Love.

Pure, sweet, innocent love. That's what I'd describe what we had together. A tear slips down my cheek as I imagine her laughing silently in my mind. Pulling the sleeves of my jacket over my hands, I hastily wipe it away. Readjusting my tie I slowly walk towards the white box laying on top of a table a few feet away from me. Another tear. Followed by another. Giving up on wiping them away, I bend at the knees and peer into the open coffin. I see her lying peacefully with a handful of tulips clasped between her hands. She looks like she's sleeping. Maybe they made some sort of mistake, maybe she didn't have leukemia, maybe she wasn't dead. I grasp her wrist and place my index and middle finger onto it, moving it around slightly, feeling for a pulse. Nothing. I touch her cheek, cold. Straightening up, I bend down once more and place a kiss on her forehead.

"Gabs, I love you and always will. Why did it have to be you? Out of anyone in the world they took my Gabriella." Pausing slightly, I grabbed a chair from a few feet away and took a seat, linking her fingers between mines I begin again.

"Do you remember our first kiss? I do. We'd both just celebrated becoming teenagers. Remember? We were in the tree house." Glancing out the window I spot the very place I'm talking about.

"Or how about the first time we went to the seaside?" I feel myself smiling at the memory of her splashing about the sea fully clothed.

Suddenly, the sound of music struck up and echoed around the church, jumping slightly I let go of her hand and took my seat in one of the front pews.

The priest took his place and opened his bible.

"Ladies and gentlemen. We are gathered here today to mourn the death of Miss Gabriella Marie Montez born 22nd August 1991 and sadly passed away 3rd March 2008. Gabriella, who was known to friends and family as Gabi was a beloved daughter to Maria, sister to Calum, granddaughter to Ruth, William, Mary and Alexander and girlfriend of Troy." Hearing my name being called, I snapped out my thoughts and looked down at the nails I was subconsciously picking at.

I felt as if I was dropping in and out of consciousness

"And now, Gabis boyfriend, Troy is going to say a few words." I didn't know how but I stood up slowly and put one foot in front of the other until I ended up standing next to the priest.

Clearly my throat I begin slowly, stuttering slightly.

"I loved Gabi, I'm sure you all know that." I nod slightly at a crying Mrs Montez in the front row. You know what loving her is like now? Climbing to the top of a mountain and being told 'you know what? this is anything and everything you can't have.' and you know the saying, you don't know what you've got until its gone? That isn't really the case for me, I knew what I had all the time she was living, from the day we met back in nursery school, to the day she died and even now after her passing. I miss her everyday, believe me, this is one wound that won't heal with time." I feel myself wiping my eyes, unaware I was crying to start with. Funny thing is, looking out here I bet 99 of the people sitting here couldn't tell you that Gabriella hates pasta and hates cheese yet could live of boxes of 'cheesy pasta' or the fact that she crys at the end of happy films 100 times worse than she would at a sad film." inhaling sharply, I let out the air I just exposed my lungs to. "Basically, what I'm her to do is say goodbye to my Gabs in body, but definitely not in spirit." Raising my head to the ceiling I hear myself whisper

"I love you Gabriella Marie Montez."

As pure as first falling snow, as sweet as a gallon of chocolate and as innocent as a newborn baby. Love.

The sound of Frank Sinatras 'My Way' could then he heard in and around the cathederal.