I spy with my little eye (Sequel to 'Invisible')

Chapter 13: Worst day of our lives

Luke's POV

Today was the worst day of our lives... Blair's funeral.

The day had come fast, faster than any of us expected to. We needed closure, we needed to give Blair the peace she deserved, we needed to... To move on, in some way. But it was difficult, very difficult.

For starters, mom finally showed all her sadness and anger she had previously bottled up. She was a mess, to put it blatantly. She was a depressing mess. She wouldn't come out of her room anymore, she wouldn't eat or drink much, she wouldn't talk much... She wasn't in the mood for anything. And because of that, dad and I were worried about her going to the funeral.

Speaking of him, dad was doing better than he did before. I think he was moving on slowly. That or he was keeping strong for mom. Maybe a combination of both? Anyway, he was taking care of the family for now. And he was doing it amazingly.

Then there was Rachel. She still came by a lot. She seemed to slowly move on as well. But I knew her, I knew that when she would be at the funeral, she'd break down again. She's just keeping strong for now. And I'll make sure I'll be there for her when she'll break.

Lastly, there was me. I don't know how I feel, to be honest. I knew I'll be fine, someday. But today, I felt terrible. I was literally going to bury my own sister. She was gone, and she'd never come back. That thought had gone through my mind a lot of times, but it'll feel so real when I'm standing next to her coffin.

That coffin. The box that separated my sister from the underground. I'd just want to take her out, and take care of her. Thinking about her being underground, in the dirt and surrounded by insects... It disgusts me. It's not a place my sister should be.

She should be here, with us. With Rachel.

"Are you ready?"

I looked away from the mirror to Rachel, who was standing at the door opening of my room. She was dressed completely in black, as that's the usual attire for a funeral.

"Luke?"

I sighed and looked back at the mirror. I was adjusting my tie once again, I had been doing it several times now. I don't know why. Maybe because I tried putting off the inevitable, or maybe because I didn't want to wear this. I don't know.

I saw Rachel walk to me. She placed a hand on my shoulder. "You look good."

I let out a breath. "Thanks," I had imagined her saying that line in so many other scenarios: our future prom, wedding, dates, parties, etc... Not this. "Let's go, I guess."

Rachel nodded and walked out of my room. We walked to my parents' room, where dad was trying to get mom downstairs.

"Mom, dad, we have to go." I informed them.

Mom looked from dad to me, she then launched herself at me, hugging me tightly. "Promise me you won't leave us, promise me." She sounded so desperate, so helpless. I've never heard her this way, I wonder what happened, what triggered her to finally show some emotions. 

"I promise, mom." I pulled back a little. "I'll always be here for you."

She nodded.

"Come on, honey." Dad took mom's hands and led her downstairs, we followed behind them.

"Is your mom going to be ok?" Rachel asked as we made our way to the car.

I shrugged. "She always has dad, and me."

We drove to the graveyard. We were all gathering around the deep hole in the ground. Mom, dad, Rachel and I were closest to it.

I looked around at the people who came. I saw Rachel's parents, some of our family, my friends, Nick and his sister. And then, I also saw Tina.

Before I could say anything to Rachel, we heard them coming with Blair.

When that coffin made it's way to us, it seemed as if all the sounds around us stopped. All the eyes were on the coffin while it slowly made it's way to the hole.

They placed the coffin right next to it, then the pastor started talking, saying the usual things. I wasn't really paying attention. My thoughts were with that coffin and, more importantly, what's in it.

As the pastor kept on talking and talking, I noticed some people tearing up. I wonder if they were tearing up because of what he said or because they were confronted with the coffin...

I looked to my left, mom and dad were both crying. They were holding on to each other, seeking support from one another.

At my right, Rachel was also crying. She was in her mother's comfort. Her parents were also crying. I knew they liked Blair, and I knew they know about Rachel and Blair's feelings. They must be mostly sad for their daughter.

As the service went on, some of us could say something.

My parents, weirdly, didn't. They were going to tell Blair their speech when everyone would leave. It was private, they'd say.

I was, however, going to talk. I had a speech prepared and stood pretty close to Blair. I looked at everyone.

"Blair's the best sister anyone could have. She did so much for me even though I sometimes refused to see it. She looked out for me, she cared for me, she helped me..." I gulped. "Even when I didn't return those favors." I looked at the coffin. "She... She didn't deserve this." I broke down, crying. Dad got me and held me.

Rachel talked as well. "Blair was an amazing friend." She looked down. "She would've been my girlfriend." She paused. "It would've been an honor." She looked back up at us. "Blair was so special, not many people got to see the amazing personality, the most beautiful heart and the purest soul she had. I was fortunate to have witnessed that." She then looked at the coffin. "And I'll forever be thankful for that."

Then Nick talked. Rachel wasn't pleased, at all. I was curious to hear him talk though, and my parents didn't seem to mind as well.

"Blair and I had a rocky relationship. We started off not that great, but eventually, she was my date to the dance. I can honestly say I'll never forget the way she looked there." He looked down, nodding. "She'll certainly be missed."