I Am Piper [FINISHED]

Chapter 12

Just as I hope, things were going well. I moved in with Bridgette, and her family, changing my last name to Croft. Levi lived only a few blocks away, and it seems me, Bridgette, Levi and Troye were becoming closer and closer by the day.

Bridgette was not only a close friend I could talk to and rely on, but my sister now. We did everything together.

Levi eventually got up the courage to ask me out, and things only got better from there.

But even in my time of happiness, the Bretmans were still in extreme heartache after losing yet another child, Drake. So as hard as it was to do, I accepted the invitation to Drake's funeral and came.

It was at Gardner's Mortuary, the same place Bri's viewing and funeral was at. Many beautiful flowers were by the entrance, and leading to the room Drake was in. A nice book full of pages and a fancy pen lay gently on a glass table with flowers and pictures of Drake. I signed my name in the book, and swallowed the lump in my throat as I studied the pictures. The pictures of an innocent, young boy who was my friend, Bri's adorable brother, and someone I shared my first real kiss with. He was smart, advanced, and would have made it so far in life. I tried to push away the fact this might very possibly be Mr. Clearances fault, and took a deep breath as I entered the next room, where Mr. And Mrs. Bretman mourned beside their son's coffin.

When Mrs. Bretman saw me, her tired eyes flooded with tears as she cut through the crowd to get to me, and threw her arms around me.

"Oh, Piper," she sobbed. "I am so, so sorry, Piper."

Wiping the tears under my eyes, I sniffled, "You're sorry for me? I'm sorry! I can't imagine how difficult this must be for you!"

I held her hands tight letting her know I was here, and was in extreme pain just as her. 

"All I can think," she sobbed. "Is that he must be so happy to be with his little sister again."

"I'm sure h-he is," I choked.

I was an emotional wreck.

"Do you want to come over?" she asked, gesturing towards the closed casket.

"I... I can't. I just can't handle it, I'm so sorry."

"Oh don't feel sorry, dear. I know. This is truly hard. Just know we can hurt together, okay?" I nodded, giving her one last tight hug as she returned by Drake's coffin.

It felt unreal; being here at his funeral. Knowing he was gone. He was here, physically. But he wasn't actually here. I knew he had saved my life in the burning attic though. He was with me, watching over me.

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When I was a little girl and everything seemed perfect, living with my loving grandma, I had no idea any of the events that occurred in my teen years mainly, would happen. I had no idea my grandma would die when I was so young, or my uncle, or my best friend Bri, or that Bri's brother would die, or that Mr. Clearance, my supposed dead father was actually alive, and would adopt me, soon to be arrested for murder and being a serial killer. I had no idea that at the age of sixteen I would try to commit suicide in a lake and be saved by a boy I had only known for a short while, and I had no idea I would almost get killed in a burning house, and be rescued, only to soon be adopted by Bridgette's family.

Some teens may deal with problems such as drugs, alcohol, bad grades, or maybe even as horrible as losing a loved one, but I lost many loved ones. And I eventually learned I must be humble and learn from these experiences. No one can write my life and perfect it for me, but I can learn how to learn from my own struggles.

Because I am Piper.