Shadowsnow

Chapter 3: Funerals

I sighed as I looked at myself in the mirror. I can't believe this is happening. And this isn't even the last or worst one I have to go to. Bree didn't deserve this. None of them did.

"Allie, are you almost ready to go?" I heard my dad call. I looked at myself in the mirror one more time.

"Yeah, Dad, I'm ready," I answered flatly as I headed for my bedroom door.

As soon as I came downstairs, my dad was waiting by the door for me. He gave me a solemn look and held out an arm for me as I walked over. I stepped into his arms and hugged him.

"Have you ever gone through something like this, Dad?" My dad sighed and gave me a gentle squeeze as he looked down at me.

"I wish I could say I have so I could give you some advice, Al."

I tried to smile at my dad, but I knew it didn't reach my eyes. In response, my dad gave me another squeeze before we walked out to my dad's car. We headed out to the North Burial Ground, where one of my classmates, Bree Donaldson, was being buried. When my dad and I got to the gravesite, Carter, Ronnie and Xander were already there. Ronnie's eyes were red and Carter and Xander were looking down at the ground. As soon as my friends saw us, they walked over. As the service started, everyone gathered around the grave. This can't be happening. This can't be real.

One after another, my friends, my dad and I went to the funerals of my classmates who were victims of our school shooting. Bree, Franklin, Tate, Adam, Valerie, Miranda, Mrs. Schmidt. So many people died because someone came into our school and murdered people. In the meantime, school had been moved to remote learning while everyone recovered emotionally, mentally, spiritually, and physically.  Not that I really thought it was possible after being the victim of such a horrific event.

I paced back and forth in my bedroom until I dropped onto my bed and set my head into my hands. My friends and classmates are dead. How could this have happened? Why? I stood up, throwing my hands down.

"I can't take this anymore!"

When I stood up, my floor was coated in a layer of ice and snowflakes were fluttering around me. What the hell? Where did this ice and snow come from? Did it come from me? I looked at my hands, eyes wide. Did I do this? How do I undo this? I put my hands down to my sides, making the ice on my floor disappear. Does my dad know about this? My heart started to race as I paced around my room. This can't be happening. This can't be happening. When I stopped pacing, I realized I was hovering in the air.

"Ah!" I fell to the floor, landing on my back, with a thud.

"Allie! Are you okay?" I heard my dad call up the stairs.

Before I could answer, I heard his footsteps on the stairs.  I sat up and turned my head toward the door as he came in.  He walked over to me and helped me to my feet.  There was a flash of something that crossed his face, but it was gone before I could identify it.  Suddenly, his face was a mask of shock and surprise.

"What are you doing on the floor?  What happened in here?"

"Uh...I'm doing some...exercises...?" My dad raised an eyebrow.

"Exercises?" My dad asked, skeptically. I shrugged sheepishly. "What's going on, Allie?"  I sighed as I realized I wouldn't be able to keep this from him.

"Well...I...ice came out of my hands and feet. I...don't know how." Another flash of some emotion crossed his face.  I raised an eyebrow at him.  "Dad...?  What is it?  Do you know something about my...whatever this is?"  My dad hesitated before speaking.

"I...I don't know enough to say anything." Suddenly, everything hit me all at once and I dropped to the floor, pulling my knees against my chest. I buried my face in my arms and started sobbing.

"I can't do this, Dad! It's too much! First, there was the shooting! Then there was finding out that almost a dozen of my classmates and mom died in the shooting or as a result of it! And now this! It's too way too much!" I heard my dad sit next to me and jumped slightly. I didn't raise my head as I felt him wrap his arms around me.

"Al, listen to me. Just stay with me. Stay in the present. Eventually, we will get through this. Together. Just breathe with me." I looked up at him, tears running down my cheeks.

"How are we ever gonna get through this? Mom's funeral is tomorrow. She's the last funeral I have to go to and I don't know if I can do it." My dad shook his head as he hugged me closer.

"You are stronger than you know, Al. You can do this. All you have to do is remember that you won't be doing it alone. I'll be there and so will your friends." I threw my arms around my dad and hugged him back, sobbing into his shoulder as he gently rubbed my back.