The rain came pouring down. It was as if the heavens were doing what her heart was calling for. Gina took another step reluctantly toward the front of the funeral parlor. Tears streamed down her face with every hard step that she had to take. Her heart was overwhelmed by the burden she was now facing. She approached the front with the help of her best friend Katie. The two of them looked like twins even though there was no relation between them. There was less than half an inch difference in their height with both girls having the same shade of light strawberry blond hair. Since they met and became friends the girls thought it was fun to wear matching hairstyles and dress the same. With Katie's family being extremely poor, Gina usually gave her everything she could to help. Gina's parents would look at them with Charles, her father, shaking his head knowing it was like having two daughters. He didn't mind, they had more than enough money and he liked seeing his little princess happy. Her mother, Rita on the other hand, was thrilled and could not do enough to make them look the same. Katie's parents, on the other hand, hated the idea they looked alike and were jealous that their daughter received so many new things when they had five other children to take care of. Their oldest daughter and son complained constantly about Katie always being treated so much better.
Katie was just as sad as Gina. Charles and Rita had treated her like a daughter from the time they were both 6 and Gina's family moved in next door to them. Katie's parents had watched as Gina's family unloaded their belongings, making them feel like they were dirt poor compared to the neighbors moving in. Seeing the lavish furnishings, so many of the things they had wanted but could never afford, so much more than they had ever dreamed of. Having a low-paying job, a wife, and six children all wanting things, there was no way they could afford the extras.
Katie and Gina held hands as tears streamed down their faces, both crying so hard they could barely walk. The girls leaned on each other for support like they did in everything. It was increasingly harder to get to the front. Each step drew out a new wave of pain and sadness. Each would have collapsed if not held up by the other. Katie's parents took the back row. They were disgusted they even had to be there, but they did it in hopes that their daughter would get something. They sat there with scowls on their faces wishing it would get over sooner. Everyone else was sincerely overcome with grief at having lost their loving friends. Charles and Rita had been devoted to so many charities. They helped everyone they would come across with whatever they could.
The funeral director looked over the place. There wasn't enough room for all those that had wanted to attend. They were going to have to extend the visiting times for 2 days and have a graveside service. They could tell by the turnout so far; the cemetery was going to get tied up all day. They had set up a small visiting room for the girls to use. The room had some food and drinks as well as places for them to sleep if they could.
The director was having a tough time, he didn't have enough help with everything that he needed to do, and he was just not used to such a large turnout. The girls broke down in tears so much they couldn't even talk every time anyone tried to talk to them. He managed to line up the priest they usually used to conduct the rights and to hold the funeral service, and then lead the words at the graveside service. They knew the turnout was going to be high. The showing had been booked for two days before the funeral and the funeral procession around town winding up at the graves. Even though they had everything set up it was going to take more time than he was used to it taking. The reading of the will would be held after everything else was taken care of.
The girls had no real interest in any of that, they were too tied up in tears and the overwhelming sadness that was controlling their hearts and their minds. Gina almost collapsed when she first took sight of the two caskets. She could see her parents in them. They were posed holding hands and big smiles on their faces. That is something that she had seen all her life. The only thing that kept her from falling was Katie. They stopped dead in the aisle. Three men came to the rescue and carefully helped the girls to the front row as they cried harder with each step. They sat there holding onto each other in silence as the tears rolled down their faces. The crowd never seemed to diminish. As soon as some would leave, others would show up to take their place. Katie's family got tired of waiting. Without even paying respects, they left leaving the girls to mourn in their own way. They were glad to be done with it.
The time wore on, the minutes turned into hours neither of the two hardly moved more than to try and wipe away the tears. As some of their guests approached them and tried their best to comfort them. The pity hugs gave no real comfort to the girls, but they did help make the guests feel slightly better. This small act made them feel as if they were doing something to help the girls even though they all knew that it was not really making them feel any better.
The day wore on and the girls had hardly moved. When it got to be supper time the girls were led to the family room that had been prepared for them. The long day had been hard on them both and they had only managed to keep down a few bites of food and drink a little. The girls were exhausted. All the crying and stress of the day had taken a toll on them. They quickly passed out as soon as they sat, holding onto one another.
They slept all night in each other's arms giving and taking the comfort they both needed. As they awoke, the veil of sadness returned as did the tears. Gina didn't want to move or to wake. She had been safe, warm, and happy in her dreams and upon waking, the loss and loneliness began returning. As her tears increased it awoke Katie to the overwhelming sadness she was feeling as well. Neither of them had an appetite or the desire to get out of bed but they knew what was expected of them. No matter how much it hurt or how sad they were, they would not disrespect them by not being where they were supposed to be.
They quickly cleaned and dressed and followed the funeral director's directions. Everything was in place and ready before they opened the parlor. He positioned the girls at the end of the entryway where they couldn't see the caskets. This would give them at least a little break until the actual funeral began. Which was not planned until late in the afternoon.
The girls were still crying, they couldn't help but not to, but it was far less than they had been doing before. As everyone entered, they made their way to the girls, first said their apologies then made their way to the seats. Within 2 hours the parlor was full and by the 4th hour, there wasn't even standing room. They had no choice but to send some away or have them wait until the procession to the cemetery for the graveside service to be held.