After he was discharged, it was hypocritical as he booked the earliest appointment at the cemetery. He went through every procedure, through all the work at the hospital, police, and court to delay this but now he wanted to get it over with as fast as possible even if it made him a terrible person in some eyes.
He didn't have a choice; they were still in town and the vamp group didn't decide to move on yet even though the entire pack was dead. They never threaten to take his life just make him suffer till he took his own and despite being as close to it as he was, he knew if the others were alive right now, they would kill him forever even thinking about it again.
He wasn't about to take any chances with them he wanted to move out of this sick town as quickly as he could.
He sent out invites to some of the people who knew them from work, he didn't expect any of them to show up on the day, he didn't know if he wanted them to. Parts of him didn't want them to see him like this, he had enough of the pity stares in the time he spent here in this town, which was too far small for his liking, news spread too quickly.
He looked at the other graves, all the different subtle designs decorated across stones adorned with different flowers. He didn't know which one Al would've liked but him being an extravagant high-pitched scream as some put it, he would've liked something bold yet personal close to home.
Elmer didn't know about Greece burial customs and hoped the cemetery instructor could help; he knew that even if he were rushing through this, he wanted to do some things right as much as he doubted an American cremator would know about Greek customs he still had to try. He didn't know the newer employee, as far as he knew the old one who helped him out the other times held a lot of knowledge about other countries' burials and respects.
Standing in the muddy grass as it rained creating the perfect cinematic scene for his situation, he tried to feel his grief, he tried to feel the pain again as he should at this moment, but he couldn't, he never felt more dead in life as he did right now. He didn't know if he should welcome it, but he didn't feel scared, confused, or relieved by it, he just felt an endless cycle of nothingness.
He looked up to finally see the man walking up to the door from the opposite side of the pathway looking at him confused, "I'm sorry I didn't realize I had an appointment earlier than 8:30, I was told it was from 8:45" he heard the man say in a more confused and sorry tone.
"my appointment was at 8:45 but it was a long drive I thought I might be late so I left earlier than required" he lied not that the other man would realize that being new to this town.
"oh, let's get in then it's pretty cold and wet outside, my name's Edward ill lead you to my office."
He followed the man into the small building that was situated beside the cemetery gates, it was small and old but held its ground. Walking through the front doors and into a small reception which had two doors on either side with a small reception desk sitting in the middle. It looked slightly different from the other times he had been here, but he didn't know what changed, he couldn't make out what changed. Moving ahead into the door on the right, he watched as the man took off his coat and placed it on the head of his chair moving to the shelf at the left of the room to pull out a binder. Despite technology, the place kept it old fashioned even though it cost them more work to bear.
Edward looked through the list searching for the name he read in his appointment book looking for the requirements when he read the past attached within the name. his eyes widened as he looked up at the man in the chair in front of him as he read through the last five times he was here. He immediately recovered his posture and facial expression to one of professionalism even though he didn't have to be, he felt slightly uncomfortable in the situation despite dealing with the death of people on a day-to-day basis. He didn't want to look at pity or sadness at the man because he knew from previous clients and common sense that it made them feel worse in the situation they already had.
"alright we have the perfect area, it should fit the coffin nicely although the area is a bit squeezed, we do have a larger area but it's in the farther town if you wish."
"no, it's alright, as much as he loved the fields he would want to be buried here" Elmer replied, the town's outskirts field areas were referred to as 'the further town' he didn't know who came up with that, but everyone seemed to go along with it in his town.
He stared at the man for a minute before deciding to just ask if he knew anything about the customs and rituals since the man already read about the older times judging from his reaction. "do you by any chance know about Greek burial rituals? The older worker here helped through the procedure last time but I'm not sure about where to get the right priest if there even is a different priest in Greece."
He waited for a reply as the other man's expressions twisted while he tried to recall any information. He saw as the man suddenly walked right out of the office and heard the other door in the reception open and close. He sat looking down at his hands, maybe they should've talked about this, but they were young why would anyone their age expects this or plan for this in advance. He couldn't help the guilty thoughts and questions in his head which never seemed to reach his heart anymore. Almost as if his brain drained all emotions and overdrive itself with its logical parts.
He heard the same door open again as the man walked back into the room with a book, he set on the table in front of them. 'burial customs of the world; hardest time in life' written in white ink on the front cover, with drawings of people from all around the world decorating the bottom part of the cover book.
"I hope this helps you with something, it's a pretty big book and contains almost every major and most minor countries, cities cultures, and customs mainly. I think it's what Richard used to study from along with a couple of other books, but this should cover it. And I'm sorry for all your losses".
"thank you, I should be coming back on the 5th? I'm not sure if it's going to held directly here or in the church."
"oh, that's okay whatever day it is, just give a call into the reception and we will have everything arranged, just make sure it's in advance if it going to be held here."
"thank you again, for the book and everything else," he said getting up, he watched the other man being put off by his strangely dead voice but even if he tried, he couldn't help it one bit. He walked out of the building feeling an unwanted nostalgia. It was all already messed up he didn't need to know he felt nostalgic at the cemetery office.