.

A heel turn and strong gait, even in Payless pumps are seamlessly executed. Lisa is about to reach the door out of the viewing room and into the hallway was there is a awful sound. A sob of tragedy. It feels like hot iron her her heart. Lisa turns to see It is crumbled on the floor at KC's feet. Everyone is oblivious to shrieking and sobbing that is rattling Lisa's ears.

'It looks so much like her. What if it is her?' a dangerous thought. It is swept up in feelings of longing and loneliness. Isn't this what she asked for when she was packing her mother's legacy into small boxes? One more chance?

Hesitation is the deadly crime for prey. Lisa lets go of the door handle, and it snaps it's gaze back at her.

"You!" It's on it's feet. Like a flash it charges. It zooms into Lisa like hawk. "You can see me!" The face is Margret. Marget's face is angry and pale and too close. "What did you do!?!" it shrieks.

Her heart is loud again, but her body is stuck. Shes not a Department Head anymore. She's 7. She's in trouble. KC is free and Lisa is trapped at the sharp end of her mother's rage. She feels sick. Her head feels hazy.

Then a hand. It touches Lisa's shoulder and squeezes. "Lisa Gonzalez" It demands. There are no thoughts to have. Lisa is chilling down to her toes and body is trapped between flight and freeze. The loud sounds, the screaming voice, and the pounding heartbeat suddenly stop and Lisa shuts her eyes tight.

Lisa can see nothing but picture of her mother she chose for the viewing in her mind. Marget is smiling. She loves cruises. Lisa paid for each one and her mother went on this one, like many others, with KC or dad. Lisa paid for the longest package. All the VIP Access. All the special events. All of the off-boat activities.

Two blissful weeks of silence.

Lisa opens her eyes and sees it.

"I'm never free." she says with one last breathe and drops.

People rush over to Lisa. Her father and brother push through the crowd as they call her name. "Lisa!" "Lisa can you hear me?" "Call 911." "Get her in a chair!"

Lisa is moved this way and that. People crowd and someone calls the ambulance while another notifies the venue. "What happened?" someone asks.

It circles Lisa and then peers at the crowd. It walks over and takes seat. "So dramatic."