Kara stood over the grave. A few years had passed, but still seemed like only yesterday. Life could be a cruel thing to everybody. It just happened to be crueler to certain people.
Dan was so young when he contracted pneumonia. Still, he did his best to live a normal life as he battled the infection. Then, he just went to sleep one night and never woke up. Dan Jones was dead at 28.
The obvious question was why. But it was one no one would get an answer to in this life. All anyone knew was a life had been cut way too short. And sadly, no amount of Mr. Conductor's magic could bring him back.
Kara only felt she could go to the funeral with Becky, although they hadn't seen much of each other the past few years. They were just too busy with their jobs. Plus, Becky had moved a couple of hours away, so it wasn't like they were a stone's throw from each other. But now, they needed each other having lost the third member of their old group.
Everyone in the Indian Valley seemed to show up. Stacy and Matt were grieving over the loss of one of their own, but support came in from all those present. Kara's grandfather Harry and cousin Tanya showed up, as did Billy, Schemer, Schemee, Felix Perez, Barton Winslow and even J.B. King Esq. They all had their memories of Dan and none of them could understand why they had to say goodbye to him so soon.
Kara snapped back into the present. A hand on her shoulder had made her do so. She turned her head and there was Becky.
"I heard you were coming today," said Kara. "I just wanted to get here first so you wouldn't get lost in this place."
"I appreciate that," said Becky. "I'm never good at making my way around cemeteries anyway, so thanks for being considerate."
The two of them then looked back down at the spot where Dan lay beneath.
"He had his whole life ahead of him," said Becky. "He was going to take over the station when Stacy retired. He loved it there and wouldn't have traded that place for anything."
"I know," said Kara. "But at least Matt said he'd become the new heir. How nice of him to end his directing career for the sake of his family. Shining Time Station just wouldn't feel right without a Jones running it."
"Still," said Becky. "It won't be the same with Dan not being behind the desk. We hung around that station longer than Matt and Tanya did. And what's worse, we can't all be together to reminisce about those days again."
"I get what you mean," said Kara. "It just doesn't feel right knowing he's gone. But we still got to know him as the kind, compassionate human being he was. We had a great friend in him too and that's a debt we can never repay."
"That's true," said Becky. "The three of us did so many things when we were younger. Without him, I don't think the bond we share now would have been as strong, even if I did move away. I just wish he didn't have to leave us already."
"Life is what it is," said Kara. "People come and go. But they'll always be with us no matter where we are, even if in spirit only."
The two friends each lay down the flowers they had brought, each said a silent prayer and made peace with their feelings for the moment.
"Let's go out to eat and toast our friend," said Kara. "There's this good Italian place near my house."
"All right," said Becky, before turning to the grave one last time. "Goodbye Dan. We'll see you again."
And with that, the group of friends, down to a duo, departed from the sight.