This kind of scene wasn't something Ling Jiang had ever faced before. Honestly, even Lan Jin had never gone through it. For a moment, she just froze. But she quickly forced herself back to her senses and softly called to Ling Jiang, who was standing stiff and blank beside her.
When Ling Jiang heard her name, her head turned toward Lan Jin in a slow, mechanical way. Her eyes were lifeless, her face slack, as if the instant she realized Grandma Ling had no breath left, her soul had slipped away too.
Lan Jin called again, voice low and steady. "Ling Jiang, Ling Jiang."
Her words finally cracked something open. A single tear slid down Ling Jiang's cheek. She reached up to wipe it away, but no matter how many times her hand moved, the tears kept spilling, faster and faster, until her face turned red and raw from rubbing.
Lan Jin hurried over, grabbed her hand, and said, "Don't wipe anymore. Just cry. Let it out. After you're done, we'll take care of Grandma Ling's funeral together."
Honestly, if the timing weren't so grim, Lan Jin would've said thank god Grandma Ling made it back to base before passing. If she'd died on the road in this heat, no one would've known what to do. After she spoke, Lan Jin just stood there, watching quietly. At last, when Ling Jiang finally broke down into sobs, Lan Jin let out the breath she'd been holding.
Sometimes, tears were the only release. Better to cry it out than let it rot inside.
When Ling Jiang's crying finally dwindled into silence, Lan Jin said, "I'll carry Grandma Ling to the bed. You dry her off. I'll tell Lao Gao and Xiao Huang what happened. Lao Gao can ask around about what we're supposed to do here. After that, I'll head back into the space with you and we'll find a set of clothes for Grandma Ling."
Ling Jiang tried to answer, but her throat was choked too tight to make a sound. She could only nod.
Lan Jin lifted Grandma Ling from the bath and laid her gently on the guest bed. As soon as Ling Jiang moved closer, Lan Jin slipped out of the space.
She'd entered from her bedroom, so she came out in the same spot. She walked into the living room and immediately spotted Lao Gao and Xiao Huang on the sofa, talking about heading to the cafeteria to test the food.
The sound of the door opening drew their eyes to her. They were about to ask if she was ready for dinner, but when they saw her face, both froze.
Lao Gao jumped to his feet. "Sister Lan, what's wrong? You look terrible. Did something happen?"
Lan Jin said, "Grandma Ling's gone."
The words stunned them both. Then shock gave way to heavy silence. It wasn't unexpected, not really. She was old, and they'd all braced themselves for the possibility. But when the moment actually came, it still pressed on the chest, thick and heavy.
"When did it happen? Did you bring her out yet?"
They moved to check for themselves, but Lan Jin quickly explained, then added, "She passed peacefully. She was even smiling. The thing is, none of us have handled this in base before. Lao Gao, ask around about what to do for the funeral. I'll finish getting her ready inside the space, then we'll come out together."
Both men nodded right away. "Alright, I'll find out. I'll call for you after. You'll hear me."
Lan Jin returned to the space.
Grandma Ling had plenty of clothes. Back when they first left the neighborhood, they'd packed everything into the space since they knew about it already.
Ling Jiang dug through the pile and actually found a set suitable as burial clothes.
When Lan Jin came back, Ling Jiang was about to dress her grandmother. Lan Jin moved to help, but Ling Jiang shook her head. "Let me do it. This is the last time I'll dress her. Besides, you haven't even taken care of Qiao Qiao yet. She's still got no clothes on. Go get her dressed, or we can't go out."
Lan Jin's heart ached. She'd left Qiao Qiao in the bath while everything unfolded. Of course she hadn't had time to dress her. But at four years old, the girl could put on clothes herself. Sure enough, when Lan Jin looked, Qiao Qiao had already pulled on her shirt and was clumsily trying to put on her shoes.
Lan Jin hurried over, helped her, and praised gently, "Qiao Qiao, you're amazing. Even when Mama's not here, you did so well."
Normally, Qiao Qiao would've grinned, but today she stayed serious, her eyes flicking toward the guest room. In a small, careful voice, she asked, "Mama, Ling sister why cry? Too sad. And Grandma, what happen?"
Because Ling Jiang had always insisted on drawing a line, Qiao Qiao usually addressed her as Ling sister. Strange as it sounded, everyone understood.
Lan Jin stroked her hair. "Grandma passed away."
Even though she was only four, Qiao Qiao knew what that meant. She'd lived through the apocalypse with them. She knew death. And the one who'd kept her company when Lan Jin wasn't around had always been Grandma Ling. The moment she heard she was gone, Qiao Qiao bolted into the guest room, grabbed Grandma Ling's cold hand, and begged with all her might for a response.
But no matter how long she cried out, only silence answered her.
Finally, the little girl broke down completely.
"Grandma, Grandma, it's Qiao Qiao! Don't ignore me! Mama, Grandma… ah!"
Her sobs dragged Ling Jiang back into tears too.
Lan Jin had thought her heart had hardened past the point of breaking, that life and death could no longer move her. But now, listening to both of them wail, she couldn't hold it in either.
…
After a long while, a voice called faintly from outside the space.
"Sister Lan, Sister Lan, I asked around. Are you ready? Hurry and come out, Zhang Captain's on his way."
Ling Jiang and Qiao Qiao were still sobbing. Lan Jin didn't need them to do anything. With a thought, she brought all four of them out.
They reappeared in the same spot, only now Grandma Ling was lying on the bed in Lan Jin's master bedroom.