Gone Girl 3

Chapter 28

I never thought Irène Leroy would die before me.

There she lays ahead of me, beautiful as always, in a prim white dress. I shouldn't look at her because I could burst out crying and never stop, just like it happened after her death. Her head is covered, I don't want to imagine what her face looks like after being shoot in the head.

On the seats, there are her parents who look devastated. I should be surprised his father cared for her especially about all their feuds but really... he did love her, despite everything. He loved Irène and never thought he would see the day his daughter died before him just like her sister.

What a cruel fate.

I sit, waiting for the priest to say the last words. We will soon have to say a few words about her too. I wrote mine down but I don't know if I'll be able to say anything.

The priest stands in front of the open casket, surrounded by a ton of flowers and candles. This place looks so beautiful it hurts. She should be alive.

I can't believe she is gone. I'm sad, I'm angry. I'm angry she left us- me.

I'm disappointed in myself too.

I take a quick peek at Derek, sitting near Shanice and Nicole.

Shanice's eyes intersect with mine for a few seconds and I feel her crumbling. She loved her more than words can express. And Irène's note just proves she didn't love her as much as Shanice deserved.

Derek doesn't look at me and I'm glad.

The priest starts, having done this a thousand times already that it's become clear he isn't feeling it anymore.

"God, we thank you for the life that you give us. It is full of work and of responsibility, of sorrow and joy. Today we thank you for Irène Leroy, for what she has given and received. Help us in our mourning and teach us to live for the living in the time that is still left to us."

I wipe away my tears, as her parents stand up to say goodbye to Irène for the last time.

Her mother is just the split reflection of her. Dangerous, beautiful and sad.

All her put together composure drops as she sees her daughter's covered face. Her skin is so cold. So pale. So gone.

She crumbles to her knees, touching Irène's face. Begging her to come back.

Her husband has to pull her back and hug her as tightly as no one had before.

He goes first.

"My daughter was the most ambitious person I'd ever known. I saw myself in her so many times and never let it slide. I was harsh on her and nothing can take this back. No one will give me back my beautiful little girl. I hoped she would take the right path but I never thought of guiding her."

A few people wipe away their tears but I don't feel much. Too late.

Her mother goes next, having calmed down a little.

"My daughter. My love. My soul. I can't imagine a world without her. Such a grim place. To all of you, she seemed so cold, reserved. We raised her to be strong and never to love. I ruined my own daughter-"

Her husband stops her before she says too much but it's clear this woman is broken and she doesn't care about the media anymore.

She kisses her daughter goodbye before going back to her seat.

At least they know they had some blame on it... but the thing that most damaged Irène was her sister's death.

A mistake. No one's fault, just a cruel occurrence. And Irène always had everything in control, everything had an action and a consequence in her life.