Mission FireFly » Stories » Amy

Life After Gabriel

A continuing story by Amy

Chapter Three

      Sunlight peeked in through Scarlett’s window as she woke up. Immediate pain went through her as the light pierced her puffy and swollen eyes. She tried to remember why she was awake at eight in the morning on a summer day. Her heart felt heavy as she realized that today was July 23, Gabe’s funeral. The funeral isn’t until two in the afternoon though, she thought wearily. Her sleep pattern had been off since she got the news four days ago. She either slept through the day and was wide awake all night, or she slept through the night, but was still tired the rest of the day. Rubbing her eyes, Scarlett opened her laptop to check her e-mail. Since the news of Gabe’s death had got around, everyone had been calling and e-mailing hopeing she was okay. Today would be her first day out of the house and she was not looking forward to it. Her computer flickered to life and she saw that there was an e-mail from Gabriel’s mom. She and Scarlett’s mom had been talking a lot in the past few days, worried about Scarlett and how she was coping. Scarlett opened the e-mail and read the words of encouragment from Mrs.Schoken. She had included a bible verse at the bottom, “ For the joy of the Lord is my strength” (Nehemiah 8:10)     
      Scarlett re-read the verse and slammed her laptop shut. She wasn’t even sure there was a God right now. Gabe’s words floated through her mind, “I hope that you don’t blame God,”. “How can you say that?” she yelled into the silence of her room, “You’re not the one left here without a best friend anymore!”  She heard a soft knock on the door and turned over to face the wall. Her mother opened the door and walked in towards the bed.
      “Scarlett, please don’t pretend to be asleep. I could hear you yelling from the kitchen,”  Mrs. Hurley said gently, placing a hand on Scarlett’s shoulder.
      “Sorry to disturb you,” Scarlett muttered bitterly. She knew that none of this was her mom’s fault but right now she just didn’t care. Her own heart hurt too much for her to think about everyone else. She heard her mother sigh as she stood up.
      “I’m planning on leaving for Gabriel’s funeral around noon. Are you coming with us or driving yourself?” she sounded tired and frustrated. Scarlett  felt a bit of remorse at the trouble she was causing her mom, but it was gone as quickly as it had come.
      “I’ll drive my own car, thanks. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to have a shower,” Scarlett slid out of the bed and marched out of her room, leaving her mother to wonder what she’d done wrong.
      As Scarlett let the hot water run, she looked at herself in the mirror. What she saw did not please her. She saw greasy black hair hanging past her shoulders, in desperate need of washing. Her blue eyes usually bright, were dull and puffy. She tried smiling, but it was a failed attempt. She sighed and stepped into the shower. The warm water felt good on her skin, and for a moment she forgot everything. She let all the bad be washed away with the water, like dirt off her skin. The feeling didn’t last long though, and then she was sitting there sobbing, letting the water hide her tears.

      Scarlett stood in front of her closet trying to decide what to wear. She knew at funerals you usually wore black, but today she didn’t feel like it. Her eyes fell on a pair of jeans, with a few rips and holes in them. These jeans were special though. This past summer at camp, she and Gabriel had written all their favorite sayings and memories together on them. The jeans were covered in pen from hip to foot, and they were perfect for today. She knew her mother would probably freak, but today she was wearing them for Gabe.
      She now knew which shirt she would wear too. She had a basketball game last year that Gabe had made it down for, and after the game he had written, “Best player I’ve ever known! Love Gabe.” on the back. She slid the jersey over her head and put her jean jacket over it. She put on make-up for the first time in a week, adding the apropriate black eye-liner. She slipped on her flip-flops, the one Gabe had gotten blue paint all over,  grabbed her car keys, and ran out the door.

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