Short Stories

Eulogy

Hello. If you don't know me, I am Marie's husband, Jordan. We got engaged shortly after high school and we were so in love. We moved on to college and she was instantly consumed by her schoolwork. She graduated eight years later with Physics and Wormhole Engineering degrees. We got married two weeks after she graduated, and she was requested on the Ryddyx, a research ship. We kept in touch through comms, postcards, and letters. I saw her on our monthly video chats and while we wanted nothing more than to start a family, her work kept her busy.

Yes, she made mistakes, but her redeeming qualities were much greater than her faults. She was endlessly kind, perfectly patient, and best of all, she never got frustrated with anyone. Despite her distance, she did her best to keep in touch with everyone.

Some of her best qualities were very useful in her line of work. Wormholes are very touchy, so if you didn't painstakingly work out the math you could cause a severe problem. Recalibrating and working with wormholes is very difficult, but Marie made it seem easy.

All who knew her remember this story, but I will tell it again because it was her favorite story to tell when people asked about her career.

She'd say "when I was twelve, my mother bought me a guitar. She taught me how to play, even then I was awful. I don't have a musical bone in my body." She'd smile and laugh, "After her failed attempt to make me a musician she simply allowed me to pick out my own gits. I would pick out geology kits and robotic cars and LEGOs. Girls my age wanted to be nurses and teachers, but I just wanted to be a scientist, I loved math and everything about testing theories. I did almost change my mind when I nearly lost my eyebrows to a small lab explosion (it was my fault)" She'd laugh again, a twinkle in her eye. "But I kept going because I love everything about science so much. I am only one person, but I hope to be the person remembered for their overall kindness rather than solely for their work."

Her smile was so bright that you couldn't help but grin along with her. The gap in her teeth making her more adorable, and her smile was unique. Her wonder for all things and her willingness to help anyone was what made my wife the most unique, however. She never even hesitated when someone needed her help. She simply stepped in and helped, no matter the situation.

She was a good woman, despite what the Interplanetary Elected Council says about her. She was no monster. She never killed a single person, and look what they did to her.

Marie's funeral was broadcasted because of the nature of her death. When Jordan says the final line, he is dragged away by a security detail. Although Marie never loved him, Jordan always loved her, despite the distance. Marie's mother did not appear at her funeral and declined to comment on her daughter. 

If you didn't understand this chapter check out the "Unlikely Friends" and "Obituary" chapters. Hopefully, that will help to clarify this chapter. 

~Scar