13 reasons Why Not

Chapter 15 - Final Farewell...

Hannah's POV

As we walked into the Chapel, I could feel people staring... I could feel eyes from every direction...

Zach, Marcus, Courtney, Sheri, Tyler, Ryan..... Jess...

She gently tried to smile at me... I could feel my own eyes welling up from the many different emotions rushing through my mind.

I held Clay's hand even tighter as he walked us to our seats... next to Tony.

Before us lay a white casket... drowned in flowers... my throat had a lump in...

"Are you ok..?

I nodded at Clay... holding his hand in my lap... both of my hands were grasping it tightly!

It went quiet... I couldn't imagine my Mom and Dad having to get up to do this... the thought ripped my heart to bits...

"Thank you for all attending today"

"Standing before you today to farewell our beloved son Alex is one of the hardest things we've ever had to do. Words cannot describe the sorrow and loss that we are feeling, but we will try"

I could feel a tear streaming down my face...

"Alex was a wonderful, sweet boy. Even as a baby, he had a calm temperament and as he grew into a little boy, always took things in his stride."

"I remember his first day at school-I think I was more nervous than he was."

"I held his little hand and walked to the gate thinking that he was about to cry, but Alex calmly turned to me and said, "This is going to be fun, Daddy... Will there be lots of kids here for me to play with?" I laughed and assured him there would be."

I can imagine Alex doing that... I still remember the first day that me and Jess spoke to him. He was calm... collected... he took things in his stride... I looked at Jess and she was smiling...

"Being the youngest, Alex was always special to his Brother, Peter."

"Peter would dress him up in the latest soccer kit, wanting him to play already- he was just so excited to have a little brother and when he started school, he became fiercely protective of him."

I've never known the feeling of a brother, or a sister... I never knew anything about Alex's brother... I feel like I'm learning so much about Alex I never knew... makes me feel sad...

"As Alex grew from a boy into a teenager, we could see the man that he would become-strong, steadfast and assured. "

"He loved school and being around his friends. Every afternoon after school, he would race down to the oval to kick the ball around with his friends."

People's heads were nodding and trying to hold back their tears... I looked at Clay.

His eyes were full of emotion... I rubbed his hand and held it tight... I hate seeing him in pain...

"When we moved to Crestmont, we were so proud of him. He settled so well, adapting to new surroundings-making new friends."

Alex was my friend... we were good friends. Me Alex and Jess... it broke my heart what happened....

I wish it never happened...

"Alex and I had some wonderful times together."

"After Peter had left home to go to College, the two of us would go camping together at the weekends. Alex loved camping-he loved the adventure and simplicity of it, to get away from everything."