Chapter 2 Broken Clock

The sky star studded with heavy clouds, rain patterning off the roof, and the streets of Neverland became ever so damp and empty as though a curfew was up. The death of George Wellington, shook the whole town to its core; George, a great man who died in service of mankind, a true hero; as the townsfolk moved in masses to honor the great man at the town Memorial ground. They brought flowers and came bearing gifts and their condolences to the grieving family.

Mary still in visible shock even after days of the news as she looked at her husband laying cold dead in a coffin; the longer she stared, the more the tears made their way down her face like a stream; that the love of her life was no more, who would she share the burden with at this pivotal stage of her pregnancy, she was bathed in grief and insurmountable pain as the townsfolk held her up and tried their best to console her. She cried repeatedly for hours.

As the priest prayed for the dead and sends his condolences to the grieving family. He spoke briefly about George; how righteous and selfless he was, he would surely be missed by friends and family alike and that God Almighty grant him peace and forgives his sins that God should give the Wellington family the fortitude to bear such great loss. John, Sam's Uncle, took him by the hand and told him to take a long look at his mum, Mary looking visibly shattered; John told Sam it's time he assumed the role of a man in the family now and must not show any form of weakness that a true man does not cry. Sam still in shock at the news of the demise of his father; the hero he has always looked up to was no more. That life has took an unnecessarily cruel turn for him and his Mum who is carrying a child. He knows his father is not at fault but he wondered what would have happened if his dad hadn't pick up the call that night, would things would have unfolded differently. He thought to himself. Now, Neverland doesn't feel like home, now that his hero is no more but this is not the time to show emotions as he snapped out of it.

The crowd dispersed few hours later and the people left were just The Priest, Maya and her foster parents. Maya, felt so bad for Sam because she understands how it feels to lose a parent at such young age and gave him a hug with tears clearly dangling in his eyes, he held back the urge to burst into tears as his uncle reiterated that it was a sign of weakness. Shortly after, the Memorial ground was empty remaining only the Wellington. After they paid their last respect to the deceased, they all went home. At home, the family rarely spoke a word as Sam proceeded to the solitude of his room, he kept staring at the time clock that his father gave him again as he looked up in the gloomy sky while looking through his window as the rain drizzled back and forth; he held the time clock to his ear as the ticking sound became ever so evident, he busted into tears but kept it as quiet as possible not to let his mother hear his cries, he threw away the time clock in anger against the wall as though in disapproval of the meanings the souvenir held, he just wants his hero back alive not this stupid family souvenir he protested!

In the morning, John prepared to head back to the city after checking up on Mary. He bid them goodbye and promised to call immediately he got to the city. He called Sam to the side and reminded him of what they spoke about to keep being the man of the family and care for his Mum at this critical time, Sam nodded in approval. After, several weeks Mary barely leaves the house as she sunk into depression. She barely ate nor interacted at all with Sam at home and she is constantly been reminded of her husband. There are nights Mary cries till day break with Sam in his room unable to sleep but also keeping himself away from his Mom not to further aggravate her pains, as are the conditions expected of a man. The bills kept on piling as the family savings has been reduced to naught. Sam took his Mum to the hospital for checkups and any doctor's appointment at the detriment of his academics, as his grades were falling at increasing speeds. Few months later, Mary water broke as they sped to the hospital as she gave birth to a beautiful baby girl whom she named Anna.

Months went by, Anna filled the Wellington home with joy as this was the first time since the demise of George that the family smiled about anything. Although the joy was short-lived as a year later, Mary was diagnosed with breast cancer, she kept the news of this from Sam as she battled with this illness till she gave up the ghost. Anna was 2 years old when her mother died, Mary was buried next to her husband in the towns memorial ground.