Mutation

Chapter 14: Agony

Adam wept as Peter walked away to the group.

"I wanna bury her... next to the tree..." I said as I wiped my face with the back of my hand, looking up at Peter. I recovered enough to where I could stand up on my own two feet with a little help from Peter.

Josh made a big hole in the ground next to the tree and Sam carried her over and put her in, gently setting her on the ground. Adam stood up and looked behind the tree. He saw that everybody had gathered around Sofia's resting place. Everyone had tears in their eyes like waves in the ocean. Peter took me over by the tree over Sofi. Peter handed me the knife that l let him borrow. I carved into the tree:

SOFIA

WAS AND WAS LOVED BY FRIENDS

As I was carving, I saw Adam from the corner of my eye peeking around the tree. Peter took me back to the foot and by the time I got there, they had already buried her in the depths of the dirt and sand. Adam came around the tree and stood next me as we all mourned over Sofi's grave.

"I'm sorry... Courtnee..." he said softly as he scooted closer to me.

I looked at him with a smile as tears were still dripping from my chin. I wrapped my arms around his neck and lay my head gently on his shoulder.

"Me too..." I whispered as I squeezed him. He wrapped his arms around me slowly and smiled.

"Hey," Adam let go of me and looked me in the eye. "I am sincerely sorry that I--"

"No," I interrupted, putting my right index finger to his lips and leaving my left hand on his shoulder. "It's okay." I wrapped my arms around him once more. "I'm just happy you're back," I whispered.

He chuckled for a second and I felt a smile stretch across his face on my shoulder. He sighed in relief as we let go of each other. I hopped back over to Peter who held me over Sofi's grave to remember her with us.