Know my Name

Terrible aim

The breeze brought along the scent of the salty ocean as all the family and friends were gathered to remember the life of my brother.

The dead grass was stark against the shining brown casket that held my brothers dead body inside of it. A rectangular shape was cut out of the fresh earth and the bright rich dirt could be seen as the casket was silently lowered into the ground.

Tears ran freely down my face, and nobody judged or made remarks about being weak. We only stood in silence as we each grieved for the boy who had died too soon.

It was a cloudy day, and the hill was just as gloomy as fog crept in from the beach miles below, in the early morning. It looked like even Mother Earth was mourning with us today.

My father slid his hand into mine as we were the first ones to each go up and kneel to grab a handful of dirt. Throwing it down upon the casket, everyone else circling around behind to do the same.

I spotted Violet after she took her turn and she faced me with about as much venom as I had towards her. But not today, of all days. I was in a pissy mood and she had just pushed me over the cliff.

"If you have something to say, say it grandmother." I spit the title out at her as if it had burned my mouth. Everyone turned to face the strong voice that had spoken, but I didn't look at anyone else, only her.

Her old foggy eyes stared into mine as she responded with the same tone I had used, "Your brother is dead and your still crying over him as if it will make him come back to life." She paused then looked me up and down,

"Weak." She spat.

There was that anger again as I limped towards her and got right up in her face baring my teeth like the animal I was becoming. "What the fuck did you just say?" I didn't wait for her answer as I continued,

"You don't get to come to my brothers funeral and act like a bitch." I paused to take a shaky breath to calm myself down. "We invited you here, not because we wanted to but because I know. Knew, my brother well. He loved everybody, even you. He cared more about a stranger he didn't know, than his own-self. We're not here to mourn him, but to cherish his very existence." I looked around at everyone, my attention snagging on Elijah and, Xavier, the muscled man from the bakery. He gave me a slight nod in greeting, but I just turned back to my grandmother, giving her the lashing of the year.

"If you don't want to be here, or if you don't want to cherish the life that was taken from me, and so many others. Then leave. Because you don't get to disrespect me and my father by being here. You don't get to disrespect my Oscar." I paused and as she turned to leave I finally for once stood up for myself,

"And if you think that crying makes me look weak, then I will gladly say, you are a fool. A fool to keep telling yourself that what your representing is setting a good example for the children that watch and absorb everything without knowing if it's good or bad. Crying is good. It doesn't make you weak, it makes you human." I stare at her defiantly, but all she does is scoff and turn to head towards her waiting car.

There were claps that sounded from behind me and I looked around confused.

"I've always hated that bitch!" Jess yells after Violet, who just rolls her eyes, before speeding off. Jess claps the loudest of them all and I notice the same hate that resonated in everyone's eyes, towards the woman who had even raised a few of them herself.

Well, guess I wasn't the only one.

My eyes scan the crowd and they stop on a blonde bimbo named Emma, Oscars ex-fiancé. She was dressed in a tight black dress and a brown shawl was wrapped around her shoulders, to protect her from the breeze in the morning air.