The morning of the funeral was a nightmare.

A beautiful day outside; not a cloud in the sky.

Jade stood beside her grandmother, the two men that broke the news to their family stood off to the side,
Captain Orion and Mr. Ron.

Jade secretly despised the two men, and was determined to find out what happened to her parents herself if they wouldn't spill.

The church they held the wake assisted in lowering the caskets into place. Nobody showed, except for Sam's family and Mikaela of course.

All of their family friends were also tied into the military and were on duty or they had moved away. No one cared enough to make the trip here to say goodbye.

Though they sent sympathy cards and posted on social media about the loss of their "dear friends", who they hadn't even cared to speak to in years and everybody is all of a sudden their best friends.

Everybody knew those kinds of people.

Fakes.

And Jade wanted nothing to do with them.

At the funeral, Sam's mother had to be the worst, tears free falling like rivers and sobs wracked her body, not a single care about who seen her that way. Jade wasn't much for public emotion and contained hers into a blank face.

Though, inside was a raging storm of emotions.

Even to her surprise, Captain Orion seemed to show the some emotion, while Mr. Ron had a stone hard look to his face. Sam held his in, trying to comfort Jade the best way he can without losing it himself.

Jade took a deep breath and closed her eyes as the caskets lowered.

Birds chirped, basking in the early morning sun light.

They say, that with a beautiful morning, a new life begins.

Well screw that.

Had been Jade's thoughts on that statement. She'd rather go back in time.

She didn't want a new life to begin, she wanted her life before, when parents were alive and well. She wanted to spend every waking minute with them. It was unfair, to have them both ripped away from her so suddenly.

Jade sighed deeply again, regretting not spending more time with them. 

She regretted how she ignored them the day before they were to leave for deployment... She was angry at the time, and much younger. She was simply angry at them for leaving near the holidays, when they promised to be there.

And now look where it has ended.

With her parents in wooden boxes six feet under.

Who knew what they looked like in those caskets. They were given a closed casket funeral.

Captain Orion and Mr. Ron had insisted on a closed casket and it was ultimately up to Jade's grandmother, who was after all, the mother of Jade's father; David.

Were their bodies torn apart by bombs or something?

Could they have been littered with bullet holes?

Burned to a crisp in some kind of fire?

Were they at all recognizable?

Had their bodies even been recovered?

Jade shook her head and opened her eyes, trying to rid her mind of the evil scenarios plaguing her thoughts. Ann stepped away and took a stroll through the grave yard, holding a picture of her son and daughter-in-law tightly.

Burying her only son was probably a strain on her heart and mind alike.

No parent should have to bury their kid. No matter how old they get. Jade was the last to remain after the service ended.

Mikaela took off after some time, giving her a hug and telling her to call her tonight if she needed. Sam's parents gave her strong and loving embraces.

His father pat her shoulder several times. "You're a strong woman, Jade. We're here for whatever you need, alright? "

Jade nodded, thanking them with a sad smile before they went to head on home.

Sam was the only one to remain by her side now.

He walked up beside her, staring at the two freshly covered holes. The soil was damp while flower seeds were sprinkled over.

Sam placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Jade- "

"Yeah. I know. " She cleared her throat and turned.

"You uh- you should go. " She said quietly.

"Huh? " Sam was shocked. He turned towards her.

"I mean- look, I just need time alone. I'll be fine. I'm not ready to leave quite yet. And besides, Mikaela  doesn't have a ride. She lives 10 miles from here. You should give her a ride in your new car, or at least give her a ride to the lake party today. The car's nice choice by the way. I never did get to see it last night. "

Jade said, motioning towards Sam's older yellow Camaro. Sam chuckled. "Yeah. I'm sorry I didn't come by yesterday. I tried calling but- "

"I know. I ignored the calls. It wasn't your fault. I just- I didn't- well I had only just found out and- "

"You don't have to explain. I understand. Maybe I can take you for a ride and grab something to eat this time, with my car? What do you say my friend? " Jade chuckled, nodding her head.

"Sounds like a plan, Sam. "

He fist bumped her shoulder gently. Jade smiled, a real smile. They stood there another moment.

"Are you sure you'll be okay here alone? " He glanced around at the empty cemetery.

"Yeah. I need some time alone anyways. " Jade said in a whisper, staring at the headstones. Sam sighed, nodding.

"Okay. I'm going to stop by later, and you're not going to ignore me this time. I'll- I'll climb through the window if I have to. I have to tell you the crazy story about the dealership incident yesterday. " He said. This made Jade chuckle, Sam smiled and walked towards his car.

"Incident? " Jade asked.

"Yeah, my car was the only one on the lot still intact." Sam said, swinging his keys around his finger.

"Don't stay here too long, seriously Jade. I'll be back by your house later, okay? "

He said, climbing into his car. "Okay. I'll go pick up Miles and then try to hook Mikaela a ride home! It's the perfect plan.  "

Jade chuckled lightly. She watched as he started up the Camaro and drove off. Leaving a plume of black smoke.

"Wow. His father really did go cheap... " She whispered watching the black smoke swirl up through the sky. Jade glanced over to the truck, she had cleaned it again yesterday; tired of being in her room left with her thoughts she had the urge to do something last night.

Jade sauntered over to said truck, which sat under the oak tree across from the freshly covered caskets. She bent down and sat against the tire again; something she often found herself doing.

It brought her this sense of comfort.

It was odd, but she didn't complain.

Jade sat for awhile in silence. The sun peeking through the leaves of the grand tree, birds singing in the trees around her, white clouds began to gather and dance freely across the skies.

She closed her eyes, popped in her headphones and let her playlist go.

Jade hadn't realized how late it had truly gotten until her phone rang, interrupting her music. It was a call from Sam.

"Ah shit. It's already six..? " She cursed checking the time.

She answered the phone with a deep breath. She dug in her pocket for her keys. "Listen Sam, I know I promised not to stay long. I just dozed off, I lost track of time-"

Sams frantic and panicked voice cut her off.

"Sam! Hang on, dude slow down I can't understand you. What's going on? " She started the truck and began making her way home.

But she stopped the truck abruptly when Sam began spilling the adventures he and Mikaela have had since she last saw them.

"Wait... what? " She almost yelled.

She heard Sam start talking quickly about his night adventures on how his car broke down and Mikaela looking incredibly hot, and how she knew about cars just like herself.

Jade chuckled. "

"JADE. She's legit! I think she's interested! She even told me she had fun. "

"That's great then. You're on the right track. "

"Where are you anyway? "

"Uhm... look-" She frowned.

"You're still at the cemetery aren't you? " He said. Jade sighed, turning down her street.

"I was. But I'm pulling into my house now. " She said, she placed the phone on speaker and placed a single pensive of tape on the corner of a photo and placed it on the dash.

A photo of her and her parents last year at a carnival.

She smiled sadly before picking the phone back up. "Well listen I'm on my way over. We can get food and I can tell you about the dealership. "

"Right. I guess.. " She said.

"You need to get out, Jade. You don't need to be lost in your thoughts locked away in your room. That's what I'm here for, to keep you on your feet. Ann is welcome to come too. "

"I know. Thanks Sam. And my grandma isn't home actually. Not sure where she went but I'm assuming she needs her time and space. "

"Probably. I'll be there in five. "

"Okay. "

With that she hung up and went to wait for her friend outside in the cool night air.

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Till next time!

👋🏼

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