Eric’s funeral right now, and his name’s going to be on the tombstone and whatnot. And the least you can to for him is to say his name.” He looked at me sharply. “Again, the least you can do.”
He had a point.
I hate Aaron and his arrogance. What a jerk. What a stupid, dumb guy. I took a deep breath and said, “Eric.”
“Was that so hard?”
“Very.” I said.
I wasn’t amazed at all that we arrived early at the church. Aaron didn’t exactly know what time it started. We sat at this little bench under a large hovering oak tree. I wrapped my arms around myself as he did the same. It wasn’t supposed to snow today, but it clearly appeared to be.
There’s a cemetery behind the church that gave me a chill. Just imagining people praising and worshiping inside and the dead just being dead on the outside. Maybe it’s a Catholic thing. Doesn’t anyone else feel uncomfortable having a cemetery so close to a place of worship?
Eric was next in the burial list. His tombstone and hole made waiting patiently for the casket. This was sick thinking, why am I torturing myself?
“Aaron, sweetie!” Macy called out from behind. I turned my head, and she noticed me. “Ah, I thought that was you, Dora dear. Or is it Dottie?” Her forehead creased up as she came closer.
“Yes, Mrs. Grant.” I smiled sympathetically.
“I’m so glad you came,” she wrapped her arms around me. “I never got to thank you about releasing me and Aaron. Did Aaron thank you?”
“I did.” Aaron grumbled while she hugged him as well. “Is anyone else coming?”
“Well…yes, in a way. I mean his father will be here. And other relatives like Nana and Papa along with your uncles and aunts. It’s Christmas day after all. I can’t expect all of them to come out here in just a short notice. Plus all the snow…it’d be hard to get a flight anywhere at this time.”
His father? I didn’t know his father was still alive. I figured he might have died or something. I never asked.
“They’ll be here.” She continued, spotting someone in the distance. “Ah! There’s the priest. I’ll see you guys in a little while.” She patted my shoulder and left.
“She seems okay.” I acknowledged.
“She keeps up a good front,” Aaron said.
I looked at him. “I never asked how you were doing.”
He shook his head. “I’m okay too, I guess.”
Another lie. “What’s wrong?”
“You know, I always thought we had time,” he said quietly. “I was never really close and I thought that could change when we were both grown up and stuff. I guess not anymore.”
I nodded. I thought I had time with him too. We probably were the ones that had all the time in the world.
A car pulled up in the distance and I instantly knew it was Shannon, Carter, and Travis.
“Hey.” Shannon said, waving.
“What is up?” Travis said.
Cater only bobbed his head at us.
“Hey you guys,” I said and Aaron waved. Shannon sat down in the gap between me and Aaron.
“It’s freezing cold, isn’t it?” she said, tossing her head back. “I didn’t know what to wear. I’m not too big on the color black.” I saw that she had on black skinny jeans and a large black t-shirt hidden behind her pink sweater. “I borrowed the t-shirt from Travis,” she said.
I tried to hide my smirk. She added in a low serious voice, “Not that we were doing anything.”
“Oh, of course.” I whispered back. I know that they weren’t doing anything, but then again, I thought Jake and Janaki weren’t dating.
“Sorry that I doubted you for your magical powers, Dottie.” She said.
I furrowed my eyebrows. “What are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about bailing Aaron and Macy out,” she exclaimed. “I guess thinking you were insane wasn’t a second thought to the higher power.”
“Oh no.” I stuffed my cold hands in my pockets. “They totally thought I was insane. But you can’t pass up on a favor when the victim requests it.”
I’ve never been to a funeral before, so I couldn’t possibly compare how normal funerals go down. Once everyone that could make it showed up, the priest began the sermons and prayers. I stared at the coffin from my seat.
It was really hard to concentrate and it wasn’t just about Eric. When everyone arrived, they gave me one glance and recognized me as the girl he kidnapped. I couldn’t ignore their obvious stares and whispers when I walked past them.
Aaron helped though. He took my hand into his and we headed in the first row of pews. As soon as we sat down, Shannon popped out of nowhere with Travis and Carter. They sat beside us, whispering silently about the church and other things that I didn’t bother filling in on.
As the priest rambled on in one of his sermons, something he said caught my attention.
