what would i do

C H A P T E R 7:

" I   w i s h   n o t h i n g   b u t
t h e   b e s t   f o r   y o u , t o o . "

Two days later, it was the Saturday morning. Veretta was in full black, from literally the crown of her head to the soles of her feet.

Her black hair was not an issue, she wore a simple and modest black dress with leggings and covered flats of the same colour. Her face did not wear a single speck of makeup whatsoever, and neither did she wear a single type of accessory. She did, however, get both her finger and toe nails painted jet black. The only hint of colour visible was her skin and her pale lips.

Veretta carried nothing but her mobile phone for communication by her parents' orders, a water bottle to hydrate regularly by doctor's orders and a bunch of white roses to offer to Lycon, of course, at the ceremony.

If not for the orders of others, she honestly could not care less about her health or her safety. The only matter which she truly cared about, was to attend the ceremony to formally send off her love. Her soulmate. It hurt so bad to be reminded that it was her who had left, but Veretta knew that she had to say goodbye, or she would regret it for the rest of her lifetime.

"Good Morning ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls. We have all gathered here today, not just to mourn, but also to celebrate the life of Lycon Glacier, my daughter." Mr Glacier spoke, with a hint of sadness in his radiant tone.

He has no choice. If he is moping like his wife, this ceremony cannot happen.

"Thank you, family, friends, and school mates, of Lycon, for coming to attend such a solemn event on such a bright morning." He acknowledged.

Mr Glacier is not happy that he lost her. In fact, he is probably devastated! Get that idea out of your head, Veretta.

For a moment, they established eye contact before Mr Glacier turned back to addressing the attendees. For no known reason, it sent shivers down Veretta's already cold spine.

He started to share his eulogy, talking about what an adventurous person Lycon was. Not forgetting her talent in Literature and singing. "Despite not being the most intelligent, nor was she the most hardworking of people, she was my daughter, and I loved her as much as I loved her siblings."

A tear slid down his face, indicating that there was a crack in his facade. It crumbled slowly, so gradual that he had only broken down after he had finished his piece. He got off the stage and returned to his seat, which was on the same row as Veretta, for his wife to take over the role.

In the moment when Mrs Glacier got up, her legs buckled and she fell back onto her chair. By instinct, Veretta, who was seated beside her, stretched out her hands and steadied the grown woman. Voluntarily, she supported Mrs Glacier till she had reached the podium and waited for her at the base of the stage to aid her back after.

"I loved her so much." Mrs Glacier began, her eyes already beginning to tear up. As she read her eulogy, the tremble in her voice was audible. In fact, it was rather obvious. "Rest In Peace, Lycon." Mrs Glacier wished, putting the microphone down.

As she stepped off the stage, she felt her legs buckle. Once again, Veretta supported the older woman to stop her from falling. She muttered a word of gratitude under her breath as they made their way back to the seats.

"... Veretta, it's your turn to say your piece." Mrs Glacier urged once she was seated, giving Veretta the shock of her life. Wait, what? Oh shoot.

I was supposed to speak? Veretta wondered, wearing the thought on her face. It was so apparent, that Mr Glacier had to affirm her thoughts.

With a shaky breath, Veretta made her way to the podium. It was at that point of time, that she understood why the older woman had her legs buckle under her.

"Good Morning. My name is Veretta, I am one of Lycon's best friends. I was not told that I would be given the time to speak, so whatever I am about to say is not prepared, nor is it scripted, and for that, I apologise." She began with a formal tone.

With another unstable breath, Veretta continued, "Lycon was unlike anyone else. In my eyes, she was special. To me, she was the most beautiful in the whole world. Maybe I'm biased, for I now openly admit, I loved her. And in all honesty? I still love her, even if she is no longer here with me, I still do."

Suddenly, tears started to fall without her consent or permission. She could not even warn herself in time. "She is someone I call my soulmate. Lycon was the only person whom I truly felt safe with, and only she could fill me with a form of warmth that nobody else could." She began to tell their love story, with no more regard for what others would think.

Veretta felt Mr and Mrs Glacier's gaze fall heavily on her, but she continued nonetheless. She had nothing to lose, anyway. The only matter that meant a lot to her, was Lycon. The least she could do, was give her a truthful and proper eulogy at her funeral.

"Lycon is a girl whom I'll never ever regret meeting, and I'll be eternally grateful to her for making me blissful for the past few years of my life." She paused before facing the coffin where Lycon lay with her portrait. "Rest in peace, Lycon. Until we meet again. I love you." Veretta put the microphone on the podium and got off the stage.

Veretta dreaded returning to her seat, for fear that she would be glared at or slapped. With a tremble in her breath, she dragged herself back to her seat.

"T-That was beautiful, Veretta. I mean, I don't support it, but I'm not a-against it, either. t-thank you for sending your regards." Mrs Glacier told her quietly, holding onto Veretta's hands tenderly.

What?

To that, Mr Glacier added, "Lycon would be happy to hear those words, I'm sure. Thank you." His voice was slightly more firm and stable, but not enough to fool Veretta into thinking that he was as strong as usual. If he was, she would think he was insane.

"Y-You're not angry?" Veretta asked, absolutely taken aback by their words of gratitude. Not that she was upset, but she was worried that they would slap her in the face or yell at her or something. It gave her a huge relief.

Mr Glacier explained, "You made her happy. To be angry at you, the person who brought her much happiness, is like disregarding her."

Despite the relief, now, Veretta only felt herself sinking deeper into the bottomless pit of emptiness. With no emotion to occupy or worry her soul, she was just a hollow shell of a body.

Empty, indeed.

"... try to move on, okay? She wouldn't want you to be this unhappy without her around." Mrs Glacier told the young girl with a forced smile.

Move on, how?

Veretta swallowed and nodded, biting back sobs and rubbed her eyes to dry the tears which had welled up.

...

"Don't forget me, I beg."

Veretta stared at her portrait, with a waterproof hoodie in her hand and two lockets hanging from her neck.

" S o m e t i m e s   i t   l a s t s   i n
l o v e  ,  b u t   s o m e t i m e s   i t
h u r t s   i n s t e a d . "