The Spirit of Woe

7 - Pain

 "Regards on her death, we did a few tests and noticed she had her blood poisoned, we must've inserted the wrong liquid." The doctor spoke to Martin as they walked to the office.
The man sadly sighed, "We sincerely apologize for what happened, we'll pay for the funeral fee and extra for what we've done."
Martin stared at the ground, absorbing the mans words.
"She's in here, you can look at her for the last time." Martin gulped at the invitation.
"I don't think I am ready." He finally looked up into the doctors eyes, he only nodded.
"You'll see her in the funeral then." The doctor shut the door and gave Martin the last glance, "We're very sorry." he repeated.

 Martin sighed, leaving the hospital. He was tired of everything already.
Entering the car, he smashed his head against the steering wheel, making a loud horn.
He checked his phone, noticing a notification from Martha, he already had her informed about the situation.
It was a simple: "May she rest in peace." But it hurt.
He didn't want this to be real.
"Martin?" Keith put his hand on the shoulder.
"Fucks sake, don't you see I am having a moment?"
"I know, but I just thought.." Keith breathed in, "This happened, so it means it had to happen. You have to start realizing that you have to let go."
Anger filled Martin up, making him squeeze the wheel.
"What the fuck?! Let go? This early? Did you seriously not take her as a friend?" Martin yelled, making Keith furrow his eyes.
"I am just giving you advice-"
"Well, the advice is fucking SHIT! So, shut your damn mouth." 
Martin was angry, who did he think he is? He already moved on? How is he taking this situation so lightly.

He tried breathing in and out, doing breathing exercises to calm down.
While he did so, he listened to the back seat.
"Thomas..." Nafaa whispered.
"What happened yesterday?" Nafaa's words made Martin's blood boil again, yet he didn't say anything.
"More like, what happened to you? Did you bump your head?" Thomas questioned, examining the boy.
"I am just fine, I just..." Nafaa stopped talking, hissing in pain and grabbing his arm.
"My whole body hurts."
Thomas seemed concerned, examining Nafaa's arms.
Noticing all the bruises, he cocked his eyebrow.
Nafaa stared at his injuries, puzzling in his head.
"How did I get those.." Nafaa was confused, his confusion made Martin grip his head.
"You got in a fight, you dumbass!" Martin yelled.
The youngest furrowed his eyebrows, "I don't remember being in a fight."

Both Thomas and Martin were confused now.
"Did Keith give you brain damage?" Martin's question made Keith chuckle, quickly getting everyone's attention.
Keith felt pressured, but couldn't stop laughing, "Why are y'all looking at me?"
"Keith, what happened yesterday with you and Nafaa?" Thomas questioned.
Keith shrugged, seeming proud, "Just showed him what I can do, simple."
"You both are IDIOTS!" Martin was quickly getting mad again, hyperventilating.
"Violence is never the answer, don't you know?" Thomas rolled Nafaa's sleeves down, scolding Keith.
"Nafaa just got on my nerves and I can't give him his own medicine back?" Keith argued, making Thomas mad for the first time.
"That doesn't mean you should injure him this much! You made him lose memory!"
"I never hit his head, you dumb fuck! Just shut up and let's forget about this." Keith concluded, making everyone unsatisfied.
It was really tense in the car.

Not knowing what to do, Martin started the car.
"Let's just get going." he drove out of the hospital parking spot, hitting the road.
Everyone was silent, Martin checked the rear mirror, looking at Nafaa.
Even if they never ended up on good terms, him losing past day memory was concerning.
He examined how the boy checked his body, every injury, noticing him getting frustrated.
It seemed the boy felt that he was being stared at and looked up into the mirror, noticing Martin staring.
The older quickly turned back to the window, blushing in embarrassment.
He just kept driving.

 When they finally arrived, hopping out of the car - it was really cold.
They arrived at the graveyard where the funeral was going to happen, it was very dark and the atmosphere was really uneasy.
Martin got chills, but he tried holding himself together.
Maybe it was the fact he was in too much pain and done with everything, but he thought.. maybe, Keith was right. He shouldn't hold unto this too much.
But it hurt. It hurt him really badly.
Nothing felt good anymore. He didn't even expect that he was gonna be going to a funeral this year.
"Are you ready?" Thomas asked Martin, frowning at the emotionless man.
"Never gonna be ready, but we gotta get through this." Martin responded, getting a sigh from the younger.
"You're not alone." Thomas whispered, making Martin more hurt, realizing everyone else is probably just as hurt.

When the funeral happened, he couldn't mentally prepare himself for the view, he couldn't comprehend seeing the dead girl.
But once he did, he saw her expression. It looks like she's just sleeping, calmly. Yet it is much darker than that.
His eyes hurt, holding in tears, he wiped his eyes with the sleeve of his suit, sniffing.
Seeing the girl go under ground was even more painful than he thought. He was never gonna see her again, never gonna make any more memories and never gonna hear from her again.
She was truly gone.
And there was nothing he can do about it anymore.

"Finally this pity party is done." Keith spoke in boredom.
No one replied, everyone was taking in what had just happened.
"C'mon guys, she wants us to have happy lives!" Keith tried brightening up the mood, only to get ignored.
He huffed in frustration and stared out of the window, he was disappointed.

Martin drifted off from a thought to another.
His heart ached in sorrow, aching more seeing Nafaa so dumbfounded.
But he realized, maybe he didn't remember what he said yesterday.
Realizing, he needs to make the best of everything.
He was gonna focus a lot more, for Mazzy, for himself.
He was motivated to fix everything between them, so nothing else bad happens.
Sniffing in, he sat straight and started the car once again.

"Let's go home."