Bit of a short one here, so here you go :)
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Ellie's POV
Today is May 31st, and the World Cup is fast approaching. I'm hoping to make the roster, despite not playing at all last week. Alex, flew back to LA after spending two days here in Calgary, and although she didn't want to leave, I reassured her that I would be fine. I had no idea that Georgia had invited her to Jenny's funeral, but I found out soon enough. As we got ready, I couldn't help but feel that the weather outside was ominous, with a muggy and oppressive atmosphere, and a sense of impending rain.
I let out a deep sigh as I finished putting on my outfit, which was just a black suit. I didn't feel like wearing a dress and heels today, like Alex, who was looking stunning as ever.
"You okay?" Alex asked me, her voice soft and full of concern as I slicked back my shoulder-length hair.
"Yeah, I guess," I replied, my mind already wandering to the day ahead.
Alex squeezed my shoulder, pressing her warm lips to my cheek before rubbing circles on my back. "It's going to be okay, Ellie. I'm here for you."
"I know, thank you." I said, trying to calm my nerves. We both prepared to head downstairs, knowing that the day ahead was going to be emotionally charged.
The police investigation into the accident had revealed new information, and I couldn't help but feel a mix of anger and sadness as I thought about it. The equipment used to secure Jenny wasn't safe, and they used a quick snap release shackle instead of a locking carabiner. It was a clip that releases under 6 pounds of pressure, meant for sailboats to attach sails to the mast. I couldn't fathom why anyone would use such an unreliable clip for securing a human life. It was too late to change anything now, though, and Jenny had already lost her life. Her death certificate had confirmed that she had died of internal bleeding from blunt force trauma, which had severed her aorta.
As we made our way to the Mcinnis & Holloway's Park Memorial Chapel, a lot of emotions were going through me. I was sad, angry, scared, and confused, all at the same time. Alex had her arm around me, and I was grateful for her presence.
When we arrived, the chapel was packed with people, including family, friends, and colleagues from the wrestling business. Even the entire WWE men's and women's roster, who all knew and loved Jenny, were there, along with government officials, including the Mayor of Calgary and the Premier of Alberta. Across the road, there were around a thousand fans mourning, and loudspeakers were set up outside so they could hear the ceremony.
I sat down in the front row next to my parents, with Alex on the other side of me. The ceremony was beautiful and sad. Brian went up to speak, and his words brought tears to everyone's eyes. He talked about how Jenny had started pranking at the age of six, the ones where she managed to get dad riled up, and most importantly, he spoke about how much of a great mother she was. Alex held my hand tightly as I cried.
After Brian finished, we played some of Jenny's favorite songs, and then Rick went up to speak. He talked about how too good Jenny was for the wrestling business, "Jenny was too good for the wrestling industry that has become plagued by promotional rivalries, ratings wars, ego clashes, and outrageous gimmicks and stunts. Yet she never took the business too seriously. She was always full of life, and she always looked out for her friends and family. As a mother, she was the best, I can't think of anyone else who could have done a better job." Everyone was in tears as he talked, and I just held onto Alex, wishing Jenny was here with us.
Dave went up after Rick, and he was doing a good job at holding it together, until he started to talk about his and Jenny's relationship. He spoke of how they met, how they went through everything together, their marriage, having 2 kids, and how he was thankful for the time they had together. He also read a poem he wrote for Jenny, and it was so beautiful that it brought everyone to tears. After that, everyone hugged each other, and then Charlotte ran up to me after looking up at Jenny's casket.
"Aunt Ellie, why did Aunt Jenny have to die?"
As soon as those words left her mouth, I lost it. Tears instantly sprang out my eyes again and pulled Charlotte into a hug, not being able to answer her question. I didn't know what to say, what could I say? The only thing I could do was give her a hug and let her know that I was here for her.
My brothers, who were the pallbearers, slowly walked out of the chapel, carrying Jenny into the white hearse waiting outside. Everyone filtered out after them and I got in one of the stretch limos with my family and Alex, and we slowly made our way there. During the drive, it felt like Jenny was head of state, heaps of people were lining the streets, cars were pulling over, people were holding signs saying how much they loved her and how she inspired them. It was an amazing sight to see, these people who never even met Jenny but yet still wanted to show their respects.
We made it to the cemetery and the burial took place. Ken, Bruce, Keith, Peter, Brian and Rick lifted her casket out of the white hearse and began carrying it. I took a deep breath of the fresh air, as the sun started peaking through the clouds, while my brothers carried Jenny to her final resting place. Charlotte was hugging my side as she sobbed, her tears staining my shirt while I rubbed her back. Julie was hugging Brian Jr tightly, comforting him as they cried. We all gathered around, and as I looked around, I saw so many people who knew and loved Jenny, and it made me proud to have such an amazing person in my life.
After the burial, we went back to the house, I went straight up to my room and just laid down on the bed. Alex came in shortly after, sitting on the bed, taking off her heels she wore before laying down next to me, "Hey," she said, her voice soft.
"Hey," I replied, my voice thick with emotion.
"You okay?"
I sighed, my voice barely a whisper, "No, not really."
Alex hugged me, and I buried my head into her neck, tears streaming down my face. We stayed like that for a while, Alex's hand running through my hair as I cried. She pressed her lips to my forehead, and then we just laid there, in silence.
YOU ARE READING
Breaking the Mold (Alex Morgan x OC)
General FictionEllie Taylor, a young woman from a renowned wrestling family in Canada, takes her own path and pursues her passion for soccer at Stanford University. Along the way, she meets and plays alongside future professional teammates, and navigates the chall...