Espionage [H.S]

Chapter 3

Stella's P.O.V.

"Ian Caleb Black was a beloved son, a brother, a friend. He was taken far too early but his death was not his fault. He died the death of someone he wasn't. He was not evil, he was not selfish. Young Ian took his own life, with no signs or warnings left for us to help him. God has his heart now, He is helping Ian now," the pastor continued as my rage boiled hotter and hotter with every word he said about my brother. He didn't know him, no one knew him like I did. No one.

"...and as it says in Revelations 'Then I heard a voice from heaven say, "Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. "Yes," says the Spirit, "they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.' Ian's soul is now healthy and happy with the Lord. Ian's older sister Stella is here with us today, she has a few words for us."

I walked over to where the Father was standing, he gave me a kind yet half-hearted smile and a large, cold reassuring hand on my exposed back between my shoulder blades and walked over to the side. I fixed the hem of my knee length, long sleeve black lace dress and cleared my throat. I wiped my tear stained cheeks once again.

"Ian was more than just my brother, he was my best friend. He was sixteen, he didn't deserve the death he had gotten, certainly not at his age. I'm so proud of his achievements in his life that its almost unbelievable. Almost.

Burying your little brother is something no one should have to endure. No one. Not a single soul on this earth should have to deal with the pain, the guilt. I kind of feel like this was my fault, like I wasn't there when I should've been," I stared at the baby blue flowers arranged across his dark casket blankly.

"Loved ones are never lost in reality. They're just not here with us in the flesh, but that doesn't change the fact that we want to be able to hug them close or tell them that we love them with all of our hearts.

I was the last person to talk to him, I called him and we talked about how he was learning some of the United States' history, he said he was so bored with it that he might've keeled over in class. We talked about how his girlfriend dumped him, how he felt about it. The last thing we said to each other was 'I love you'. I'm happy with those were the last words he heard me say. I'm happy with our last conversation that we had, not everyone is so fortunate," my voice wavered as tears streamed down my flushed cheeks.

"Losing Ian is something I never thought I'd have to face and I don't know how many mutters of 'I'm sorry for your loss' and 'he's in a better place' I've heard now. A death in any family leaves a void that cannot be filled. No one can ever take the place of my baby brother in this world. Don't try to comfort us by saying that 'it wasn't his time but he's better now', or, 'he was suffering' or even the 'it was God's will'. These may be words of comfort later. However, there must be time to take in the fact that things will never be the same. One minute he was here and now he is gone. Nothing will ever be the same without Ian," I looked over to my parents, my father trying to comfort my blubbering mess of a mother. They were barely there for his life, they shouldn't have the right to be here for his death.

"My brother was a star basketball player, he was a prankster, he was the light in a dark room. I don't think he really realized how much good he did for others. He had so much love in his heart and I can't believe he's gone. When I found him, I had so many thoughts running around in my head but one kept repeating through my thoughts, How could this have happened? How did I let this happen? I don't have an answer for anyone now, I don't think I ever will. But I do know one thing and that is the love for my brother was not broken, nor will it ever be.

Love is stronger than death, it's stronger than anything else in the world. And even though love cannot cease deaths path, death cannot stop loves prevail. No matter how hard death will try, it cannot separate people from love. Love is the memories we make, love is the warm embraces, love is a simple phrase like 'be careful' or 'please take care of yourself'. Death cannot take away our memories of Ian, nor can it take away our love for him. In the end, life and love are stronger than death.