Five Feet Apart

chapter 3

Stella 

The reception was incredible. The whole day was just amazing. I can't believe I'm married now. I'm a wife. Something I never thought I'd live to say. When it got to be around twelve I saw Will leave. He didn't even say goodbye. I guess he didn't have to, it's not like I married him anyway.

"Hey, Stell, ready to go?" Matt asked, sneaking up behind me and kissing me on the cheek.

"Yeah, you ready for Hawaii?" I asked back. We're going to Kauai, Hawaii for our honeymoon. Mya, Camila, and I practically lived at the mall all week looking for the perfect outfits.

"Hey Stella, we're gonna head home," Hope said, rubbing her stomach Jason next to her holding her heels.

"Alright well tell Harmony I said hi"

"Will do. Have fun on your honeymoon"

"Thanks, bye," I said and they turned around and left. Most people had left by one. We drove back to the hotel and checked into our bridal suite.

The next couple of days were really fun. We got on our flight and into our rental house. We had so much fun in those two weeks. We were at the pool or the beach almost every day if my hair was blonder it would have been green. Today we were going home. I wasn't super excited about it but, I did miss my family and Hope had her baby early. His name is Finn Jacob, they sent pictures he is adorable.

"Hey babe, do you know where my toothbrush is?" Matt asked me as I walked into the master bathroom to pack my stuff.

"It's in the other bathroom," I said which reminded me of this morning. He got ready in the second bathroom while I was sleeping then went and got pastries for breakfast in bed. It was so cute.

"Right thanks," He said walking out of the bathroom but kissing me first. We finished packing and went to the airport. We had decided to stay the day and fly at night, but now I was really tired. We boarded the plane and there weren't many people on the flight. I fell asleep on Matt's shoulder and eight hours later he woke me up. We got home and both collapsed on the bed tired and fell asleep.

I woke up to the sound of my phone ringing non-stop. It was around three in the afternoon and mom was calling.

"Hey, mom what's up?" I asked trying not to sound like I had just woken up,

"I just wanted to see how you are after the trip," I could tell that's not what she wanted to say but I played along with it and told her about all the fun we had, had.

" Well that's great but there is a reason I called" I knew it.

"Honey I have some bad news," She said I tried to think what bad could have happened in the two weeks we were gone. The only thing I could think of was Finny but Hope would have told me on her own.

"What's wrong?" I asked knowing nothing could be that wrong and she was probably overreacting.

"Barb called me this morning, she said Will checked in a few days after the wedding." She said kinda slowly

"Stella he had bronchitis the same thing Poe had. Barb said he died this morning. I was gonna call you..." She finished the sentence but I didn't hear it. Will died. He died and I didn't even get to say goodbye.

"Stell? You ok?" Matt asked walking into the living room but I didn't answer.

"Stella you still there?" Mom asked but I couldn't bring myself to say anything. He's dead.

"Stella?" Mom said again.

"I have to go," I said and hung up.

"Stella, what happened?" Matt asked

"He died."

"Stella, you have to tell me who died?" he asked again.

"Will," I answered.

That was the last thing I said for a week straight. Everyone tried to do something. My parents came, and Hope brought the baby, but nothing worked. All I could think about was him. How he died. Alone, in a hospital, two weeks after watching me get married to someone else. About a week later we got an invite in the mail to his funeral.

I put on a black dress and got in the car. His mom asked if I wanted to speak but I denied it. It hurt too much.

"Stell, it'll be okay, you will be okay," Matt said trying to cheer me up. I didn't say anything to that either. He didn't know if I was going to be ok. He didn't know what was going to happen. When we got to the church I saw his mother at the door greeting people trying not to cry.

"Stella! You came" Mrs. Newman said giving me a hug that we both needed.

"Yeah, of course, I'm so sorry. This wasn't how his life was supposed to end." That was all I could say without bursting into tears again. I walked inside to see Hope and Jason sitting in the front row and walked over to them. We sat next to them but none of us said a word.

I saw the casket in the front and couldn't help but shed a tear. He was really gone. As the service started I began to feel worse and worse. My stomach hurt and I couldn't stop crying. Matt took my hand and squeezed it three times, I squeezed back.

By the end of the funeral, I couldn't stop crying. Matt, Hope, Jason, and I were the last people in the Church. After Hope and Jason left it was just us inside.

"I'm gonna go outside so you can say goodbye, I love you," Matt said kissing me on the head.

"Okay" was all I could manage to say.

I walked to the front of the church to his casket. It was the closest we had ever been. He looked so peaceful. I wonder what death feels like. Is it like how Poe and I used to think of it? Or how Will and I thought of it? Abby always said when you die an angel has brought you to a better place. The place all three of them are in now. The place where my sister, best friend, and first love were without me. I looked at him, his eyes were closed. I kissed his forehead.

"I love you" I whispered

I could feel him wanting to say it back. I can still see him and hear his voice so clearly. I'm scared one day I'll forget it. A tear fell from my cheek to his face and I realized it was time I had to go. I turned around and walked away but I stopped when at the point of us being five feet apart.