Brittany O'Neill and her family packed up everything and moved to Berkeley, California for a fresh start. Her brother and she were excepted into Berkeley University and she thought it would be the great college experience. With little to no stresses...
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Chapter: Ninety-Five
I would see them all just two days later, as Victor had arranged for a private funeral for the three of them. I was so numb I couldn't even be angry, couldn't even think of a response to that. Niles had picked me up that morning as I'd dressed in my long black dress, preparing to go to the service. Mattie walked into my room and gave me a tight hug. I hugged her back gratefully.
"I can't believe this happened," she muttered softly.
"I can't either. It still doesn't seem real."
It was real, and we both knew that. Jay joined us next, already dressed in his suit, and hugged us both just briefly. I didn't think I'd seen him dressed this way since he'd been little for dad's service. I felt like crying already, but I held back for as long as I could. Crying right now wouldn't help anyone. I needed to be strong before I faced the ones who really needed strength today.
"This is what it can be, right? I never knew coming into this world meant those people would be gone." Jay frowned as if unable to wrap his head around it, either.
Truly, we were all lost for words to deal with this situation. What did you say and what could you do? Mom came in to meet us and softly asked us to come downstairs as we were about to leave. Niles was in the kitchen waiting for me and he looked handsome in his suit, though I couldn't bring myself to find any joy in that moment, let alone anything. I didn't feel anything but sorrow, and that frightened me. I walked into his arms and buried my face in his chest.
"Were having a graveside service and nothing else. They couldn't bear us to do anything else and Victor took care of everything," he spoke softly.
Victor walked into the room at that moment and I couldn't bring myself to look at him as he took hands with mom and we walked out the door and got into our cars. I'd never been to such a simple funeral, but then I'd only been to one funeral and that had been my dads. I hadn't wanted to go to that one, and I didn't want to go to this one. I held Niles's hand the entire way there.
It was raining, and it seemed like it happened every time a funeral was held in movies. When we arrived at the large graveyard, I was reminded only of the many people buried here who had been someone's loved ones. Now Greg was among them, Susan and Abel. That was unbelievable. Among the people present were Nashua and Eden and I couldn't bring myself to feel any way about that. Megan and Henry stood with them, but they didn't seem to be talking.
Tamron and Max were just getting out of the car, each of them holding hands with Aubrey, who stood walking between them. Her tiny face was so sad and looked so lonely. I'd have done anything to comfort her if I could. Everyone was here for the final goodbye and I caught sight of Liam gazing at me and I turned away. We all made that long walk into the graveyard where a preacher was waiting to give a simple service and say the same things they always did.
I felt nothing. Everyone was dressed in mourning clothes and I felt we all were sorrowful no matter how we wanted to appear today. Victor had arranged for them to be buried close together. We all stood together as the only outsider, a preacher gave a eulogy I didn't hear.
