Letting Go Is Easier Said Than Done (An Original Story)

Chapter 84

Chapter 84

The next evening... The Candlelight Vigil...

  It's seven on the dot and the candlelight vigil is starting. It's opening up with the select chorus, which I'm apart of, singing Into The West by Annie Lennox. It's a beautiful, moving song that's featured in Lord of the Rings. Though now that we're singing it under these circumstances, I won't be able to look at it the same way again. After the song ends, Geneva makes a speech that's absolutely phony beyond belief, but thankfully she's letting me say a few words myself. She introduces me after a few minutes of rambling and I dive right into it. 

  "Becky was my best friend. She earned that title more than anyone else that's ever stumbled into my life in high school. I remember that we literally clicked right away based solely on how awkward the two of us were. We had been so close for many years. We did just about everything together. It was nearly impossible to pry us apart. She's only been gone for two days and I miss her already." I feel the giant lump forming in my throat. I take a deep breath and try to push back the tears, at least until after I finish giving my speech. "When it comes to describing Becky, I'd use every positive adjective known demand, but a few would include beautiful, loving, smart, strong, passionate, and kind. She'd do anything to put a smile on the faces of the people she loved, including baking red velvet cakes that were big enough to swim around." That earns a few laughs out of people. 

   "I loved Becky though, so so much. I appreciate all of you being here to honor her, but the truth is most of you should have treated her better because she deserved far more than what she had. I would have given her the world if I could. Remember this, life is precious. Don't spend all of your time dwelling on what ifs and what could have been. Live. Follow your heart. Be yourself. Love. That's what Becky lived and I know that she'd want us to do the same. She wouldn't want us to be sad forever. She'd want us to grief for a short period of time and then try to move on. Moving on doesn't mean forgetting. It means remembering with a happy heart." 

  I make my way back over to my chorus group while her parents say a few words themselves. Afterwards, everyone gives them their condolences. When I reach her parents, they pull me into tight hugs and thank me repeatedly for being such a good friend to Becky. I tell them that the honor was mine and that I'm never going to forget her. I eventually break down in front of the entire school. I can only hold in my emotions for so long. I'm dreading the funeral in the morning and the burial to follow it. This is such a nightmare. Why can't I wake up from it and have Becky in my life still?