Simple Sweetness

Chapter 14

The twins funeral had been held quietly at one of the local Church's in this small mid west city, cradled in the obscurity of the lush northern prairie. Another grand rosy brick chapel, with elaborate carved facades and giant stained glass windows, as they all seemed to be. Deep in the city's down town core, of office towers and narrow one way streets. An elaborate building of rising steeples with a majestic main rotunda in the center of a vast cathedral like roof. With traditional stained glass windows along it's outer walls, that both beckoned in welcome to those who sought spiritual sanctuary. Or loomed accusingly, to all those who were deemed to be living in sin in some way.

The twins came from a humble back ground, with a very large family that lived mostly within the city and surrounding villages. Only family and a few close friends were allowed to attend the service. While the major bulk of the high school populace turned out with out invitation, amassing on the sidewalk just outside the grande glass doors to the front foyer. Some seen as friends, mostly just acquaintances. The majority merely being drawn to be a part of such morbid and highly emotional gatherings. Just to say that they were there, so come monday morning they had something to gossip about in the halls. The horde of high school students, waited out in the cold fall winds. Milling on the side walk just before the large glass and wooden double doors that would led into the grand foyer with a large red carpeted stairwell. Which vaulted upward towards the great chapel, set above in this majestic cathedral.

Darien had been able to attend the funeral itself, on request of Amelia. Who had been the twin's closest friend for many years. He stood stoic and guarded at the very end of a long wooden pew, in one of the center sections of the packed church. Dressed in his best black suit, crisp white shirt, knife pleated black pants and an awkwardly knotted grey tie. With a silent and brooding Amelia sitting in a simple black leather wheel chair beside him in the aisle. The girl was dressed in a simple black dress, with a rounded collar and long tight sleeves that hugged her arms. It was the most conservative article of clothing Darien thought he had ever seen her in. She had even draped a dark navy wool shawl over her shoulder's to keep the fall chill off her skin. Her hair was loose, spiralling over her shoulder's in thick soft green tinted curls. Her emerald green eyes were dull and vacant, laking any vitality. As she absently listened to the priest drone on and on. About the glory of the afterlife that awaited the unfortunate girls. Darien could hear their mother wailing in the front of the church. Along with several male members of their family discretely clearing the bleak emotions from their souls, as they repeatedly cleared their throats.

The air in the church was hot and stuffy, the sunlight filtering in through the flanking stain glass windows casting the mourners in a surreal unearthly pale glow. The grand dome of glass glowing above the parishioners, casting everyone in a sharp hazy light that made one feel sluggish and dozy. The powerful aura of malaise hung heavy around the church, slowly drowning Darien in those same ill feelings he had experienced years before.

Darien hadn't set foot in a church, since his parents funeral's ten years ago. Truthfully he had been kinda an ass to Amelia, vehemently refusing to come to this wretched service. When Amelia had first proposed the idea of him escorting her to the church. His temper and callous attitude had always been his way to protect himself from unwanted situations and feelings. It had surged full force upon Amelia, as he stubbornly refused to accompany her. Adamant and uncaring over how deeply hurt she was, by his lack of sympathy or support. Drawing a line and keeping himself firmly protected from emotional harm, by distancing himself from her pain. Reminding himself that she wasn't a nice person, that he was just using her and should not get attached. Yet the fear and anguish cast in her eyes over going the funeral alone broke his resolve quick enough. In the end he couldn't treat her like a lifeless tool, a means to an end. She was a person, vile or not in pain. She needed someone to lean on, someone to support her through all this.