Dr. Darrah went to Mikhail's parents' funeral.
She was not religious, but out of respect to Mikhail she went. He looked gorgeous in a suit, yet tragic.
An old priest led a procession with two coffins were brought into the church. Inside the churchgoers sang "Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us" three times.
Inside the church, the caskets were opened. From where she was sitting Darrah couldn't see the bodies, but she could see a bowl with a candle placed in each, and a crucifix placed in the casket. Everyone in the church was holding lighted candles.
She sat and heard only snippets of what was said.
Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord.
Blessed are You, O Lord, teach me Your statutes.
With the Saints give rest, O Christ, to the soul of Your servant where there is no pain, nor sorrow, nor suffering, but life everlasting.
Turn to me and have mercy on me, as you always do to those who love your name.
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
"Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life."
"God of spirits and all humankind, grant rest to the souls of Nicholas and Mariana, now asleep in a place of light, a place of renewed life, a joyous place," the priest said.
"In a blessing falling asleep, grant, O Lord, eternal rest unto Thy departed servants and make their memory to be eternal."
"Memory eternal! Memory eternal! Memory eternal!" the churchgoers repeated.
She saw Mikhail go up to the coffins and kiss the foreheads of his parents.
She followed the line of attendees to the caskets. Darrah looked at an older version of Mikhail and a beautiful older woman. Both had crowns around their heads. Both were holding crucifixes.
They never got a chance to grow old together. They never got to enjoy grandchildren and the satisfaction of a long life well lived.
They are why my work is so important, she thought to himself. This cannot go on.
The caskets were removed from the church. "Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us," the crowd sang three more times.
She didn't go to the burial. A few hours later, she went to his family's now-empty house, where Mikhail now lived alone. His sister had been missing after the attack, and was feared to have become Turned that night.
Mikhail was sitting at the kitchen table, still in his suit from the funeral, his tie loosened.
Darrah said nothing, but went over to him. She took his head in her arms and held it to her, tears flooding her eyes. Her heart hurt for him.
She said nothing. There was nothing to be said. She resolved he wasn't going to be alone, not that night.
Mikhail and Darrah made love that night, more slowly than in the hospital. She showed him where to pleasure herself. He did. In addition to being drop-dead gorgeous in her eyes, he was smart, and learned quickly.
