BUT DADDY I LOVE HIM, ᵉᵛᵃⁿ ᵇᵘᶜᵏˡᵉʸ

058

A week had passed since the machines went silent.

Seven days of sleepless nights and hollow mornings. Seven days of trying to remember how to breathe in a world where Madison wasn't.

The church was quiet except for the soft murmur of voices and the shuffle of feet along the polished floor. The smell of lilies hung heavy in the air. At the front of the sanctuary, a closed casket sat beneath a cascade of pale pink flowers, a framed photograph–one that Buck had taken–of Madison beside it, her grin wide, eyes bright, sunlight caught in her air.

The 118 filled the first few rows: Bobby and Athena, Hen and Karen, Chimney and Maddie, Eddie, Ravi, Buck, and Sarah. The rest of the crew and their families sat behind them, a sea of dark clothing and damp tissues.

Sarah sat between Buck and Rylin, a small bouquet of daisies clutched tightly in her hands. Her eyes were red and swollen, but she sat tall, determined not to break down before the service even began. Buck's hand rested on her shoulder, steady, while Rylin kept her other hand enclosed in hers.

Bobby stood to speak first. His voice carried the same calm command it always had, but it trembled now with grief.

"Madison wasn't a firefighter, but she had the heart of one," he said, glancing briefly at the casket. "She was fearless in her own way–protective, loyal, stubborn as hell. She had this way of lighting up a room just by walking into it. And she loved deeply. That's something we can all learn from."

He paused, drawing a shaky breath before continuing. "She may be gone from this earth, but the love she gave us... that doesn't fade. It stays with us, in the laughter, in the memories, and in the family she built right here."

A soft sniffle echoed through the room. Hen reached for Karen's hand, and Chimney leaned forward, his eyes glassy.

When Bobby stepped down, Rylin was next. Her heels clicked faintly on the tile as she approached the podium, but her knees felt unsteady beneath her. She looked out over the crowd, then at the photo beside the casket, and her voice cracked before she could even begin.

"I unexpectedly took in a young girl I saved in a tsunami a few years ago. And Madison just so happened to be a big part in that girl's life. Sarah made Madison a part of everyone's life as she came into ours." she said softly.  "Madison was loud, funny, infuriating, and full of heart. I never told her this, but she reminded me a lot of myself." A weak smile tugged at Rylin's lips, then faltered. "She was more than someone I looked after. She was family. And though she's gone, I'll carry her with me every day."

When she returned to her seat, Buck squeezed her hand. His own heart was pounding. He knew he had to speak next–he owed Madison that much.

As he stood, the whole room seemed to still. His suit was perfectly pressed, but his eyes were rimmed with red, his jaw tight as he fought to keep himself steady.

"Madison..." he stopped, his voice faltering for a moment before he found it again. "She came into my life when everything felt like chaos. I didn't plan on becoming responsible for a teenager, but somehow, she made it seem easy. She made everything better." He looked down, swallowing hard. "She wasn't my kid. But she was mine all the same. I loved her like she was my own."

A long silence stretched before he continued, his voice breaking. "Letting her go was the hardest thing I've ever had to do. But I know she's at peace now. I know she's not hurting anymore. And if there's one thing Madison taught me, it's that love doesn't stop when someone's gone. It just... changes form. So, we'll keep living for her. We'll keep carrying her spirit. And we'll never forget her."

He stepped back down, his eyes meeting Sarah's. She was trembling but trying so hard to hold herself together.

When she finally stood, Ravi offered his arm for balance. She took slow, careful steps toward the casket, placing the daisies on top. "You always said daisies were your favorite," she whispered, voice trembling. "Because they were simple. Happy." She sniffled, wiping at her tears. "You made me happy, Madi. You made me feel like I wasn't alone. Even when my whole world was falling apart. You were there. Always."