Her Protector

Rest in Peace, August Matthews

New York City. St. Patrick's Cathedral. April 5th, 2030. 11:00 AM

It was a cloudy Friday morning in New York. Everybody arrived at St. Patrick's Cathedral for Auggie's funeral. Cars pull up into parking spots, everybody was dressed in black. Lucas arrived at the church with Yvonne, stepping out of the car and entered the church with Zay, Vanessa and their son Zay Jr. following them. People were walking up to the dark brown, wooden coffin that was sitting at the front of the church. Lucas sees Riley sitting in the front pews with Charlie and her parents. Josh, Maya, Farkle and Smackle were sitting in the pew behind them. Lucas turns to Yvonne and looked at her. Yvonne looks back at Lucas and held his hand as he kissed her forehead while making their way over to Riley and Charlie.

"Hi, Riley." Lucas said as Riley looked up at him while wiping off her tears off of her face.

"Lucas. Hi, Yvonne." Riley said.

"I'm sorry about your brother, Riley. I wish that I have met him." Yvonne said.

"Thank you, Yvonne." Riley said. Cory gets up from his pew with his wife Topanga and walked over towards Lucas and Yvonne.

"Mr. Friar." Cory called.

"Sir." Lucas said as he shook Cory's hand.

"Hello, Lucas." Topanga said.

"I'm sorry about Auggie, Mr. Matthews. It's...it's..." Lucas said.

"Lucas, don't blame yourself." Topanga said.

"No. It's my fault that Auggie is dead instead of Riley." Lucas said.

"Lucas, you were there. You saved my daughter's life. There was nothing you can do." Cory said.

"Sir, may I speak to you in private? I wanted to talk to you about something." Lucas said.

"Yes, but can it wait till after the funeral?" Cory asked.

"Yeah. It could wait." Lucas said. Riley looks at Lucas with him looking back at her without saying another word as he sat down next to her. Yvonne sits next to Lucas as the priest walks up to the podium.

"We are all gathered here today to celebrate the life and to honour the memory of August Matthews. It is the death of our friend that has brought us together but his life that we wish to remember. We are drawn here by our common love, our common respect and our common grief. This is certainly an occasion for sorrow but it also be an occasion for thanksgiving because we are thankful for the gift of life and we are thankful that Auggie lived among us. We will have here today a mosaic: happy thoughts, sad thoughts, seeking to paint the best picture we can of our emotions and our loss. Let us pray. Lord, Auggie is gone now from this earthly dwelling, and has left behind those who mourn his absence. Grant that we may hold his memory dear, never bitter for what we have lost nor in regret for the past, but always in hope of the eternal Kingdom where you will bring us together again. Through Christ our Lord. Amen." The priest said.

"Amen." Everybody in the church said.

"And now, Katy Hart-Hunter, will perform her solo of Amazing Grace." The priest said as Katy walked up to the podium. The organ player starts playing the music as Katy starts singing.

"Riles..." Lucas said. Riley turned to Lucas and felt his hand touching hers as she held onto his hand tightly, with Yvonne looking in disgust at her husband. Charlie noticed Riley holding Lucas' hand and looked back up at Katy, who was still singing.