Saturday
October 3
Janet
I still can't believe it's Daisy. She seems different but yet the same. I can't explain it. "And when Mrs. Turner told me I was devasted, I couldn't eat nor sleep it just drove me into a deep depression." She explained and of course, we were all crying feeling the same way she felt. After a while the church settled down to start the service.
~~~
"Now Janet will come up to the stand." I felt anxiety raise but that wasn't going to stop me. Quinn would want me to put my shyness away. I took a deep breath in before walking up to the stand. "Hello, my name's Janet Slovak, and Quinn Turner was my boyfriend for literally 48 hours. I wish I could've said goodbye in a better way. I didn't even see it coming. He just died in my arms. His very last words to me were I love you. The worst thing about it is that I never said it back but I'll say it now. Quinn I loved you before your last breath and after your last breath." I moved away from the microphone and got down from the stand. "Thank you, Ms Slovak." Instead of going back to my seat, I ran outside to get some fresh air. I sobbed uncontrollably for a minute until I decided it was enough. I've been witnessing events since my trip from Rome. It's like I picked up the ability to see spirits and hear voices. I will not tell anyone about this because I rather suffer alone. "Hi, my name is daisy Henderson I am the ex-lover of Quinn Turner. We go way back to middle school he was the love of my life. We broke up for anonymous reasons."
I knew she was talking about me so ignored her. "I wasn't there when he died but If I were there I'd tell him I'm sorry and I should've been a better girlfriend." she choked up and rested her head on the mic stand. Father nic comforted her and escorted her off the stage. Fake ass bitch she never loved him. She only dated him because he was hot and popular. "Janet, are you okay? You look tense." Justin asked then I realized I was tense. Mad at this fake booze. "I'm fine." I lied and then got up to use to restroom.
~~~
"His favorite song was Bye bye by Nsync. We'd pretend we were in the music video all four of us. Me, Quinn, Justin, and Janet." I smile at the memory. "I just know he's singing one of Justin Timberlake's songs in the afterlife. Rest well my friend we all miss you." Kayla said and got off. "That was heartwarming," I said and she giggled before sitting down next to me. An infinity later it was time to leave for the burial site. I got in the car with Justin and Kayla while daisy drove in her car.
~~~
"we, therefore, commit this body to the ground, earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust; in sure and certain hope of the Resurrection to eternal life." Kayla and Justin held me tight because I kept looking down into the hole. I wasn't going to jump but stop me I guess. At every funeral, there's always that one drama queen. Luckily there wasn't one. "Nooooooo stop the burial!!!" I hear Quinn's mother yell. Everyone was in shock but curious about what was going to happen next. "You're burying the wrong person." "Miss Turner please stop this nonsense you've been saying that since the body arrived from the funeral home." "That boy is a 21 year old boy who went missing a week ago." Ok, this is getting out of hand now like seriously. "STOP BEING SO DELUSIONAL AND LET QUINN REST IN PEACE!!!" her husband yelled at her and dragged her to the car. "Let us continue." father Nicholas said in an annoyed tone.
~~~
He finished praying and they started lowering the body. As it went down everyone started dropping white roses in the hole. I was next to do mine but got pushed into the hole. I screamed as I hit the casket. I look up waiting for someone to help me out but no one came. "Hello!!??!" I called out then out of nowhere see white roses pouring down on me. I don't want to die at least not like this. Luckily I wasn't suffocated by the roses and climbed my way up. When I reached the top I saw the same thing that killed Quinn galloping towards me. I fall back in fright and fell in as well. I closed my eyes preparing for the attack but nothing happened. I open my eyes seeing everyone leaving the gravesite. "Janet let's go." Kayla said turning around and grabbing my hand. I hold her hand and walk with them to the car. I was hallucinating about the monster I know it's real but I was still hallucinating about it.
~~~~~~~~
Sunday
October 4
I wake up to the smell of eggs, more like omelets. The only person here who wakes this early is Aiden which means it's him. I slowly got out of bed looked down at my leg and noticed a mark. Looks like I slept funny again.
