I'll Be the Light

Chapter 24

The funeral was today. Everyone wore black, everyone's head were bowed with grief. Colton hugged Annie as she sobbed, her cousin's body looking immensely too small in the coffin. Colton just stared at his best friend, or what was left of her. He was there when it all happened.

They were all laughing on the phone, having a great time. Joking around, being friends. Everything was normal. Then they heard the crunch of metal and the line had gone dead. They tried reaching her, but Colton knew, deep down, that she was gone. He felt it in his heart. Mark Smith, the radio host, called the ambulance immediately and Colton had gone to the bathroom, needing space.

He had lost her again.

The hospital pronounced her dead at 3:02 P.M. They found out that the drunk driver was her dad. Everyone went to her house and mourned the loss. They practically boarded off her room, the memories still fresh in everyone's mind. They had the memorial and family and seldom friends showed up. Today was the big day.

It was the perfect funeral setting. She was being buried under the willow tree, in the park. Where her and Colton had their first kiss. The sky was gray and it was raining. We all bowed out heads as the priest said one last prayer and the coffin was lowered into the ground. Annie began to sniffle again and Colton squeezed her shoulders, letting her know that he was there for her.

Suddenly they heard a car door slam shut and they all turned to see her father walk over to them, rage boiled Colton's blood.

"What did I miss?" Peter Binner asked, as if there wasn't anything important. The rain seemed to increase and pelt the earth harder.

"Only your daughter's funeral," Colton growled. He did not like the man at all. Annie squeezed his hand gently.

"Oh well that's a shame. Might as well leave then."

That's when the odor hit them all. He reeked of alcohol. He stumbled away, his steps uneven and uncoordinated. Colton's anger evaporated with every step that the man took away from this sight. They turned back to see the coffin in the ground and they were already shoveling dirt onto it.

The rain seemed to dissipate somewhat, and they put away their umbrellas. The tree sheltered them from the now drizzle. Colton watched as they patted the ground with their shovels, and a tear slipped from his eye.

"She's really gone," he whispered. Another tear slipped out, and another. Annie walked back to the car. She knew he wanted to be alone for a little bit. He just needed time. Everyone did.

Colton took shaky steps to Genna's grave. Maybe if he touched it, his hand will go through it? Like a mirage. Like this is all some nightmare and he's going to wake up from it if he touched the grave stone with an angel of her likeness sitting on it, with the kindest smile. He slowly put a calloused finger on the smooth marble arm of the angel, and it felt solid.

A sob tore through his chest and he crumbled to the ground, unholy wails coming from his throat.

"Why? Why did she have to die like this?" Colton sobbed. It just wasn't fair to him! She had such a bright future! He's put her through so much pain and she was only just recovering! They still haven't done so many things. She never accomplished her dream. She never became famous like she wanted.

"Colton," a voice whispered. He whipped his head around, not seeing anyone. He had heard her voice! He was sure of it! Yet there was no one there. He turned his attention back to the little angel, only to see light raining down on it.

The rain had completely stopped and the sun peeked out from the clouds. The golden sunlight filtered through the willow bows enough to create a sort of halo around the angel. Then he remembered when she sang in church, how the sun had streamed through the stained glass windows and turned into an angel. His angel.