Divergent High

Chapter 40 Graduation

Tris POV:

Marlene's funeral. A day I would of never seen coming. It's Marlene for gods sake. She was supposed to grow up happily, live happily, get married, have kids, grow old, and die happily. Now, she doesn't even get the opportunity.

Why would you take Marlene away from me, God? Why would you put myself and my friends through all this pain and suffering.

Why?

I tie my other sneaker, staring blankly at the double knot. I was dressed in a knee length black dress that had a white collar and white buttons going down the front until about the middle of my chest. My hair was straitened to the point where it was starting to burn my scalp. I have a white flower clown wrapped around my head. I have black and white Vans tied tightly around my small feet.

A tear drops to the floor. Then another, another, until it turns into storms of tears.

I missed the way she would laugh at her own jokes- letting out a small snort with each laugh. I missed her smiling face, her beautiful, long brunette hair. I miss how she always showed up smelling like sweet honey. I missed her.

I feel something touch my back, and I turn to see Uriah in a charcoal colored suit with a white tie. He gives me a weak smile, but I knew he was only doing it for himself. He's been awful ever since Marlene's death. Zeke says he hasn't ate for days, and has stayed locked inside his room until today.

"What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be at the chasm?" I ask, composing myself. I couldn't let Uriah see me like this- not with the pain he's been through. He shrugs, sitting by me on the steps.

"I haven't seen you in awhile. Thought I might drop by before... the event." His expression drops, and his hands move to his face. He rubs his eyes slowly and looks me back in the eyes. I can tell he's had a lack of sleep for awhile.

I hug him. I wrap Uriah tightly around my arms, squeezing him. I pat his back and whisper in his ear, "Just let it out. It's okay now Uriah. Let it all out."

And he does.

He cries into my shoulder, now squeezing me. I hear him mumbling Marlene's name, but I don't question him about it. I just let him cry it all out.

"Tris?" Uriah whispers, leaning off me. His eyes were now bloodshot, his nose starting to run. I hand him a Kleenex-which he accepts- and he blows his nose. he parts his lips slightly, as to find the right words, then closes them.

"What is it, Uriah?"

He stands up and starts adjusting his tie. "Why do bad things happen to good people."

Listening to this question once again, replying my memory I had with Christina, I answer more calmly.

"This is a filthy goddamn world, Uriah. We live in a world where life is like a game. If you loose, the other players are ahead of you, and gang more. Take Christina and her baby, for example. She lost her first born child- she lost the game, but technically, she didn't loose anything. The baby lost. Yes, she lost a baby which risks the chances of her ever having another one with out problems, but she has gained so much more from it. She is now so much more mature then she used to be, and is prepared if this were to ever happen to her. So, why do bad things happen to good people? So the other people around the player earn more, let's say, points."

Uriah stares blankly at me for moments, then eventually starts smiling. He smiles so bright, it lights up the room. I smile back at him.

"Thanks Bea."

I wrap my arm around his torso as pull him in for another hug. We hug for a couple seconds until he pulls away. "I guess it's time."

"Game faces." I weakly say. He laughs an starts walking towards my front door. I wave him a final good bye before meeting him again at the funeral, and he leaves.