Mission FireFly » Stories » Amy

Life After Gabriel

A continuing story by Amy

Chapter Four

      The drive to Haven was long, with too much time to think. Scarlett ran her fingers through her hair, and checked the review mirror quickly, before turning onto the back roads. On the back roads she could speed, and today that was something that she needed to do. She pushed her yellow Honda as fast as it could go. Her hair flew out behind her, and she rolled up the windows so the dust couldn’t blind her. As she rounded the turn into Haven it was 1:55 pm. Perfect. She could sneak into the back, without having to receive all the sympethetic glances and the fake symapthy from people who didn’t even know her. As she parked in front of the church she removed her sunglasses, thought better of it, and covered her eyes.
      She slipped into the back pew just as Time After Time by Quiet Drive began playing, Gabe’s favorite song. The Schoken family filed in, and it looked so strange now. Gabe had five siblings, with him as the second oldest. They were all born two years apart and so they were all in line as of age. Now there was a gap in the height. It went from Sarah to Thomas without Gabriel in between. Scarlett looked down, hoping they wouldn’t see her. So far she was doing well in controlling her tears. Then, the slideshow started, and half the pictures were her and Gabe, arms around each other. She couldn’t control her tears then and they were flowing uncontrollably. Mr.Schoken stood up and went to the front of the stage.
      “So, this funeral is going to be a little different than most. We’re going to have an open mic, and anyone who would like to share a memory they had with Gabriel is free to come up,” He placed the microphone in its stand and sat down with the rest of the Schoken family. The first to stand up was Ally, Gabe’s six year old sister. Scarlett’s heart broke as she saw her blonde hair without its usual braids. She took the mic and her little voice filled the church.
      “Gabriel was my big brother. He used to braid my hair for me. Now, I won’t wear my hair in braids anymore, because that was Gabe’s job,” Scarlett started to cry again, remembering how Gabe loved to braid Ally’s hair because it made her smile to have her older brother playing with her hair. She slumped down in the pew and listened as person after person spoke about Gabe. Finally Thomas stood up.
      “We’re about to wrap up the open mic, so is there anyone else who would like to speak?” Scarlett looked down at her jeans, saw his writing, and knew that Gabe would have wanted her to speak. Slowly she stood up, and Thomas saw her coming. “I’d like you guys to welcome Scarlett Hurley, Gabe’s best friend. I’m sure she has some special words for us, so listen up,” Thomas handed her the microphone and gave her a quick hug. She looked out at the crowd and saw few familiar faces. She slipped off her sunglasses, and took a deep breath.
      “So, there are so many memories I could share about Gabriel,” she started off in a shaky voice, “but I guess I’ll share a few of my favorite. There was this year at camp, when we went water-skiing at the lake. It was my first time, and Gabe wasn’t cutting me any slack,” she let out a small laugh, “So after I’d fallen a few thousand times, it was Gabe’s turn, and there were these pretty girls standing on the dock. So as Gabe gave me a grin, and turned to smile at the girls, I pulled down his shorts and he went speeding away nude,”  The church filled with laughter as she smiled, seeing Gabe’s shock and then the anger directed her way all over again. As everyone quieted down, she brought the mic back to her lips. “Then there was the night I called him, because my boy friend had broke my heart. He told me not to move and hung up the phone. I was so confused, just thinking he would call back. Then, two hours later, he was at my door, with arms open wide,”  there were tears rolling down her face and she could hardly go on, “he held me that night, and told me he would take me to prom the next night, since the low life had left me without a date, his words not mine,” She couldn’t make it. She put the microphone back in the stand and ran off the stage, out of the church.
      Her sister found her out back, kneeling on the ground, gasping for air between her sobs. She circled her arms around Scarlett and cradled her head against her chest. Amelia Hurley was two years older than her little sister, and couldn’t imagine what she was going through. Scarlett held onto Amelia and tried to stop crying.
      “Ssshh, shhh, it’s gonna be okay,” Amelia smoothed down Scarlett’s hair and felt her breathing even out. Scarlett wiped her arm across her eyes and under her nose, and looked into Amelia’s tear filled eyes.
      “When did you come home?” She whispered. Amelia looked surprised.
      “Mom didn’t tell you? When she told me Gabe died, I told my profs there’d been a death, and came home for the funeral. College isn’t more important than family,” Amelia smiled.
      “Well, I’m glad you’re here,” Scarlett hugged her sister and stood up, “I think I’m gonna head home. See you there?”
      “For sure,” Amelia watched her sister walk to her car and wondered if she was going to be okay.

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