Our Dearly Departed

Our Dearly Departed

I didn't want to go to the funeral. It would be so awkward. I didn't know Great Aunt Agnes that well, and I hadn't seen anyone from that side of the family in years. Still, it would be rude not to show my face. I put on my black dress and tied my hair in a nice loose bun. I checked my makeup once more before heading out the door. The funeral home was crowded when I arrived; I parked a block away because the lot was full. The smell of flowers and underlying hints of death filled my nose when I walked in. I can't say it was unpleasant. It was nice. I was glad no one could hear my thoughts. I paid my respects at the casket and took a seat next to the only cousin there that I was familiar with. She patted my hand as if to comfort me. I didn't need it. After a while, everyone settled down in their seats and the priest stood at the podium. He looked around the room before opening his Bible. His eyes were piercing. He was unlike any priest I had ever seen! He couldn't have been any older than thirty and was quite handsome. His hair was a little long and punky for a man of the cloth. Weird. To my surprise, his eyes met mine and he smirked. Priests don't smirk! What was wrong with him? I found myself playing with the collar of my dress and smoothing my skirt as he began.

"We gather here to pray for our dearly departed sister, Agnes. She has entered the gates of heaven as a child of God. May we all pray to deserve such a blessing when we are individual called."

He looked right at me. Again. Was I imagining this? I took a deep breath and leaned back in the chair. Why was I sweating? There was a shine in his eyes that was unnerving, yet I couldn't look away from him. He continued, then prayed, then dismissed everyone.

"The service will continue tomorrow morning at St. Andrew's church, 10:00am."

As soon as everyone began to get up, I tried to make my way to the door quickly. Unfortunately, I was blocked by relatives. The priest was already at the door, greeting each person as the left. There was no other way out. I'd have to actually say something to him. Fuck. I was suddenly overcome with anxiety. I ran to the ladies' room and splashed my neck with cold water.

Get it together. He's just a priest. He's not that good looking. Just shake his stupid hand and leave.

I was lying to myself. I waited a few more minutes to catch my breath, then opened the door. I ran right smack into his chest. All I could see was his collar in my face.

"Where do you think you're going?"

He spoke in a voice quite different than the one he used to pray and read from the Bible.

"Uh..."

I found myself unable to speak. I looked around, everyone else was gone.

"You can go home if you'd like," he said, with that smirk, "but I think you'll find that you'd be happier if you stayed for a while longer."

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me, sweetheart."

"I don't think...aren't you...?"

"Not supposed to do this type of thing? Well," he laughed, "let's be honest, we all do things we're not supposed to. If you feel like you need forgiving, we can do that, too."

I was ready to pass out. I tried to lean back against the closed door behind me, but I misjudged how far away from the door I was. The priest reached his arm around me and stopped me from hitting my head on the door.

"Careful, dear. I prefer you conscious. Now, I'll make a deal with you. Let me give you a kiss, and then you can decide if you'd like to go home or stay for a bit."