Demonic Devotion

Chapter Four: Good-bye

"The song is ended, but the melody lingers on,"

                                                        - Irving Berlin

            "Oh, Kierran," I turned around to see the vain stature of Mrs. Gember, Vince and Melinda's mother approach me. Her tiny face was covered in black mesh, protruding from the small, black hat that sat atop her blonde hair. Her arms open, she embraced my shoulders tightly, and I returned the hug. "I am so sorry," she sniffled in my ear and irritation devoured my system once again.

She was the third member of Melinda's family that gave me condolences at this funeral. Even though Melinda was their family member, and should be the ones receiving sympathy more than myself. When we released, I offered her a small smile and she touched my cheek with her gloved hand, "Melinda loved you very much."

"I know, and she loved you," I assured her which triggered a sting to crease on Mrs. Gember's forehead. I know Melinda and her mother didn't have the closest of relationships, but they did love each other even if they never expressed it. She dropped her hand to tuck a piece of hair behind her ear that had fallen from her bun, washing away her grief to offer a similar smile.

"How are you healing?" Her silver eyes glanced at my stomach then back to meet my eyes. I touched the area of my tuxedo where my scar was.

"Better. Still hurts to do certain things, but the stitching is healing nicely," I replied.

She nodded, smoothing out the black dress that clung to her shapely frame, "Well I am glad for that. I have to greet other family members, but do take of yourself." She gripped my bicep before leaving and attending the slew of vehicles pulling into the graveyard.

Gravestones of all shapes and sizes scattered around the lawn. Some with vibrant flowers at the base, and others covered in moss. The image of my parent's funeral flashed before my eyes. Reminding me of how similar the scene looked to then; both involved people I loved dearly, and both were the cause of car accidents. I swallowed that thought down, not wanting to allow any tears to stain my face. I wouldn't allow myself to cry at my fiancés funeral, believing that only her immediate family would be the ones allowed to.

The wind brushed against my face, lashing its' cold temperature to my skin. As if reminding me that I was a living soul, in the presence of the dead. It was an awful feeling, and it sent shivers down my spine.

"Kierran!" I heard my name being called but I didn't want to turn around to see who it was because I knew who it was. Jenny Kindell. I didn't expect her to be here of all people, but then again it was a smart idea at the same time. Jenny was the girl who tried multiple times to break my relationship with Melinda. I've known her since preschool, and always knew she had an infatuation with me but I never felt anything for her. She was a sweet girl; always being the one to sit with me when I was alone at lunch, and make me feel like I was being noticed by somebody. Nevertheless, when Melinda and I began our relationship, Jenny became a monster. She would try much harder to flirt; stealing cheek kisses, gripping my arm. Those gestures I would kindly ask her not to do, but there was a time when she went too far.

Melinda used to be in a small apartment in her college years with Alicia, and I often would spend a great deal of time there. One night, I left my dorm room to see Jenny in a tight red dress and her normally straight black hair curled over to hang over one shoulder. She tried to seduce me in her drunken state, but it didn't work. However, she had texted Melinda, pretending to be me with a classmate's phone, asking her to come over to my dorm room. When Melinda walked in, all she saw was Jenny on top of me on my bed, just after she had pushed me. Of course, Melinda interpreted it just how Jenny wanted and ran off.