Cancer

22. Wednesdays (Frank's POV)

It's Wednesday and the day of Louisa Way's funeral, or well, her last goodbye as she would say. I've seen her dying scenario playing over and over in my head. I have been crying. Lying in her side of the bed. Replaying all our memories in my head. The weirdest part of all of this is, that I am okay. I mean, yeah I am so sad and I cry almost all the time, but I am okay. I had the time of my life. I met her. We talked. We got to know each another. We dated. No, we didn't "date." We were actually together. SHE was the love of my life. She IS the love of my life. There will be no one like her. EVER. Louisa Way, is an original.
"Frank?" I hear a voice in the distance calling on me. It sounds hoarse. I look up and see my best friend AND father of my now dead girlfriend. "Yeah?" I sniffle and get up from the bed. I reach him, and see him standing with a piece of paper. He keeps watching over it, as if it was alive. He hands it carefully to me, and let me study it. It's a sketch. Of a girl. The Papergirl. I remember Louisa telling me about that. I let my watery eyes lack off the water, and start crying. "It's her." I whisper. Gerard nods. "It's not over yet, Frankie." He says and hugs me. "Her adventure is not over yet." He explains. I feel his lips turn into a smile on my neck. I nod, understanding. "You're making a comic out of her." I giggle happily. This family really is creative.

"We are gathered here today for the last goodbye to our dear friend, daughter, girlfriend, sister, Louisa Way." The priest announces, as we stand outside of the church. We are all here. Ray, Mikey, Gerard, Lyn-z, Bandit, Josh and me. "I understand that Frank Iero, Louisa's boyfriend has something to say." The priest says waving me up to stand beside the lying Louisa in the open coffin. I look down at her. Her plain face with no slight expression. Her dark, closed eyes. I look down at her clothes. Her combat boots, leather jeans. Gerard's black parade jacket. I smile. She gets to join the black parade. I believe that is her "aftermath." I frown as I see the t-shirt she's wearing. The yellow and black MCR top. Memories stream through my mind, as I replay our first times together. She was wearing that shirt. I stroke her cold cheek, and smile weak. I look around and notice her brother isn't even here. "I know, I shouldn't be mad at her last goodbye, but her brother, Joey isn't even here, nor her old friends. They really cared huh? I mean," I take a deep breath and keep going. "She's the most amazing human being who has ever lived, and she did live. Wild and free as she was. She was fearless." I say with an adoring voice. I adore her. I smile wry, as I look at her beautiful face. "You were a fearless person, Louisa. You weren't afraid of anything. If you wanted something, you would get it. That's just how it was. You never gave up. Everything that has happened for you." I exhale sharply and try not to cry. However, it doesn't help. I let the tears run over my cheeks. "You never gave up. You were always full of life. And your adventures." I smile at her again. Realizing things, I should have told her while she was alive. "You are not my life, you ARE life."

"That was beautiful, Frank." Lyn-z approaches me, as we stand watching her gravestone. I crotch down and study Louisa's stone. It's black, just as she wanted. I smile at the quote, which is written on it: Wednesday 12th of October 2016. Louisa Way joined the black parade. I nod at Lyn-z, smiling. She reaches out for my hand and helps me standing. "It's not over yet, Frank." She strokes my back, referring to the comic. "Papergirl." I smile wry, and she nods. "Her adventure in the black parade has only just begun." She adds. There really is something about the Ways. They are positive, amazing, creative people. Even though Lou maybe wasn't a full blood Way, she definitely WAS a Way.

10 years later (Lyn-z's POV)

"Mom!" I hear Bandit yell from her room. She sounds like she's panicking or fangirling, I am not sure. I hear her running into the kitchen. I look up at her as I lean against the island with my cup of coffee. Gerard and I look at each other frowning as we see a stack of paper in the hands on our 14-year-old daughter. She wraps the rubber band off the stack of letters. She turns the letters and read aloud for us to hear. "To my lovely little sister, Bandit." Her voice shakes, and she lets her jaw fall open. I look at Gerard, who's also looking confused. Bandit wraps the first envelope open, and folds out a paper. She starts mumbling things, as her eyes trace over the words on the paper. Suddenly a smile plays on her lips, and she lets go of her tears. Happily she hands us the paper to study it as well. "She wrote her story." Bandit explains, holding out the stack in front of her.

Dear Friend
When you read this, I may be gone. But I am only gone in the amount of time you let pass.
If you want me to be with you, remember, I am always there. We are ghost buddies, remember?
I want you to have these letters, I wrote for myself, or well, it became for you. Every time you miss me or think about me or just want to read some of my story, pull these letters out. I started writing these when I was 15, so there will be a lot to read. Maybe mom and dad will recognize some of the letters, if you decide to show them. I know dad will.
I love you, Bandit. Do not forget that. You will always be my adorable, lovely baby sister, and I will always be your big sister. We are ghost-buddies forever!

I look up at Gerard in realization. "This is Louisa'sstory."