This Ain't The End [The WANTED FanFiction - Nathan Sykes]

This Ain't The End - Part 42

 As soon as the priest ended the gospel, Nathan squeezed my hand as my Dad went up to do the speech. The eulogy. He cleared his throat.

'Nesta Isabelle Saley. She was a daughter, a friend and a sister. She could've been a lover, a wife and a mother too and it's difficult to realise that we won't ever see that day. It's difficult to realise that I'm actually saying a eulogy for my youngest daughter at her funeral. It's not right that a parent should outlive their child but I guess what happens, happens and, to quote a Noah and the Whale song, life goes on.

Nesta was a bright one. She was incredibly smart, even if some teachers didn't think so. Where she may have lacked in academic skills, she made up for in her understanding and respect of adult topics and situations that she was forced into without choice. When my wife passed away, she was perhaps too young to understand who she was. But she was old enough to know not to press too hard, especially within the first few months of it happening. In fact, she was an absolute golden child in those months. The amount of times she had a tantrum I could count on my fingers. This was when she was in the terrible twos. If only my other daughter could've been like that... No, I'm joking of course. But speaking of, I need to mention her sister. My eldest daughter. The two were inseparable, despite the age difference. Obviously when my wife passed away, we were both absolutely distraught. But upon talking to Lola, it seemed that Nesta tried extra hard to make her smile and laugh in those months by pulling silly faces and putting on funny voices. And even as Lola got older and she was introduced to every father's worst nightmare – boys, it seemed Nesta had the complete opposite view to me and whilst she wasn't ever successful, I remember her attempting to set Lola up with brothers of her friends more than a few times and I'm sure Lola has a few instances of Nesta's pushing to have a significant other...

I could go on. I want to go on. But I'm sure you all have places to be and things to do and I thank you all for taking the time out of your day for this occasion. And even if you didn't come here specifically for the funeral, I thank you for being respectful this service and ask that if just one of your prayers this week goes to Nesta, to make sure she does well wherever she goes after this.

Thank you.'

The majority of the congregation clapped mildly. I tried hard not to let the tears fall. What he said really brought the memories back. Of the times when she would be silly, just to make me laugh when mum died, when she asked me to be a bit late when picking her up from playgroup because she knew the brother of her friend was there too and she thought we could get talking, which for the record didn't happen, when she asked about Nathan and her face when she thought that she'd finally succeeded.

'Now I'm going to hand you over to Lola, who's written a song for her,' he said and returned to our pew. For a moment, I was frozen to the spot. My throat was all clogged up and it wasn't until Nathan squeezed my hand a little that I realised everyone was waiting.

'Your turn now,' he whispered back. I nodded and pulled away. He gently wiped the tear away and squeezed my hand again gently. I inhaled and got up. I walked to the alter and picked up my guitar, putting myself between the guitar and its strap. After clearing my throat as quietly as possible, I began.

'Oh since you've been gone/ I've been lost I'm not me/ Need you to convince me that the end's yet to be/ It's like saying goodbye, but life still goes on/ The end's something that'll never come/ Oh this ain't the end/ This ain't the end because It's not alright/ Because when the end come life is still alight/ Oh this ain't the end/ This ain't the end/ Still need to get that in/ Because you may be gone but/ I'm still here within/ Your light's faded but still aglow/ I'll try my best to get up from this low/ Oh this ain't the end/ This ain't the end because It's not alright/ Because when the end come life is still alight/ Oh this ain't the end/ *Guitar solo*This/ Ain't/ The/ End/ I'm/ Still/ Your/ Friend/ Your grave/ I'll defend/ Oh this ain't the end because It's not alright/ Because when the end come life is still alight/ Oh this ain't the end/ This ain't the end because It's not alright/ Because when the end come life is still alight/ Oh this ain't the end/'

I placed my hand on the strings to prevent sustain, gulped and looked up. I heard some clapping beginning from Dad and Nathan. Then slowly, the whole of the small congregation started clapping. Giving a polite smile, I quickly returned back to Nathan and Dad. Dad hugged me.

'That was good,' he said quietly with tear-glazed eyes. I smiled politely and nodded a thanks, even though I didn't believe. It wasn't that good. My voice wasn't in tip top condition and the song was very generic. Dad didn't notice as we sat down for the homily but Nathan seemed to have. He nudged me a little and gave an expression as if to say "what's wrong?". I shook my head and concentrated on the homily.

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This has been edited as of 24/01/17.

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