“I’m sorry. I was just watching…” Dana replied. Her eyes still fixated on the people who were still praying.

“All are welcomed in the house of god my child.” The priest smiled as he shook hands with one of the parishioners as they left church.

“What is all this?” She asked, gesturing towards the people, she saw an elderly woman place a small toy car in front of a picture of a young boy.

“Dias De muertos. The Day of the dead. We light candles for our departed loved ones. So that they may find their way back to earth and celebrate in the pleasures of the living for a short time. We offer them, food, drinks, anything that they might have enjoyed while they were alive.”

Dana thought about what the priest to say. She wondered if some one out there was lighting a candle for her and Alice.

“Tomorrow night, many people will celebrate. We will sing, dance.” The priest gestured to Dana’s facial paint. “Many will wear masks.”

“Why?” Dana asked.

“Some spirits here linger to long. They wander the earth for long periods of time. They need to be shown the way back to the land of the dead so they can finally rest.”

The priest nods to Dana as he moves down the isle of the church and offers his services to the next praying couple.

Dana felt a little tug on her arm. As she looked down, she saw a cute little girl with short pigtails smiling up at her waving. She smiled gently at the little.

“Elena I told you not to wander off.” Another female walked towards Dana and the little girl. She bends down and smiles at the girl. Dana’s shock kicked in as soon as she saw who the other lady was.

“You know you can’t have Auntie Carmen worrying about you. Right sweetie?”

“Si auntie Carmen, I’m sorry.”

Carmen smiled down at her little Niece as she placed a small kiss on her cheek.

“Remember now. Stay close to me. Ok sweetie?”

The little girl nodded with a big goofy grin on her face.

“I’m sorry about that.” Carmen said to the alleged stranger that was standing in front of her.