“Everyone sins. It’s the fact of life.” He stated. “So therefore, no one should look down upon someone who has done something wrong in his or her life. All we can do is look up and pray. Pray for his spirit and pray for the others who have yet to forgive.” He glanced at me for a short moment, before continuing.
I have forgiven Eric. I forgave him even before his death. I forgave him when we shared our first kiss. I think I even forgave him when I first woke up in his closet. I knew that he had a reason, that maybe he was lonely or afraid. People hated him and he kept letting that control his life.
He needed someone and he chose me. It sounds right, but it looks wrong.
I found Eric’s father sitting in the pews after the funeral services were complete. Aaron pointed him out to me and told me Eric hasn’t seen his father in years. I told Aaron to go ahead as he left with the rest of Eric’s crew.
His father had his hands folded on the backside of his neck. His head was down and he sat still for a while. He had black hair like Eric’s. The only resemblance for the moment.
I awkwardly sat down next to him, folding my hands to appear like I’m praying.
“I know who you are,” he said softly, kind of like the cool voice Eric had. “He kidnapped you.”
I nodded nervously. I noticed that he didn’t turn his head to me at all, he stayed facing the floor. “Yes.”
“I wasn’t around for him and I regret that.” He looked up at me, and I took a peak as his sharp, gray eyes. His face shared similar features as his son.
I blinked. “Why are you telling me?”
“You’ve been more close to him in these last couple of days. I’m just wondering…would he forgive me?”
I took a long pause, mulling over the idea. Eric asked my forgiveness and I forgave him, but this could be considered an unforgivable situation. Eric would hold a grudge if it was that bad, and leaving your wife and child is exactly that.
“I don’t think he could ever forgive me for leaving him and his mom alone. I know. He’s all about everything being fair,” he smiled apathetically.
I looked to the middle of the church. A statue of Jesus lying on the cross looking quite solemn.
“Tell you what,” I said quickly. “When the time comes, you’ll know. But right now, why don’t you ask forgiveness by the person who still lives on.”
Which in other words would be translated by saying: “Go say sorry to Macy.”
He stood up abruptly, holding out his hand to help me up. “It’s too bad things had to end this way—for all of us.”
The funeral was over. Macy invited us to the breakfast at her house, but I declined the offer, not thinking twice about my ride.
I looked at Aaron after Macy went to gather everyone else. “You can go—I’ll walk home. It’s not that far.” We were standing at Eric’s grave, and I couldn’t take my eyes off of the tombstone.
He laughed. “Yeah right. It’s okay. I can see Aunt Macy anytime I want.” I was expecting him to say something else, but it’s like he held back in midsentence. He fiddled in his pocket for something, cursing u
nder his breath.
After a while I was annoyed. “What’s wrong?” I said impatiently.
“I uh,” he stood up, shaking his hand in his jacket, “think I lost my keys.”
“You think?”
His eyes widened. “I did.”
“You had to pick the worst possible time to lose them!” I spread my arms out wide, signifying the ground covered in snow. “I mean…you couldn’t find anything in this wreak!”
“It could be in the church,” he argued.
“Hey ya guys!” A slurred voice shouted across the field. At first I was terrified that it was some sort of zombie coming out of the ground. Although I didn’t think zombies talk. I also didn’t believe in the dead coming back to life.
Shannon was next to us in an instant, carrying a large bottle of beer. She chugged it down as she wobbled around. Travis and Carter followed after, huffing like she was hard to keep up with. I noticed keys in her hand. “Oh Shannon,” I whined, “Are you—”
“Dammit! Is she drunk!?” Aaron was looking from the drink to the keys in her hands.
She gave him a sly, arrogant look. “I am NOT drunk,” she snorted, “I am merely intoxicated.”
“That’s the same thing!” Aaron blurted, but she ignored him.
“Thanks Mr. Reed,” Shannon giggled with a hiccup, “for providing this wonderful alcohol.” The bottle tittered in her hand clumsily. “And what a great funeral!” She laughed.
“Shannon,” he said sternly. “Why the hell did you steal my keys and beer! That needed to be delivered to the frat parties. How much did you drink?”
She had a blank look on her face and shrugged. “I don’t