Luke Hemmings - Roommates

One Final Farewell

I looked myself over in the mirror hanging on the wall. I was wearing my blue dress that Blake always used to love so much with a pair of navy converse. My hair was hanging in perfectly loose curls with the front bits clipped back out of my face. There was a gentle knocking on my door and Michael walked in wearing his black skinny jeans and a dark blue button up with the sleeves rolled up past his elbows. I turned to look at him blinking back the tears in my eyes as I walked over and hugged him feeling his arms wrap tightly around me leaving his hands to rest on my lower back.

"When I die I don't want people to cry. I don't want them all to wear black at my funeral either. I want my funeral to be more of a party to celebrate the life I lived." I looked over at Blake to see he was already looking at me.

"Why do you want that?" His voice held so much curiosity as I lay my head back onto the grass, looking up at the tall oak tree we were lying underneath.

"Because I am not worth the grievance. I am not worth people's tears or sadness. It would be so much easier if everyone just smiled and laughed while reminiscing about whatever memories they share with me. There tears are better off saved for better people." He hummed to himself as he thought over everything I had just said.

"I think I want a funeral like that as well. I would want you to give the eulogy because you would know exactly what to say. And I would want you to look exactly like you did that very first party at boarding school so whenever you looked in the mirror you would be reminded of how much fun we had." 

"I'm sure that could be arranged." I smiled over at him, turning onto my side to face him as the first drops of rain landed on us.

"Promise?"

"If you die first. If not then you have to give the eulogy at my funeral."

"We can leave them in a safe place so that no matter who dies first they will still have given a eulogy at the other's funeral."

"Deal." He smiled at me. The rain got heavier as we sat under that old oak tree discussing our funerals.

I shook myself from my memory blinking back even more tears. Today was the day I had to bury both my best-friend and our son. "Ready to go?" Michael asked and I nodded weakly allowing him to take my hand and lead me out to the funeral car that was waiting for us. I climbed into the back along with Michael and rested my head on his shoulder as we began the drive to church ready for the ceremony to begin. Blake had been flown over yesterday on a C-17 Globemaster and then driven to the church ready for the ceremony.

I stepped out of the car trying to stop my legs from shaking as I walked, tightly gripping Michael's hand for support. I walked into the old building and saw the boys sat in the front row waiting for me. I listened to Blake's funeral song playing through the speakers quietly singing along under my breath.

We were young,

We were wild,

We were half way free.

We were kids on the run,

On a dead end street.

Looking back in the rear view mirror,

You know the view used to be much clearer.

But we'll laugh and we'll cry,

'Till there's no more tears.

And tonight can we just hold on to those eighteen years.

I took my seat on the front row in the middle of Michael and Luke. We all stood to our feet as his coffin was carried in with four out of six of the pallbearers service men from his platoon that were on leave due to injuries they sustained. The rest of his platoon were still over there fighting and they hated that they couldn't attend the funeral of their best friend and fallen comrade. I could barely hear what was being said during the entire service until Luke was gripping my hand and helping me to my feet, giving me a gentle push towards the lectern.