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A few months after the trial, Clay and Elizabeth sat in a church for Hannah's funeral. Clay had been asked to speak, but he had been continuously freaking out about it. Elizabeth was sad that Justin could not be there, because she knew how he would have wanted to be, but he was still in juvenile detention.
"One act does not define a life." The priest spoke. "We celebrate the richness of her life, even as the tragic circumstances of her death can not be forgotten."
Hannah's father stood up to speak. "It does my heart good to see so many of Hannah's friend's here today. Hannah had the biggest heart, which she so generously shared with all of us. So, please be kind to each other." He continued for a few minutes before Hannah's mother went up to the alter to speak.
"She dreamed of going to New York to become a writer." Hannah's mother smiled as she spoke, but her smile soon faded. "I'm not sure when that dream began to feel impossible to her." She stopped to wipe a tear from her cheek. "Hannah was my dream. And now, I get to dream for Hannah as well as for myself, and so do all of you. So, please, dream your dreams. Dream them for Hannah, and don't let anyone take them away from you. Don't ever let them go."
It was finally time for Clay to stand up and speak. Elizabeth patted him on the back as he stood up, and smiled at him. "You're gonna do great." He smiled back. "I love you, dude."
"I love you, Eliza."
Clay made his way to alter, and sighed before speaking. "Hannah Baker came into my life at the end of one summer, like a star that fell to Earth." Elizabeth chuckled softly at his words. "Like nothing I had ever seen. Like no one I had ever met." Clay looked down before speaking again. "She was funny, and smart, and moody, and- and maddening, and beautiful." He paused for a second, seeming to be staring at the door. "And I loved her. I loved her so much. And I ask her every day why she did what she did, but I get no answers. She took those with her when she went. Leaving me- all of us, angry, empty, confused." Clay began to tear up. "And I know that hurt won't ever go away, but there will come a day where I don't feel it every minute. The anger won't be so hot, and the other feelings will fade, and I'll be left with only love." Clay looked down at his hands. "A good friend once said to me 'I can love you and still let you go'. So, Hannah, I love you, and I let you go. I'm gonna miss you. And, I hope that wherever you go next, you feel peace, and you feel safe, in a way that you never did here. Wherever you go next, I hope that you know that I love you."
After Hannah's funeral had ended, everyone went to mone's. Elizabeth sat at a table with Zach. The two of them were eating coffee and talking. Zach's eyes widened as he seemed to see something behind Elizabeth's back. "What?" She furrowed her eyebrows. She looked behind her and saw Justin. She let out a giggle as she jumped from her chair and sprinted over to him, enveloping him in a hug. "I'm so happy that you're out."
