House of Frank

by Kay Synclaire

Don’t scatter me in the wind to be forgotten. I want to be planted. I want to become something beautiful.

I step into the world where you once existed with an assurance that⁠—yes, you are gone, you are no longer here, but oh, how good life felt when you were. You once existed. And those moments with you still exist.

“Young. Old. We all experience life whether we’ve had lots of it or very little.”

It took some time, yes, but I did my part. I came to Ash Gardens like you asked. I inquired about the burial. You never said I had to stay and watch you . . . watch you go into the ground.

“She was a major part of you. Letting go of her would mean letting go of a piece of

I’m impressed with how well I can recall your demise without falling to pieces. It could have to do with the fact that I’d rather die than allow Marionette to see me break into tears.

Chatter and noise echo from the dining room. “Marionette doesn’t need Julianna’s love. She just needs to know that she is loved. And I have much to give.”

Own who you are and where you belong in this world. Because you do belong here. And you deserve to look like royalty every day. Because it’s all a gift, isn’t it, darling?”

“You pick out the fine linens, Saika. You pick out the extravagant fabric, and you wear them. You buy the expensive tea or the book you’ve always wanted. You eat the pie you’ve always wanted to bake, because after knowing how precious life is, those little moments start to feel quite damn big.”

“Righteous actions still have consequences.