This Little Light of Mine

𝐄𝐩𝐢𝐥𝗼𝐠𝐮𝐞: 𝐖𝐡𝐲'𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝗼 𝐆𝗼 𝐅𝐫𝗼𝗺 𝐆𝗼𝗼𝐝 𝐭𝗼 𝐆𝗼𝐧𝐞?

"Bennett was the greatest little girl we knew. She was always so happy, always smiling. Tim, Lucy, we are so sorry for your loss. We loved Bennie just as our own, and we will all miss her immensely." Came the voice of Wade Grey, at Bennett's memorial service. Tim and Lucy were seated on the front row, Max nearby, and there was not a single dry eye in the building that day. They weren't originally going to bring Max, but they believed that he needed to be there to "tell" his girl goodbye.

Everyone that wanted to speak on Bennett had a chance to. Lucy and Tim were the last to go up and speak.

"We just want to thank all of you for being here, again" Tim stated. "You're all such a big part of our lives, and you were a huge impact for Bennett. Bennett leaves behind a legacy we never imagined she'd leave. We cannot express how much we miss her sweet voice already, but we know that we will be reunited with her one day" Tim said, his voice breaking, and his eyes filled with tears, once again. Lucy gave a nod, before she would take a moment to speak about her daughter. "We are thankful to have had all the time we had with her. We had her for a total of eighteen months after her initial diagnosis. That's an extra five months, instead of what was predicted. We are thankful for all of our friends and family that were present for her homegoing. Bennett loved each and every one of you, and so do we. And finally, to our Bennett, we love you, baby girl. Daddy and I will try to carry on without you here. It's not goodbye, but goodnight. We will meet you in the morning, princess." Lucy said, reading off the card she had, to help her get through her speech.

Bennett's memorial service ended shortly after that, with people having their last goodbyes, ending with Tim and Lucy saying theirs, and seeing Bennett's face physically for the final time. While everyone was going up, Max could be found laying in front of the casket. He knew his girl was in there, and his duty to protect her wasn't finished. So there he laid, protecting his girl from any harm. There were always going to be pictures and videos, but nothing amounts to how special it is to physically see their child's face. The two couldn't stop the tears by this time, as they knew it was time to close her casket, and take her to her final resting place.

The casket was closed and taken out to the hearse, where it would be taken to the cemetery for the burial. Lucy and Tim (and Max) rode behind in a family car, everyone else following that. When the short five minute drive was up, the pallbearers were there to carry Bennett's casket. Those included; Nolan, James, Grey, Wesley, Aaron, and Tim. The six of them carefully carried the casket to where it would be placed until lowered into the ground. Lucy tried to keep Max with her, but Max simply chose to walk with Tim, and follow him with Bennett.

This portion of the service was filled with final messages about Bennett, and some of her favorite music. Soon, it was time to lower the casket. Everyone watched as Tim and Lucy's daughter was lowered to her final resting place, before covered with the dirt. Everything was said and done now. Bennett had been laid to rest for good, and now Tim and Lucy must face the challenges of grief even more than they already had been. The couple lingered for a bit of extra time, before they retreated to the car, and eventually back to their home.

At their home, Bennett's door remained closed. Neither of them could muster the courage to open her door. Soon enough, they would. For now, they couldn't bear the reminder that their baby was gone, though the reminders will always be there. Her door remained closed, and Max posted himself outside of her door, as if he was waiting for her to open it for him.

Tim and Lucy spent the rest of the day watching the tribute video of Bennett. It included pictures, videos, anything of Bennett that everyone had. The two went to bed that night grieving, and the grief wouldn't let up anytime soon. The two of them had never imagined they would lose their daughter, and wished they could turn back time to before the DIPG diagnosis.

Bennett is gone physically, though Tim and Lucy will always remember her. They will see reminders of her throughout their lives, and will do whatever it takes to continue on for her.