Let her go

Emily

Emily could barley function. The service had technically ended and everyone was at their house.
Well, it wasn't their house. It was the place Emily used to live with Karima.

Her family hadn't even bothered to show up. Did grief overwhelm them? Regret? Although Emily didn't know if she wanted to see Karima's mum, siblings or worst of all, nieces or nephews.

Staring at the ceiling, Emily was rooted to the chair, avoiding contact when she felt an arm on her shoulder.
"What are you feeling?" Emily sighed. "What? Apart from anger? Sadness? Regret? Emptiness. I'm empty without her Emma."

Karima's former best friend looked away, although it was obvious to see the tears filling her eyes.
"We all are Emily." She whispered. "And we're all here for you."
She was answered with a nod, but Emily knew that.
Surely as well, they knew she'd never be the same again, right?

MacFarlene left, perhaps to rejoin her boyfriend, who stood awkwardly, having never knew his girlfriend's close companion.
Not that Emily was left alone though.

She was now joined by her own best friend.
Lindsey sighed, upon reaching the broken figure she used to know.
Taking Emily's hand, she whispered, "You have to let her go Em."

Emily pulled her hand away in disgust, getting up and pushing the chair back, grabbing everyone's attention.
"No!" She yelled, "Why can't you let me grieve? None of you guys know her, yet you all hated her! I guarantee you if she was still alive, no one would even give her an once of respect! So I hope you all choke on your pride, the irony of you all coming here to 'pay your respects' when she's dead. She's not coming back and I hope you all live that down for the rest of your lives!"

Emily stormed out, she needed to be anywhere, anywhere from here.
She got in her car. And went to probably the last place she should be going to. But she didn't stop.

Upon arrival, Emily marched towards the gravestone before breaking down.
Through her blurred vision, she saw the writing

Karima Mendoza-Sonnett
A loving, kind and generous soul who will be a sorely missed wife, daughter, sister and friend

7/4/02-7/10/25
"Live everyday as if it's your last, because you never know when it might be"

Emily looked down at the bouquets of flowers placed down. She didn't want to place any. These floral plants will eventually shrivel up and die, and Emily's love for Karima never will.

Now she felt bad though. Maybe she shouldn't have reacted like that. She knew that Karima would've never have wanted her to.
"You OK?" Emily turned around, expecting to see someone she had upset at the ceremony, yet only saw the remorseful face of Ennen Roscoe.

"Look," the twenty two year old started, "you don't have to accept this and you will probably think I'm only sorry because Karima is dead, but I truly never meant to go in the way of your marriage. The relationship you guys had was beautiful, everyone knows that. At least you can rest knowing that I live every moment, regretting my role, in Karima's death."

Emily shook her head. "My anger for you...evaporated a long time ago. I don't want anything from you. Than to maybe..." she stuck out a hand, "...start again."

Ennen was shocked. "Seriously? After all that?"

Emily glanced to the gravestone, before blinking back tears. "Why not? It's what Karima would've wanted. For us to let her go."