Welcome to New York
It's been waiting for you
-Taylor Swift
Maria
I knew that the day was going to be rough. I had been to too many funerals in my lifetime and they truly made me sick. I hated every part of them. I hated the speeches, the fake condolences, and especially the fucking pictures. The last funeral I went to was my sister's and I had been completely numb. I pulled on my black dress in the bathroom, I had worn it to four funerals. I had my funeral look down to a science by now. I twisted my hair into a severe bun and brushed on some waterproof mascara. I walked out of the bathroom to grab my wedges, the only kind of shoe that looked nice and didn't sink into the dirt during burials. Max was in a black suit and I was surprised. I had never seen him in anything other than a t-shirt and jeans.
"Are you bringing a jacket?" He asked me. "It's cold."
"Oh shit, I knew I forgot something," I sighed. "All the funerals I've been to lately have been in the summer. My last dress had sleeves."
Max gave me a frown before digging through his bag and pulling out a thick cardigan. "Take this. Mason will kill me if you catch a cold."
"Thank you," I said shrugging it on. It was way too big, but I appreciated the gesture. Max nodded patting my back gently.
When we got to the church, Max kept close to my side. We went up to greet Sophie, her dad, and her siblings. I gave them each tight hugs and Max said something to Sophie and then we went to sit down.
"I hate funerals," I whispered.
"I've never been to one," Max answered. "What's the worst part, just so I'm prepared."
"Honestly I think the worst part is the pictures they put up," I said pointing to the little collage board.
"Why is that the worst part?" Max said with a little laugh.
"It's the pictures that parents or loved ones pick, so it's never the good ones," I said. "My sister and I used to play this game where we would guess who picked the pictures for the collage at all the funerals we went to. My sister didn't have a collage at hers."
"I wouldn't have a collage because there are no pictures of me," Max replied.
"I won't have a collage because everyone knows how much I hate them," I smiled.
"I'll make sure Mason doesn't give you a stupid collage," Max said.
I made it through a majority of the funeral without crying. It wasn't until Sophie and her family gave speeches that I started to get emotional. As I let out my first sniffle, Max's hand found mine and gave it a squeeze. He pulled a tissue from his jacket pocket and gave it to me. I wiped my eyes and leaned my head on Max's shoulder. Sophie started sobbing after her speech and I felt the broken thirteen-year-old in my heart crying with her. When the funeral was over, we drove back to Washington. It was Sunday night and it was finals week, so we really couldn't miss a day.
YOU ARE READING
Chasing Daylight
Chick-Lit"This is a big world, that was a small town There in my rear-view mirror disappearing now" -Taylor Swift When Maria moves across the country in order to escape her past, she finds a life she never could have dreamed of, but will the trauma of her pa...
