Cat N' Mau5

Chapter 5: Heartbroken

Lily and Cherry were crushed. Maybe not in the same way Gerard was, but crushed nonetheless. They spent the next few days bawling, and hardly touched their food.

Funeral preparations were stalled, as they had no body provided, and very little money to spare.

Frank, Ray, Bob and Mikey spent most of their time together, and took turns sleeping around at each others house. Mikey's small and cluttered house had become a favourite. Not because of the confined area and shared spaces, but because it was filled with all things Gerard.

One particular night at Mikey's, the boys were laying around in the biggest area they could find.

After an awkward, depressing silence, Frank spoke up. "Remember when Gerard wrote the lyrics for Welcome to The Black Parade? Before he started battling giant robotic mice?"

Bob sniffled.

"Mm?" Ray hummed, and Mikey just looked expectantly for the rest of the statement.

"Well, he talked about death coming to get you in the form of your fondest memory. Like the example he used was the man's father taking him to see a marching band."

"I think I get what you mean," Ray said. "What was Gerard's fondest memory; his last thoughts before death?"

Frank only nodded as he rolled onto his back and stared at the ceiling fan spinning round.

It was silent a while. Bob rolled over to see why Frank and Ray had stopped talking, only to find they'd fallen asleep.

Mikey was still awake though.

"Mikes? You ok?" Bob asked his friend gently. After about three days the shock had worn off Mikey, and then the full blow really hit him as he realised: Gerard was gone, and he was never coming back.

"Yeah. It's just.. Hard, ya know?"

Bob nodded understandingly. "Yeah, I do. We're all going through the same thing, but I can't imagine how terrible it is for you, losing a brother..."

Mikey blinked back tears. "It's just... I don't believe he's actually gone. He's always been there to fight me for the last cup of coffee, or tease me about how I can't hold a job." He sniffed again. "At least he got paid. And now..." Mikey's voice drifted off, and it was all he could do to stop bawling again.

Bob patted his arm affectionately. "Yeah, I get that too. Gee was like a brother to me too; to all of us. Hence the fact that to Cherry and Lily, he's 'uncle'.

"I know this is really hard, Mikes. But we're gonna get through it. One day you'll wake up, and realise you're starting to feel better; that the pain has subsided a little and the ache in your heart is going away."

Mikey buried his face in the pillow, and shook his head in disagreement.

"Just think of it this way,"

He looked up, teary eyes filled with the small hope that what Bob was about to say would help him get through this.

That look was what broke Bob's heart.

"He's gone his separate way. He's joined the Black Parade, along with thousands of people like him. He no longer suffers from worldly pains. And one day, we'll join him too.

"But until then, we've gotta carry on. And along with us we'll carry on his legacy too." He concluded.

Mikey was touched. He smiled at his friend. "Thank you Bob," he whispered, voice wavering slightly.

Bob patted his hand encouragingly. "Get some sleep now. It's late, and you don't wanna be tired tomorrow, it'd feel like hell."

Mikey rolled over, muttering quietly under his so Bob didn't hear.

"Not anymore than it already does."