Forgotten

-Chapter 48-

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It's been three days since I've found Aries' body. We have prepared a funeral and service for her this weekend, where I am to give a speech. I don't even know if I can. I've written and rewritten it a hundred times. I've now decided I'm just going to go up there and talk. 

I feel like I've been in a haze the past couple days. Liked I'm trapped under a sheer blanket where my view is foggy, but I can still slightly see. I've barely eaten despite Leo's attempts and my sleep is haunted by nightmares of Aries. Not just her head falling off her shoulders, but her calling out to me, begging me to save her, and I can never reach her in time. 

Leo has been tracking all information on Alton, desperate to find him and kill him. It'll cause a major uprising in the mafia world, but he's already decided it's worth the risk. Everyone close to use has been on close watch, in case Alton tries with any of them. And even though Sofia has openly rejected Angelo, she's been glued to his side. Leo has been the same with me. I mean, I don't want to leave his side, I'm terrified. But he won't even let me go to the bathroom alone. At first it was awkward, but now I don't even notice him anymore.

My days have started to blur together. My grief has overwhelmed me, and I don't know how to deal with it. All my friends have tried to teach me their different methods to grieving but none seem to work on me. I just can't seem to shake the guilt of letting her die. So gruesome a death as well. I just pray it was painless and quick, and that she's in a better place now, wherever that may be. 

...

The days have flown by and now it was the day of Aries' funeral. The service was beautiful. Hot pink balloons and streamers hung around the church and Aries favorite movie and show posters were taped to the walls. Her coffin was a baby pink, and I decided I wanted the ceremony to be closed casket. Aries wouldn't want a bunch of strangers to stare at her anyway.

I told everyone that they had to wear bright colors and come with smiles on their faces, but as I stood up in front of everyone to do my speech, I realized how much of a hypocrite I was. I could barely keep in together. I smoothed my hands over my baby blue dress and tried to keep my composure.

"Aries was," my voice cracked, "the purest soul I've ever had the pleasure of meeting." I looked up, trying to blink my tears away. Looking back into the crowd, I saw Leo smile at me warmly, urging me to continue. "Um.." I choked on a sob that threatened to come out, "She was silly. She was kind. She was so, so beautiful." Tears started to fall from my eyes, and I clutched the pedestal. 

"She told me that I was like a big sister to her, that she loved me like family," my heart broke at my last memory with her, "So, Aries, if you're out there, just know that you are my little sister, and I'll share your story forever. Thank you." I clasped a hand over my mouth to suppress the sobs as I quickly walked off the stage. Leo stood and led me to the back of the room as the priest went on with the rest of the service. 

Leo held me close, comforting me as I sobbed into his suit. I hated this. I hated being miserable and I hated how I dragged everyone I loved into it. "I'm sorry." I whispered, pulling away from Leo. He swiped a tear off my face, "Don't apologize tesoro. It's perfectly normal to feel this way." I just nodded before shoving my face back into the crook of his shoulder.

Suddenly, my phone started buzzing in the pocket of my dress. I pulled it out to see my father calling me. No. I was not going to let him make my day worse. Or torment me and ask why Leo isn't dead yet. I hit decline and wrapped myself back into Leo's arms. 

The rest of the ceremony was peaceful. I watched from the back, away from prying eyes and cried all I needed. That was until the final words of the service were cut off by a blood-curdling scream coming from the hallway. Leo and I rushed out and I gasped in terror.

Sofia lay on the ground in a pool on her own blood. She was stabbed in the stomach multiple times. I just stared in horror as chaos ensued. I world went silent. It was like watching a slow-motion. Leo was screaming something. Doctor, maybe? He was running towards her body and fell to the ground next to her. People started to run out of the church and towards their cars, not wanting to be the next victim. I stood, frozen in time. No tears left to cry. No sadness left to feel. It was just pure silence.

Angelo then came out from behind me, knocking into me and snapping me out of my daze. "Sofia?!" He screamed as he ran up beside Leo, who was frantically doing CPR. Her body jolted as he did the compressions. I swear I heard her ribs crack. Her brown hair lay just as dead as her, her hazel eyes glued open. Her head lolled to the side, and she was staring at me. I stared back. I waved. She didn't wave back.

The doctors arrived and shoved Leo and Angelo out of the way. They started to do things, but I could no longer see because Leo had grabbed me and dragged me away. Suddenly we stopped. I heard muffling and someone was yelling someone, but I couldn't fully hear. My vision was blurry. It suddenly cleared and my hearing returned. "Athena!? Athena, answer me!" Leo yelled as he shook my shoulders and waved a hand in front of my eyes. I shook my head and became fully conscious. Leo wrapped me in his arms. "Thank fuck. You scared me." He exhaled into my hair and inhaled deeply. "I'm so sorry. I don't know what is happening." He spoke and I just stood, frozen like a statue. But I don't statue's best friends die within a week.