'Til Death Do Us Part

Two

"Everly!" a voice called my name. I blinked a few times and tried to focus.

"She's okay," the same voice said. "Just needed some fresh air."

It was coming from my dad. He was crouched down next to me, squatting on his knees and kind of rocking back and forth.

My mom came into view as she bent to kneel down alongside my dad. Her face wore a worried expression, accentuating the little wrinkles near her eyes and between her eyebrows.

"Honey?" she asked me. "Are you okay?"

"What?" I said and sat up. "What's going on?"

I felt like I was waking from a dream, but forgot what I had dreamed about. Then I remembered the funeral and hoped it had been a nightmare. As I tried to focus, I looked around to see where I was.

"You passed out," she said. "You looked...I don't know how to explain it. Phil?"

"Hey, kiddo," my dad smiled. "You got overheated or something. Your mom took you outside before you passed out. How're you feeling?"

"I passed out?" I asked in disbelief.

My mom nodded. "I think you got lightheaded...Have you eaten anything today?"

"I'm fine," I insisted.

I was lying on the grass outside. I stood up and felt wobbly. Looking around, I shielded my eyes with my hand from the sun. It was June and already getting pretty warm, indicating it would be a sweltering summer. My dad wrapped his arm around my waist as I got to my feet.

"Whoa," he said. "Slow, okay? Go slow."

I looked around. The grass where my parents and I stood was out of view but next to a packed parking lot of the cemetery. I slowly made my way around the corner towards the main door.

"Where is everyone?"

"They're at the grave site for the burial," my mom answered in a small voice.

"I'm missing it?!" I tried to take a few fast steps.

"Hey," my dad pulled me closer. "Slow down."

I struggled to get out of his grip. My mom opened a water bottle and handed it to me.

"Relax, Everly," she instructed. I sipped the water.

"We need to get over there, mom," I pleaded. She looked at my dad. He nodded.

"Okay," she said. "But, go slow! And if you start to feel lightheaded or..."

"Yeah, yeah," I agreed. I just wanted to get to Ariana's grave site.

My mom sighed and my parents started to guide me through the grass. Ariana's grave was located up a small hill and around a bend. I couldn't see it from where I stood and was eager to get to it. I took a couple of steps and my ankles screamed. Someone (probably my mom) had found my shoes and put them back on my feet. Ignoring the blisters, I rushed up the bottom of the hill.

People were shoveling in dirt before passing the small shovel to someone else. A few girls tossed in roses.

No, I thought. I'm missing it!

When they saw me, the kids from school pointed and I could hear them whispering. A few called out to me, but I didn't answer. They probably hadn't noticed I was missing until they saw me walking up that hill. I was always an afterthought. Ariana's "plus one". No one thought of me on their own. They had to be reminded of my existence or they'd probably cease to remember I existed at all.

It's Everly! She must be such a mess!

I don't know what I'd do if you died! You're my bestie! Can you imagine?