One Night || e.d.

Chapter 24: Requiem

Ethan's POV

Today was the day of Mia's funeral. I stood in front of my mirror straightening my tie.

Grayson walked in.

"When I imagined me looking in the mirror, fixing my tie as I am right now, it wasn't to attend her funeral, it was attending my wedding. You'd come in here and ask me if I was nervous. I'd admit that I am and that I'm afraid of fucking up the vows. This isn't how it was suppose to be." I said.

Grayson sighed, "I'm sorry bro."

"Come on. The service starts soon."

We drove over to the cemetery. We stood out where she was about to be buried.

"Mr. Ethan Dolan has requested to say a few words." the man said.

I looked at Mia's dad and he nodded.

"This uh... this doesn't seem right. I didn't know Mia Vanderwaal for very long. But I know that I loved her. She was the best thing that had ever happened to me. She was my anchor. She kept me sane. Before she died, I was... I was lucky enough to hear her tell me that she loved me too. She didn't die meaninglessly. She died saving her friends. That's what she does. That's what she did. She put others before herself often times. She was a selfless soul. She was a hero. She was a hero in every way that a person can be."

I had a lot more to say but I couldn't put it into words.

The burial process started. They laid her casket down in the hole that had been dug up for her. One-by-one people threw a handful of dirt onto her casket. This just makes everything more real. She's really gone. There's nothing we can do to bring her back.

Everyone started leaving and went about their lives now, without Mia in it. No words were spoken between Grayson and I as we walked out to our car.

"Ethan." her mom called me.

"Yes?" I turned around and walked over to her.

She opened the door to the back seat of her car and handed me a box.

"May I ask what this is?" I looked at her.

"We were cleaning out her room and she had a few things with you in it. I think a few of your hoodies are in there as well. So I figured I'd give it you."

"Oh... well thank you."

"There are a few things for Grayson as well. Brie stopped by this morning before she left."

"She didn't think to stay for the funeral?"

"Her parents said this is how she grieves. Although I think it's more of her running away from her problems but we all have different ways to cope with horrible situations. Such as the loss of a friend. And if you and/or your brother have any questions about you know..." she leaned in, "the supernatural, you're more than welcomed to call or come to the house and ask us."

I nodded and walked away.

"What's that?" Grayson asked.

"Stuff with my name on it. Her mom said some things have your name on it too. But let's get home before we open it up."

Grayson grabbed the box and held it as we drove home. We walked upstairs and started taking things out one-by-one.

These were all pictures. Some of them were candids of me. Some were the pictures I had sent her that one time we weren't talking. Photo booth pictures. It was just a box of all the precious memories we made that were captured through a camera. And a few of my hoodies.

"Here's an envelope for you. And one for me." Grayson handed it to me. I was a little confused at first.

I opened it and it was a letter from Mia.

If you're reading this, chances are, I'm dead or something. Anyway. I just wanted to say that I love you so much, Ethan Grant Dolan. I have never loved someone the way I loved you. And I just want to say this because I feel like I wasn't able to say it enough. But thank you so much. For everything, I love you. I could be super stressed out. To the point where it keeps me up at night. But when I get on my phone and I see everything you've texted me, it makes me feel better and I just want to say thank you so much. For a really long time in my life, I felt like I would never be able to fit in. No matter where I went. I've moved at least five times in my life and no matter where I've been, I just didn't fit in with the people around me and I spent a lot of my time trying to fit in. And that took away from me being myself. Moving here and meeting you, I realized that I don't need to fit in. I learned that I just have to be me 100% of the time because that's what's going to make me happy. And there is nothing more to life than just happiness. That's the biggest thing. To be happy, to be yourself. And the people you attract by doing that are the ones that really matter in your life. I love you and I will love you through everything, Ethan Grant Dolan.

-Mia

I never told her "I love you" enough and I'm regretting every piece of it.

I love you too, Mia Vanderwaal.