(✓) 𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐢𝐝𝐞 • [𝒅𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒆𝒍 𝒔𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒚]

sixteen.

The funeral is the next weekend. At the cemetery, I cling tightly to my mom and Rory. All of my family and friends are here, including Harlow, Hanna, Molly, Jack, and Jensen. As the priest speaks at my dad's final resting place, I don't think any of us are hearing what he's saying.

Once the priest finishes his speech, we lay flowers on my dad's casket and watch them lower it into the ground. I step away crying. My friends embrace me while I let out the flood of emotions.

I take a deep breath and thank them before weaving through the crowds of condolences from my extended family members. The worst are my dads coworkers, who either hadn't been deployed or were sent back before him. The mix of guilt and sorrow in their eyes nearly makes me sick.

When I finally get a moment of peace to myself, I find a shady spot under a tree. The combination of the beating afternoon sun and my black dress have me sweating profusely. From afar, I watch the crowd disperse slowly.

A couple minutes later, I feel a hand tap my shoulder. I turn and gasp at the unexpected sight of his blue eyes. Daniel. He's dressed modestly in a simple black suit with a white shirt and black tie.

We linger in silence for a moment, unsure what to do next. We haven't spoken once since Portland. I suddenly decide to wrap my arms around him, immediately sobbing into the crook of his neck.

Daniel wraps me in his comfortable embrace, letting me just be. I can't deny that I've missed this, missed us.

Eventually, I pull away and wipe my eyes. I attempt to brush pat Daniel's collar dry, but he tells me not to worry about it.

"Thank you," I say shyly. "You didn't have to come."

"Of course, I did," he replies.

"I would've understood if you didn't," I tell him.

"Even though we... I..." Daniel struggles to get his words out. "I know how much your dad means—er, meant to you."

A tear falls down my cheek. Daniel instinctively wipes it off. We stand still, staring into each other's eyes.

Then, Daniel leans forward, his lips reaching for mine. I defensively push him back before he can go further.

"What are you doing?" I ask angrily.

"I thought—"

"Seriously, Daniel? My dad just died," I scoff.

"I'm sorry," he replies meekly.

Everything that happened between us comes flooding back. I haven't had a chance to process everything with Daniel, but I don't plan on doing that right now.

"Just go," I say.

"Aspen..." Daniel begs.

Jensen walks up and puts a protective arm around me. "What are you doing here, bro?"

Daniel looks from me to Jensen and back to me. With one final, sad look, Daniel replies, "I was just leaving."

He walks away, sulking. I wonder for a moment if this is the last time I'll ever see him. If I'm being honest, part of me hopes it is.

"Are you okay?" Jensen asks.

"No," I shake my head.

Jensen takes me into a friendly hug. Eventually, we walk back to where my mom and Rory are waiting.

My mom tries to make conversation on the drive home, but it's clear that none of us really feel like talking. It's too official now. My dad is really gone.