I went back to the castle alone and locked myself in my room. There would be no more video chating with him, writing to him, or visting him. What was going on? “Marxie, come out… please…” Zexion said, through my door. “g-go away!” I yelled. I heard him say something but I couldn’t make it out. A dark corridor opened in the middle of my room and Zexion walked out of it. He walked over and sat next to me. “how you feeling?” he asked. I took a deep breath. “h-how am I going to give a speech at his funeral if every time I think of him I cry? I don’t even know what to say!” I cried. He sighed and held me close. “its okay. He’d be proud of you even if you don’t do the speech.” he whispered. I sighed and stood up. “I’m gonna get ready…” I whispered. I walked into my walk in closet and put on the dress he’d given Alex. I put on his favorite ribbon that he’d given to me when I was nine. I tied my hair, which had grown down to my mid-back again, up with the ribbon. I put on the red sparkly flatts too and walked back into my room. My hands shook as Zexion held them in his hands. He opened a dark corridor to the church and we walked in. everyone turned and stared at us. I looked down. “Marie!” Sora yelled as he ran towards us. I opened my arms for him and he ran into them. I closed my eyes and he held me tight. Zexion cleared his thoat and I kicked him in the leg. This was going to be harder than I thought. We took our seats and the service began. The time to give my speech neared and before I knew it I was being called up to give it. I stood up with shaking hands and walked towards the front of the church. I took a deep breath and saw a lot of strangers but a lot of friends, too. I forced a small smile and started. “Hi. Um, I have no idea what do now that he’s gone, but I know he’s here with us and smiling. He’s smiling because we’re so brave and he’s proud of us. All of us! I lived with him and his dad from the time I was nine up ‘till I was fourteen. I’m fifteen now and- and I don’t know what to do. every time I was upset or sad or mad, I would go and hang out with him. We’d sit in his room for hours and now what am I going to do?! Who will I hang out with?! But I know he wants me to suck it up and move on with my live. He always said, ‘if you live in the moment you’ll miss the best things in life’ I’m still learning how to do that. All of us should listen to him now.” I said. They all stood up and clapped. “we should have listened to him before, too…” I whispered. I walked back to my seat in tears but they were happy tears. I could almost see him in the ailse clapping and smiling. I looked down and Sora hugged me. The preacher asked if everyone would please sit, then asked if anyone else would like to say something. Zexion looked at me then stood up. I stared at him in surprise. The preacher smile and called him up. “uh, hi? My name is Zexion. Riku and I hated each other for as long as I can remember. The truth was-is, I was always jealous of him. He knew my friend,” he pointed at me, “better than I do now. He saw her everyday for five years. I don’t even know her favorite color. I’m surprised to say, I’m sad that he’s gone…” Zexion said. He looked down and walked back to Sora and I. Where had that come from?