"I want to let you know, don't wanna let you go, don't wonder no more what I think about you if it's loving that you want then you should make me you boy!!" I hear my brother sing at the top of his lungs. It's obvious that he has his airpods so I tapped his shoulder. "It's obvious you need a friend to hold you dow...oh hey sleeping beauty glad to see you up I made omelets," he said in a cheerful voice. "Thanks, why are you so happy?" why am I asking him that? I usually never ask and join in. "You sound sad." ah he noticed my tone. "What makes you happy?" He asked as he placed the entire omelet on my plate. I shrug and then walk to the counter. "I'm just not myself today."
"I understand..... Did you bump your leg on something there's huge mark right here." he touches my legs and I wince. "Oh yeah that, I woke up with it this morning," I said before cutting the omelet in half and taking a bite.
We didn't talk much because I didn't have a thing to say which is weird because I'm always loquacious. "Your silence is killing me right now Janet. Come on tell me about your daily celebrity crush."
I furrowed my eyes. I used to do that. I had no idea. "Last week it was Brad Pitt." He grinned and suddenly I yawn out of exhaustion.
"Ye he's cute I guess.... Can I go lay down now?" I whined at the end. "No no no we're doing something fun today. Now freshen up and let's party."
"7 in the morning?" I murmur and he stops cheering to glare at me. "What?" I asked nonchalantly.
"You're acting depressed and strange and my 5'3 feet sister never gives that energy." It's just the stress about losing Quinn but Aiden is right I can't let myself go. "You know I dated Quinn right?" he sighs and nods. "I completely understand that you're still mourning but it has been a while I think you should go out and party your tears away."
"Orrrr even better go to the church." my mom said joining in. "I'll just go back upstairs." I back away.
Aniska
Rome
Sunday
October 4
The memorial service for Gary was held at his favorite place, the park where he taught me how to ride a bike I felt a bit relieved that we didn't have to go through the whole funeral process again. Dad decided to wear his suit but my mother and I wore all black dresses. I didn't know my mother would look this good in a black dress. We held hands as we walked to the park to see that everything was set up. It looked beautiful.
I felt like I was just going to the park with my family. That I was going to see Gabriel sitting on the bench waving at us to come over to him. "Hey guys." with his wide smile. I wish this was just another day in the park.
I walked up to the bench and saw the urn on a small table with a picture of him. We brought the picture since his girlfriend wanted to take the urn with them to Russia. He looked so happy in that photo. He was smiling so wide that I couldn't help but smile back at it. As I began to feel the tears forming in my eyes a warm hand on my shoulder made me turn around to see my husband. "You okay?"
"Yeah," I hug him and wiped my tears with the back of my hand.
"Come on the kids are waiting on us." he said holding my hand and we walked up to him. "You okay Helena?" I asked looking at my daughter. "Yeah, I'm fine. Dad and I just had a moment and I needed to pull myself together." She smiled reassuringly at me.
"I'm glad you're holding up." I kiss her on the cheek and walked to the bench to place a flower on the table. My parents did the same and soon after the rest of our relatives and friends arrived. Gary's girlfriend Rosa was crying, I assume the most affected person by his death was her. To see her cry makes me want to cry too.
"Take a seat guys." my dad said as we all sat in a circle on the green grass. We shared stories of Gary. Some were funny, some sad but all filled with love for him. As we laughed and cried together, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unity and support. Family may not always be perfect, but in moments like these, they become a source of strength and comfort.
When it was time to scatter the ashes, we took turns and shared our final words. Each grain of ash seemed like a piece of our memories with Gary, dispersed into the air but forever a part of us.
As the sun began to set, casting a warm glow over the park, we stood up and held hands. My dad said a few words, expressing gratitude for everyone's presence and the love we shared for Gary. The atmosphere was bittersweet, a mix of sorrow and celebration of a life well-lived.
Walking away from the park, I glanced back one last time. The image of the scattered ashes blending with the sunlight etched a poignant memory in my heart. Gary may be physically gone, but his spirit lingered in the stories, laughter, and love we shared that day.