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ANNABEL HAD BEEN TO MANY FUNERALS IN HER LIFETIME.
Far more than the average person. Between her parents, to her hamster she forced Caroline to host, all the way to, now, Caroline's. Plus, all the elderly family members in between.
When she was eleven, she didn't think there was going to ever been a harder one to attend than her parents. Everyone there were either her mom's patients, family she wasn't familiar with, and her father's estranged friends.
It was always the same thing every damn time she passed them: 'We're so sorry for your loss, Miss. Summers,'. As if they even knew her.
Caroline and her were able to grieve together. They could laugh about the silly people at the funeral and cry about the loss they had just endured.
No matter the emotion or the circumstances, they always had each other.
Now, as she walked to her seat, her hands limp at her sides with Paul following just behind, she couldn't feel anything. Tears swelled in her eyes and a few even fell but she just couldn't feel.
It was as if someone flipped a switch in the usually happy-go-lucky girl and everything Annabel Claire Summers stood for was long gone.
People of who she walked past would try to stop her. Try to get her attention to give their condolences but she just couldn't stop as she trekked up to her sister's coffin.
It was a closed-casket. Mostly, chosen for the benefit of Bel. Her hands rubbed circles on the smooth wood, her eyes closing in some sense of serenity.
Paul rubbed comforting circles on her back, trying to ease her racing heart in whatever way he could. He looked around the service, seeing both the Cullen's on one side and the pack on another.
All there for Annabel.
After no more than three minutes of standing there, Annabel reluctantly agreed to go to her seat. She was sat between Paul and the walkway just incase she needed to leave at any point.
"Today we are here to honor the life of Caroline Summers," the officiant began, "in this room, it isn't hard to tell that this young girl was very loved. We have almost both sides filled and I've had so many lovely guests walk up and tell me about her."
Annabel fiddled with her fingers, play with the skin just near her nail. Her leg was shaking and her eyes were already beginning to tear up again with the salty substance from before.
At the smell of something metallic, Paul was quick to muffle it in his own hands, using just enough pressure to get the bleeding to stop, "It's going to be okay, Annie."
She nodded her head before turning her attention back to the officiant, "Caroline was a happy soul who always put her patients first. She loved her job and always cared for those around her. In her short life, she blessed to have the people in it,"
Bel tried to remain in the funeral; to not dissociate like she had been for the past three days but it was deemed impossible. She couldn't find it in herself to listen to the man talk about her sister in past tense.
It wasn't until she heard Andy's shaky voice that she snapped back into reality, "Carrie was the light of the nursing staff. No matter how difficult a task might have seemed or how much longer it'd take her, she'd smile before taking the chart," he paused, "In the short time that I knew her, all she would talk about is her sister," a tear struck down his face as a new feeling started pounding in Annabel's chest, "She'd tell us all of Annabel's accomplishments with so much pride, you'd think she did them herself. Her heart belonged to her family. Rest easy, Care-bear."
As Andy's boyfriend helped him back to his seat, Carlisle now stood to talk.
"Caroline was a blessing to my family and I. She showed Antonio what love was and most importantly, helped him understand that he deserved it. We saw her interactions with everyone around her and it only further proves what Andy said: Caroline Summers was a light. No matter where she was or what she was doing, she was a light. It was an honor to know her."
The doctor sat down and Paul stood up, Emily taking his place to hold the girl together. Annabel had shock plastered on her face. Not once had she thought Paul would go up.
"Though I didn't talk to Caroline much, I talked to Annabel. In our time together, almost everyone on that side of the room can account for how fondly she talked of the girl. I mean, anytime she mentioned something she did, she'd give credit to Caroline," his head hung heavy and his voice slightly wavered, "when we first heard Caroline would be dating Antonio, we looked like a bunch of growling dogs at the words," laughter rose in the room. And when a small smile grew on Bel's face, he considered it a job well done, "but then, I saw the happiness in her eyes and I realized that the pairing wasn't on good for Care but for Annie. It was something both girls need. It was something so unexpected, yet so perfect. It was a blessing to know Caroline, that's for sure."
Next was Antonio and Annabel's heart sank to her stomach at his appearance. The normally put together and warm-smiled Antonio was now a complete mess up there.
"Caroline was the most perfect woman I'd ever met," he started, "she always smiled and despite how annoying I can be, she put up with me. I've been around a while and I've known many people so when my eyes locked with hers in that damn grocery store, I knew I had met my one true love — the girl I could spend forever with and never once complain. Care is my everything and she will always remain my everything."
She watched the raven-haired boy make his way to his seat, Esme rubbing comforting circles in his back until the officiant called her name.
Her eyes widened and her body tensed because as much as she wanted to talk about her older sister, she really couldn't find it in her to stomach it.
"You've got this," Paul whispered to her the moment he sensed hesitation, "I promise you. And if I see it's too much, I'll come and get you — no questions asked."
With his words and the small squeeze of her hand, Bel nodded. Getting up on shaky legs and fixing her dress, the youngest Summers sister grabbed the microphone from the officiant.
"Uh, my sister is — was," she winced at her words, shaking her head in an attempt to shake away the tears, "my everything. She always had the right words to say and always knew how to cheer me up even when I didn't know how to myself. She was the perfect example of a big sister," a sniffle sounded across the uncannily silent church, "every time I see the color purple or I see a water lily, I'll always remember my sister because despite her not being here today, she'll always be in my heart. I love you, Blondie."
