Prologue
Funeral Bells
The church bells are ringing. I don't know why I'm here. The clouds are growing dark and the trees are swaying in a heavy wind. It will rain soon, and rightfully so. I couldn't stand if the sun was out today. I straightened my tie and laid my hand on my brother's shoulder. His face was pale and his eyes were red. He had no clue. He couldn't even begin to fathom this pain. I hurt. I felt hollow and stiff like a puppet made to walk. I wanted to fall to my knees like my strings had been cut, but my body wouldn't comply.
It has been just one week. Seven days into an eternity in hell. There is no place to apologize to the dead. No scars that can fade in the face of a tragedy. I have no redemption. We have no body to bury. He's gone, just like that in the blink of an eye, and I didn't even react.
I kept this strong facade and I watched her break down. I watched her fall to her knees and cry. I watched them comfort her, and I watched them hug her. I watched them cry. Nobody watched me. But that isn't what they would have seen. I did not cry. I did not break down. I did not sob or cry about how unfair the world is. Silently, and beyond their notice, I shattered. The pieces were too small to collect and mend. And the largest piece of all was missing.
My best friend. Wally West. Kid Flash. Kid Klutz, Kid Mouth, KF, Flash Boy. He's gone. Today is his funeral, his civilian funeral at least. Today we mourn his loss. I just want to hear him laugh again. Today, all I hear are funeral bells.
