The Song of the Dead

Funerals

Funerals are a strange concept. A group of people come together to talk and cry about someone who will never know they were even there. They pray, sing and speak. But what is the point? Closure? Respect? Tradition?

Annalise didn't believe in heaven. She wasn't religious in any respect of the word. The only reason she attended her dead fiance's funeral was that her mother insisted on it. Her plan was to sit through the service, sneak a plate of food and then leave. What she hadn't anticipated was being called to speak before everyone.

Needless to say, that didn't end well. Her impromptu speech was poorly worded and monotonous. As she stepped down from the podium, her face flushed crimson, matching her sneakers. It was obvious that everyone was rather unimpressed by her speech and outfit but that didn't bother Annalise. She had her own way of mourning.

After the service, the group gathered outside for snacks before they were to bury Connor. Tears flowed and crumbs fell. Annalise topped up her plate with sausage rolls and lamingtons, avoiding eye contact with the middle-aged women glaring at her from a splintered bench. As she tried to sneak away, Connor's aunt called out.

"Leaving so soon, Annalise?" the stout woman asked. Quickly composing herself, Annalise turned around with a forced smile.

"Mrs Redfer! How lovely to see you again. I was just looking for the bathrooms."

"Of course you were dear." She scanned the young woman's outfit and pursed her lips. "They're just inside."

With another fake smile, Annalise headed into the building. But instead of going to the bathroom, she had a sudden impulse to walk back into the main room.

She set her plate down on a chair and walked cautiously towards the shiny black coffin at the front. Its sleek surface reflected her hesitant figure as she seated herself beside the closed casket.

"Hey, Connor. It's a shame you're not really here. You would certainly lighten the mood a little. Everyone is either crying or judging." She chuckled to herself. "I suppose that if you were here, we wouldn't be in this place anyway. We'd probably be house hunting or posting our wedding invitations or choosing a cake or..."

Emotions can be unpredictable at times. Anger, fear or happiness can hit us right when we least want or expect them to. At that moment, sadness slammed Annalise in her blind spot, causing a stream of tears to run down her brown cheeks and dampen her emerald blouse. 

It wasn't the first time she'd cried over him but it was definitely much more emotional than the previous times. Her breaths came in short gasps as she let the tears flow like river rapids. Even when a group of young men--presumably cousins or other relatives of Connor's--came in to carry the coffin to the grave, she continued to cry. A few of the men tried to console her but their efforts were in vain. Eventually, they had to leave her and take Connor to his final resting place.

As everyone was distracted by the burial, Annalise slipped out into the car park, wiped her mascara-stained cheeks and drove home.

Could definitely use improvements. Again, feedback is greatly appreciated!