A bright Saturday morning never felt so gloomy. The occasional words spoken in the crowd seemed to echo off the church walls. Alex didn't expect so many people to turn up. No one did. Aiden and Hannah sat with Kay's family up front. And there she was, in an elegant dark brown casket dressed in her favorite white dress; laying there, cold and lifeless, so... peaceful.
Kay had all her well deserved rites and rituals. Silent sobs filled the air. Aiden gave his goodbye last. He ran his fingers through his hair as he stood up and walked towrads the front of the hall. He took a long look at Kayley and cleared his throat, hoping he doesn't break down into tears. Whispers from the teens in the crowd, heads turnt, not a lot of people knew how close Kay and Aiden were. Aiden slipped out a folded paper from his pocket, laid it out on the podium. He stared at the paper, words and letters began to blur. I can't do this. He said to himself. He crumpled up the paper and shoved it back into his pocket. "No script or speeches can amount to how alive Kayley made me feel." He started. "And bow that she's not here, I don't know who's text I'm supposed to wake up to in the morning, I don't know who's gonna ask me how my week was, who's gonna wish me luck before every single game and test I have. I don't know who's rants I'm gonna listen to, who's gonna randomly buy me things I neve rknew I wanted, help me get throught my worst days and be happy with me during my best. Who's shoulder do I cry on now that you're gone Kay?" He paused. "Kay is, and always be the most beautiful and pure soul I've ever met. I learnt so many things from her, things no one ever told me about. She was always there for me, somewhere in the backgrounds, always proud of me. She's been an endlessly faithful friend, and I let her down. I should've listened, should've called back, should've replied earlier. Maybe I wouldn't be standing here today, saying goodbye." Aiden's eyes watered. "But I won't say goodbye. I can't. I regret a lot of things in life, but my biggest regret is letting you go. Letting my chance with you go. I remember going to Junior Winter Formal with you. I wish I told you how I felt back then. I wish I would've been braver and told you. I miss you Kay. Miss you so much, and I'll love you endlessly." His voice cracked and he let the tears takeover. He stepped back from the podium. Hannah stood up and handed him a white rose to place in Kay's casket.
Eyes followed their every move until all rituals were over. Rumors and gossip fly fast in highschool. Time and appropriation don't really matter. It didn't really take long for Aiden's "confession speech"-as they were calling it now- to become the talk of the minute. Being popular and hanging around with a bunch of people is one thing, but being talked about isn't exactly something everyone can handle easily. Aiden stayed strong. Just like any other day, he didn't let his peers or his feelings get in the way of his daily routine. Sometimes he wondered if he ignored his feelings a bit too much.
Sunday was spent at Kay's house. Hannah brought in food made by her mom and Aiden decided to help them clear out Kayley's belongings. Well, sort of. Every single object Aiden picked up from her room had a memory attached to it. There was no possible way anyone was going to let any of her belongings go. Alex suggested they leave everything be until the time's right. But that's the thing, when exactly is the right time to say goodbye to someone you barely had time with?
