I held Summer in my arms as it began to sprinkle. Luke held an umbrella over Summer and I. We watched as everyone placed their white roses on Rachel's casket. I blacked out through most of the funeral, I had to. I couldn't stand half of the people in this town crying about Rachel when they knew nothing about her. Luke didn't give a Eulogy and knew I wouldn't have been able to get through mine either. I wrote one I just couldn't. Those words were for Rachel, Summer and Luke, not anyone here. When it finally came time to say goodbye I couldn't move. I stood and watched my feet stuck in cement. I couldn't say goodbye. Not to Rachel. Maybe if I didn't say goodbye maybe I could wake up and it would all be a horrible dream. After they all placed their roses on Rachel's casket they drifted away.
Maybe they could live a life without Rachel Barrett. But I couldn't. I didn't want to. When have I ever gotten the things that I asked for though. I was there again seventeen begging to God or whoever would listen to spare my family. As I watched all three of them slowly be ripped from me. Summer slept as the raindrops dripped off of the black umbrella. We walked up together to place our white roses on her mahogany colored casket. As I stepped forward to place the rose down a single raindrop fell onto my black dress right where my heart rested. I looked up to the sky as one fell onto my forehead and the next onto my cheek where the tears still stained my face. I took a deep breath.
I placed the white rose on the casket and Luke did the same. We watched as the casket was lowered into the ground. I looked at Luke. I have never seen so much pain. His eyes were puffy and his heart had been ripped from him, being buried with Rachel. How could everyone we loved be lost? I can't breathe. My chest feels constricted, my ears are ringing. My best friend is in this cold wooden box. She's never coming back. I stagger back. Luke looks at me.
"Can you hold her for a second, please?" I stammer. He takes Summer with concern as his eyes track me carefully. My chest aches as my footsteps fail. I kick off my heels clutching my chest. My mind is racing as I rush to a trash can before throwing up violently. I feel like I'm having a heart attack. I can't calm down. I hurry my head between my knees sobbing hysterically trying to calm myself. It's real. It's really real. She's gone. Rachel's gone forever. My brain can't process it. Her laughter, her smile. Her voice I can hear it all clear as day as if she's here but she's not. She's in that God awful box in the ground.
I hear another voice tugging me back to the present to the reality of everything. Luke. He's rubbing my back. He's talking but I can't hear him yet all I can think about is Rachel. I see her in his eyes, his dimples that we're identical to hers.
"Deep breaths in and out." I nod to his instructions.
One breath.
In
Out
In
Out
In
Out
He's nodding. As I continue breathing.
"Let's get you and Summer home." He helps me up.
YOU ARE READING
RAISING SUMMER
ChickLit(EDITING) Rachel and Jane have been best friends forever. But When Rachel dies tragically after childbirth. She leaves her newborn daughter, Summer, in the hands of Jane. Can Jane handle the new found responsibility that has been pushed upon her or...
