When The Witching Hour Strikes

Chapter 26

Everyone was sobbing, tears rolling down faces, hearts broken, anguish filling all of us. My whole body was shaking. It felt weird to say that she was gone. Even though we only had a short time as sisters together it felt like part of me was gone. Emptiness couldn't even begin to describe how I felt. The world had lost its colour, everything in black and white, muted shells of what colours once were. Nothing had meaning anymore, and I felt so lost. I felt numb, hollow, you name the negative emotion and I felt it. Nothing anyone could say would comfort me, I needed my sister back. No one could truly feel my pain.

I walked to the front of the hall with the coffin barely visible through the tears running down my face in rivers.

Next to me were Kalen, Alvin, Raisie and Cordelia. It felt weird that she wasn't there. I kept foolishly hoping she'd burst through the door with a big grin on her face and her arms ready to wrap me in a bear hug.

After her adopted parents, I was the first to speak. Trembling, I made my way to the podium with my friends behind me. My voice shook, but I continued talking through the tears.

"Ember, while today is about loss and heartbreak, ultimately it honours you. There was nothing like your smile to cheer me up when I felt sad. Meeting you and becoming best friends was without a doubt the best thing that has happened to me. When I found out we were sisters it felt right. Somehow all along you were my soul sister, the blood relation just made it more official. I want to honour the grace with which you carried yourself even when you were at your worst. I honour your selflessness, that way you would make sure everyone else was okay before you. I honour the love you gave. Unconditional and endless love. Being around you was easy, words weren't always needed to communicate with you. You always knew how I felt, often before I fully understood.

When I was stuck with anything, I could turn to you and you'd help me out. I honour the wisdom you had and the way you'd impart it to anyone who asked. I honour the light you are. You'd always make the room light up when you walked in, simply by being there. You made everyone feel at home, you felt like home. Over this past year, you really came into your own and it was a pleasure to witness you excelling in all you did. You motivated me when I felt like I couldn't do something and you helped me fix my mistakes so I could become better You've taught me many things, not the least of which was how to love. Thank you for everything you've done for all of us."

My speech came to an end and as I looked around the room there wasn't a dry eye. I felt my friends behind me, just being there for me. It was hard for them too, they'd lost a dear friend. I retreated back, and let the others speak. I felt someone gently squeeze my hand, looked to one side and saw Raisie gently smiling at me.

"We're here for you love" she whispered.

"I'm here for you too, I love you."

After we had all spoken, the headmistress came up to the podium and spoke through her apparent torment.

"Ember was one of our best students. We truly have lost a light, and her death was a tragic one. When I first met her I knew that despite the front she put on that she would find a group of friends that would be good for her. She had a big heart but couldn't open up to people because she didn't know how. You four taught her how to feel again, and finding her sister was one of the best things that happened. As soon as she found out after talking to Ellie she came to me in tears and asked if it was really true that they were twins. I told her it was. I'm so happy you found each other. It was a pleasure to witness your bond grow over the time you had together."

Even though I'd lost a twin and a best friend I knew that everything would be alright somehow, one day. I had my best friends by my side and some new wings to stretch. 

                                                                         FIN

A/N: HOLY CRAP I WROTE A BOOK!!!! Here it is, I hope you enjoyed this book of mine that I have put out into the universe. It's been 16 months since I began the book, and it has been a wild ride. I am glad you have stuck with it this far if you've been reading since the beginning. 

There are many people I need to thank, they include but are not limited to:

ZelZel7, idayara1,  Dugdaw2. You three, in particular, have been of immense help in either telling me to get my act together, letting me know if something doesn't sound right or even designing my cover. Thank you for believing in the book. Also I would like to thank all of my irl friends for not thinking I was too crazy for writing a book haha.

And all the rest of you who have read the book and I don't know, thank you for taking time out of your life to read it even if you were only here for a few chapters.  

If you have any questions feel free to ask me, I shall be glad to respond.

Until next time, 

Lots of love, 

Char xox