The snow fell gently over two boys who presently stood in front of two grave markers, each silently reading the names that were etched into the granite surface of the head stones. The slightly more slender and sun haired boy glanced over at his slim, ebony haired companion, only to notice the silent tears that ran down his friend's face. He could remember the events that had led the two boys to stand before the two graves of their best friends.
Flashback- Three weeks earlier
It had been a normal Friday evening. As usual, the four boys were gathered at one of their houses for a night in of game playing.
But halfway through their planned evening of game playing, they'd run out of drinks and snacks, so both the licorice haired and the dandelion haired boys volunteered to bring back both snacks and drinks.
They were only away from the house for fifteen minutes. When the two boys returned with their arms each loaded down with a single bag filled to the brim with snacks and drinks, they found the house fully ablaze.
Releasing his hold on the bag in his arms, Stan ran towards the now flaming house while yelling out his best friend's name, followed by Kenny. Reaching out, he grabbed his friend by the back of his coat and yanked him away from the house just before some of the flaming wood fell away from the house and landed directly where he'd been standing.
Standing close together, the two boys watched in silence as the two story house continued burning while hoping, wishing for the two figures of their best friends to somehow emerge from the flame consumed house. But no figures emerged from the house. Realizing that his best friend was truly gone, Stan fell to his knees in the snow and wept openly while only silent tears streamed down his companion's face.
End flashback
Having enough of standing in front of his best friend's grave, Stan turned and walked away from it, followed by his only remaining fair haired friend. Neither of them would ever forget their two best friends.
In loving memory of all those who have gone on ahead of us. May they never fade from our hearts and our memories.