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Elizabeth Jensen, Clay Jensen, and Justin Foley walked into the town church on the day of Bryce Walker's funeral. Elizabeth was holding on tightly to Justin's hand and they made their way down the aisle. She glanced over at the boys with their football jerseys on, and she frowned. "How are you holding up, Justin?" Lainie Jensen asked as she appeared next to the trio.
"Yeah, I'm good. Good." Justin nodded. He squeezed Elizabeth's hand unconsciously which meant he was lying. "Thank you guys for coming with me."
"Of course." Lainie nodded.
Justin let go of Elizabeth's hand. "I'm going to go say hey to the guys." He left the Jensen family.
"Yeah, I've got a thing real quick." Clay stated before leaving the group, as well.
The Jensen parents sat down, and Elizabeth sat down behind them so she could sit with her brother. Eventually, Clay sat down next to Elizabeth. He leaned forward to speak to Lainie. "Mom, what's the deal with Bryce's dad?" Bryce's dad had just entered the church, and him and Montgomery De La Cruz were speaking to each other very loudly.
"I don't really know him. Why?"
"Didn't you guys get into a big fight after I went over there last year?"
Lainie sighed before responding. "Yes. His wife played mediator, though." She glanced over at Bryce's father before speaking again. "I think he's mostly talk."
"Did you know that he just, like, abandoned Bryce?" Elizabeth's eyes widened in response to her brother.
"I didn't know that." Lainie shook her head. "But I can say, I'm not very surprised."
"Honey, it's his son's funeral." Matt retorted.
"You certainly wouldn't know that from looking at him." Elizabeth rolled her eyes as she watched Bryce's father practically dance around the church, talking to almost everyone there. She looked over at her brother, who was watching him very closely. "Wait, do you think?"
"I don't know, but it's a possibility."
A few moments later, Zach stepped up to the microphone to speak. "Bryce was a real competitor on the field. He fought for his team. Always." Zach read from a piece of paper in front of him, but looked up at the crowd as much as he could. "He was loyal, and he was strong. He was the kind of strong that I always wished I could be. In a way." Zach paused, looking down at his paper. "I didn't always agree with Bryce. Or what he did. But I wonder sometimes if all we are is the sum of our actions in the end, or if we're more than that." He furrowed his eyebrows. "I want to believe that we're more than that." Elizabeth looked down at her hands as she listened to Zach speak. "There was a time where I called Bryce Walker my brother. And there was a time where I didn't. But we're all brothers and sisters. All of us. And whether I like it or not," Zach sighed before speaking again, "I am my brother's keeper. So, Bryce, I'm sorry." Zach looked over at the picture of Bryce. "I'm sorry, and goodbye."
