Adventure Bay High

The Funeral

TW: death,funeral

'I'm really sorry but he won't make it.'

Chase knew this would happen. He told himself this every day since his dad came into hospital. The bullet was too far into his chest for him to survive. 

It was the funeral today,  and all his relatives were there. They sat in the church, his head full of things he didn't want to think or say.

Even though he knew this day was coming, he still felt hurt, as if he didn't know his father would die in this way. His family was there. His friends were there. His friends' families and his family's friends were there. It seemed most of the neighbourhood came to respect and mourn for Josef Parker. People were crying. Most people were crying. People Chase didn't recognise were in tears. But Chase wasn't. The church was full of black, like crows croaking over a dead body. Some people were croaking.

'Look at that boy over there, Karen. Not crying at his father's funeral.'

'I know Mildred. I've never seen that before.'

'EXCUSE ME!'

Chase smiled as he saw Skye walk over there. She was going to teach them a lesson.

'Some people have different ways of mourning, and it isn't fair to pick at each other. He can clearly hear you, and it makes me want to vomit in how you treat members of your family. So you better not continue. In fact, you won't need to because everybody is leaving now. So goodbye.'

                                                                                        ***

'Chase?'

Skye came over to Chase, who was still sat on the church steps as he had been an hour ago.

'Hi'

'Come here.'

Skye pulled Chase into a hug. She whispered in his ear.

'You can cry. Nobody else is here.'

He did. He couldn't stop crying. It was just too much. A lot of the time, he hated his father for the lifestyle he chose, and although he was helping the country, it didn't help him. When he finally calmed down, he felt tired and achy.

'Better?'

'A bit. But I've never felt so weak before.'

Skye held Chase's hand.

'You're not weak. You've just been strong for too long.'

Chase gave Skye a kiss on the head.

'Thank you.'

'Now let's get to yours. Your mum will probably be worrying about you.'

'I love you.'

'I love you too.'

word count; 391

total; 17025