Unapologetically in Love

Chapter Two

A week had passed since the news had broke about the girl who took her own life. Suddenly this girl who no one knew had a locker full of flowers, poems and quotes about how strong she was... her face had been placed on our local newspaper, it was the same photo used on her locker as well on both newspapers, a picture of just her face, a half smile, thin lips and rosy cheeks and her almost back hair framed her face... the headlines 'Lonely girl kills herself' 'Bullied girl dies' I'm pretty sure she wasn't bullied, only because of the amount of people didn't know who she was until last week. I kept the front page of one of the articles in my pocket, I don't know why. But I keep reading it over and over again.

Sitting in class waiting for the last day before we break up for the Christmas holidays to begin, I got the article out of my jacket pocket to read it again.

'Nina Harper took her own life in the early hours of Tuesday morning...' 'bullied her whole life' ...' depressed' ...'only child' '...Mother left beside herself'... 'Funeral to be confirmed'

'Morning class, I hope everyone is well... please don't forget to hand in your end of term paper before you leave today... oh and I have details for Nina's funeral, if you would like to attend please see me after class' Ms Helens had been upset for the last week, she must had been close with her? To be this upset?

'Ms Helens?' I waited until everyone had left after the lesson had finished

'Jax... is everything okay? You've finished your paper yes?' she asked looking through the pile of essays

'Erm, I was wondering about... Nina..' my hand rubbing behind my neck nervously as I asked

'Oh' she looked at me surprised, her eyebrows knitted together like she confused

'Her funeral, I - I would like to go' My palms were sweaty, why? Why was I so nervous?

'You would? How lovely...' she had tears in her eyes again, bending down to her hand bag she reached out a programme 'All the details are on here... Her mother dropped off a few this morning' She almost whispered handing me one

It had the same picture of Nina as the papers had. Her name in a fancy italic font, her date of birth followed by the her date of death. My stomach flipped... again. What is with that.

'I didn't know you were friends?' Ms Helens spoke

'We weren't...' I gave her a half smile before leaving, folding the programme in my pocket.

***

It was probably the coldest day of December so far, I had on my jacket, scarf and beanie hat. I debated with myself if I should bring flowers, is that what you do when you go to a funeral? I haven't a clue. I have only been to one funeral before today and that was for my Grandma, I was only twelve, other than people crying I don't remember a lot of what happened. I walked into the florist down the road from our house... How the heck is there so many flowers? What flowers do you get for someone who is dead? Or are they for the family? Ugh. I brought some lily's and just hoped they were okay.

My nerves were getting the best of me again as I stood outside the church. People were leaving.... Damn I must be late. Fucking typical.

I walked in and a classical tune was playing softly in the background, the seats were empty, the whole church was empty... Suddenly I came to a stop. I was frozen.

I saw a coffin at the bottom on the isle... that infamous picture of Nina in a frame next to it. She was there, that was her. I was shaking internally, unable to look away from this site.