Behind The Uniform

This is how it ends

The morning of my mother's funeral was a hard one. I had woken up, my phone beeping from his alarm. I sighed and pulled the cover off and went downstairs to have breakfast. Annabelle was already sitting there. She had stopped the night, when she saw me she gave me a sad smile.

"Today's the day then?"

"Yes. I know I should try to be strong for her but I just don't want to go. I don't want to see her body."

Annabelle stood up and placed her hand on my shoulder. "Jamie, you'll be fine. We both have to get through this. Have some breakfast and then go and get dressed. The funeral will be starting soon."

I nodded and grabbed a yoghurt from the fridge. I quickly ate it before rushing upstairs and saw the suit hanging on my door. It was the same one that I had worn to Teal's wedding. It felt like a decade ago. I put my worries behind me and got dressed. The suit felt stiff and horrible but I had to wear it, I wanted to look good for my mother's funeral. Teal knocked on the door, and came in wearing a black blouse and black trousers.

"The vicar asked me if you wanted to give a speech today?"

"No. I don't know what to say not in front of strangers." 

"I'll tell him. We're leaving soon so you should make sure Annabelle's ready to leave."

I nodded and finished getting ready before heading down the stairs again. Annabelle was ready and wearing a black dress that went down to her knees. Her hair had been dyed again so it was back to the familiar black and it had been curled. 

"Are you ready for this?"

"I don't think I will ever be." I replied, giving a weak smile. About ten minutes later, we got into the car and headed to the church. I had first thought that it was going to be a small funeral but I was quite surprised to see quite a few people there who I didn't recognise. 

They all stared at us as we past. I felt like I was some walking exhibit. I also heard various people talking as we walked past.

"You know she was such a lovely girl back in school. I always wondered what happened to her. One day she just left, without saying a word." I heard one woman say but we had already gone past so I was never able to figure out who it was. 

We entered the church and there lay my mother's casket. I went up to and touched it.

"Hi Mum. All these people have come to see you today and I didn't even know you knew this many people. It's like I never knew who you were. That the mum side of you was the only side you ever let me see. I wish you were still here." I whispered and wiped my tears away with my sleeve.

The church had been nicely decorated with flowers and hanging baskets either side and there were so many cards underneath the casket. I wanted to look through each one but it was time for the funeral and I headed to my seat. People began to fill in and within five minutes, it was full and the vicar began the service.

It wasn't anything special, in fact it was quite boring. People sung hymns that were now dried up and washed around. I had never been big on religion, it had never been part of my life so when the religious parts of church came up. I didn't really care. After the last hymn had been sung. Teal went up to a do a speech. The people around us clapped and I noticed an old woman and man on the front crying. I wondered what the connection that they had to my mother. Maybe they had worked at the shop with her. 

Teal went up to the podium and cleared her throat. Everybody was looking at her. 

"Kimberly was a loving woman. I remember the first time I met her, I was just freshly off my training and she was my first patient. I was scared and nervous at first wondering if I might say the wrong thing. It turns out I would have nothing to be worried about. She was so welcoming and so friendly that I never wanted to leave."