A part of me felt numb – very numb. I had yet to accept that this was really happening.

My eyes locked onto the hearse that drove in front of me. The long black vehicle housed the body of my sister. I had yet to see her body, arriving in London hours after her death. A strange coincidence.

I had been promoted to the Vanguard International Division after my debut with Martin, my special operations mentor. Now, I was stationed in the London Head Quarters, ready to start investigating high-level crimes like a member of M6. Only, before I could even leave the London City Airport, I got a call that my sister had passed away from a heart complication. I didn’t even know she had problems with her heart.

My fingers tightened around the steering wheel as I made a left toward Highgate Cemetery. Guilt washed over me once we drove past the wrought iron fence. I had barely spoken to my sister in over ten years, all because of a silly falling out that we could never properly resolve. I couldn’t even remember what it was about. Now, she was dead, and I’d never get my chance to apologize.

I ground my teeth together, my body rigid. I should have called her. I should have swallowed my pride…

The hearse stopped. A couple of men dressed in black stepped out, opening the back doors and sliding out the silver casket my sister would be buried in. I was glad it was closed. Seeing her at the wake had nearly broken me down. I had wanted to shake her – to wake her up – but it was too late for that now.

“You ready?” I glanced over at the little boy buckled up in my passenger seat. He was toying with the ear of his stuffed bear. His eyes were red with tears, but I didn’t think he knew the true extent of what was going on. “Hunter?”

He looked up at me with sad blue eyes that he must have inherited from his father – a man I didn’t know and one who had refused to take care of his own son.

“She’s going away now, isn’t she?”

I nodded, my heart aching. This boy didn’t deserve to lose his mother. He was so young... I grabbed his hand and squeezed it gently. “But, she’ll always be in your heart, okay?” I felt lame saying those words, but what else was I supposed to tell my nephew at his mother’s funeral?

He just looked down at his bear, tugging at the ear. I couldn’t even imagine what was going through his head at that moment.

I got out of the car and took him into my arms, following the procession of people. Everyone gathered around the fresh grave. I stayed back, fearing my own reaction if I looked down at the pit. Maybe if I had known about her heart condition, I could have helped her somehow. I could have done something.

As the priest began to speak, Hunter wrapped his arms around my neck, burrowing his face in my shoulder. I rubbed his back softly, vowing to give him the best possible life I could. When I’d come to London, I hadn’t expected to become the legal guardian of a five-year-old, but here I was.

Unable to face the reality of my sister going under the ground, I looked around the crowd. Everyone was dressed in varying shades of black. Some of the older women even wore veils over their heads. The sound of sniffles echoed through the thick London air. A fine mist fell over the scene.

Soon, the priest bowed his head in reverence as the casket settled in its final resting place. I walked forward and grabbed a white rose from the ground, handing it to Hunter. “Here, throw this into the hole and make a wish for your mommy, okay?”

The little boy looked at the flower for a moment. “What am I supposed to wish for?”

“Anything you want.”

“Can I wish for her to come back?”

I bit my lip. How was I supposed to answer such a question? “Not quite…”

“Why not?”

“She can’t come back… But you can wish for her to be happy in her new home.”

“Where is she?”

Again, his question took me off guard. I was used to facing dangerous situations. Terrorists. Mafia bosses. Drug Lords. But, this five-year-old’s questions about death, they seemed impossible to answer.

“I’m not sure…”

He looked at the flower again before finally throwing it into his mother’s grave.

“What did you wish for?” I asked softly, my lips feeling dry.

“That she would find Rocky.”

“Who’s Rocky?”

“Our old dog… he died, too.”

I frowned. “Oh.”

“Can I get down?”

“Sure.” I placed him on the ground, the soft Earth squelching under his feet. Carefully, he tiptoed forward, approaching the edge of the hole. He looked down at his mother’s casket before dropping in his bear.

“Why did you do that?”

“It’s cold. I thought she might need something to cuddle.” He looked up at me. “Was that okay?”

I nodded, placing my hand on the top of his head. “Yes, that’s okay.”

He stepped back.

I was about to grab his hand when he ran off.

My eyes widened, chasing after him. “Hunter! Come back!” I whispered loudly, trying not to disturb the funeral. “Where are you going?”

“Auntie Lela!” He ran full force into a dark-skinned woman who seemed vaguely familiar.

She took the young boy into her arms, holding him tight. “Hunter, baby, are you alright?” She ran her fingers through his hair in a soothing motion.

“I’m sorry… He just took off on me.”

Lela looked me over, her lips pressed together in a disapproving line. I waited for her to say something, but she kept rocking Hunter on her hip, cooing softly in his ear.

Beside her, someone shuffled on their feet like they were uncomfortable. I glanced in their direction, laying eyes on the most beautiful woman I had ever seen…