Annie’s funeral would always be remembered in town. It wasn’t just because of the zillions of snow angels all over town, but also because of the way Annie’s family had handled such sadness. It must be noted that Tom had spent most of the night before the funeral telling his parents just what had happened in the church that day. He’d told them about Annie’s voice in his head and how happy she had sounded. He had told them how she didn’t want them to be sad and that she hadn’t wanted to die then, but sometimes bad things happen to nice people. The most important thing he had told his parents was that she was OK and that they would be together again one day in the distant future. Somehow, that was all his mother had needed to hear to begin to heal. She truthfully had needed to know Annie had no pain and no fear and that she was happy where she was now. By the time they had left to go to the church, none of them had slept a wink, but they felt better than they had since that fateful day when Annie had died. The family was at peace for the first time in several days.
They had walked into the church holding hands and smiling—smiling! Not only was the congregation present surprised, but Father Mark was surprised also. Not one tear did Annie’s family shed at the funeral. It would be whispered about in the church and spoken out loud at the reception following the funeral. “They didn’t even look sad!” While the people puzzled over Annie’s family, Annie’s family stood alone at the grave site, still holding hands.
“Do you think she knows we are here?” Annie’s mother whispered.“Mum, I know she does,” Tom said.
Annie’s father had looked up into the sky and then around the cemetery. He noticed how blue the sky was and how amazing all the snow angels were. Annie’s angel watched him carefully. He looked better than he had, but still—she gave Annie a wave, letting her know she should talk with all of them. Annie’s father missed his daughter more than words could say and his only thought was, “But does she know how much I still love her?”
“I do, Daddy.”
Annie’s father whipped his head around, half expecting to see Annie standing beside him. The voice had sounded so close. Was it the wind or just his wishful imagination?
“Oh, I’m real, Daddy. You just can’t see me, but I see you. I see all of you. I am part of everything around you. My love is bigger now than it was before. I can love you even more!”
He heard her giggle. Her laugh seemed to float through the wind.
“Did you hear that?” he asked his wife.
“You heard her, didn’t you, Dad?” whispered Tom.
“I-I think I did!”
“Why can’t I hear her?” Annie’s mother’s eyes welled up with tears.
“Because I didn’t want to make you cry again, Mummy.” Annie’s voice drifted through the air. “I’m here. Everything Tom told you was right. I will always be with you, I am always here. We are as much together as we ever were, because we are connected. You will remember me, and I will never die completely. I will always cherish you, because that is what the dead do, we cherish the living. (I told Tom that, too!) We watch you. We love you. We feel your pain, your sadness, and your joy. I will always be with you, because that is what a family is, a unit. The parts come together and make a whole. Just because you don’t see me, does not mean I am not here. I am part of you, of all of you. We are a family, and nothing can change that!”
The last three sentences of Annie’s had been heard by all of her family, and they all smiled. They would be OK. Things were different now, and they couldn’t change what had happened. None of this had been by choice. It had been a terrible tragedy to lose such a lovely child, but somehow, her sweet, wonderful voice had returned to teach them. Somehow, a nine-year-old child had explained death to a grieving family and had made them smile!
And that is what the whole town saw when Annie’s family returned from the cemetery and entered the church hall for the reception. They noticed the smiles on the faces of a family who had endured a great tragedy. They saw the peace in the eyes of parents which, they thought, should only weep with grief. What they didn’t see was Annie’s angel floating overhead. She studiously watched every face in the room until she was satisfied that they were beginning to understand.
The people listened. They listened to what Annie’s parents and brother told them, and slowly, very slowly, they began to believe.