The next morning was overcast and rainy. Chuck, along with Gary and Marcia stood underneath umbrellas as distant family and friends surrounded the white steel casket that was covered in beautiful looking flowers. The priest said a short prayer, reading from one of his passages. Chuck spaced out while all of his was going on. Dressed in his dark suit, his lowered his heads and stared down at the casket.

Inside there was Lucy.

Feeling his insides shake he looked away from everyone's silent grieving faces and really now knew this had happened. Lucy was really dead, and this hadn't been some awful nightmare. Glancing up for a second he caught the eye of Lucy's parents. Both holding each other and looked so old and lost. They stared at Chuck before simply looking away. Nothing left to really say to each other. They were all heartbroken and knew they couldn't bring her back. In a way they all felt guilty…just because maybe, just maybe they could of stopped it from happening. Maybe because they were just thirty or so feet away from where she drowned.

Looking down again he happened to notice Marissa from the office was there. Looking off into space, holding her walking cane. Chuck thought it was nice of her to show up…Lucy would of liked that. Looking at the casket he felt dizzy with terrible pain. They were really burying her, and leaving him all alone. He struggled to control his tears in front of everyone.

When the priest said amen, everyone slowly began walking away. After what happened yesterday during her wake, between the afternoon viewing hours Chuck knew that people would stay away. They had seen he was in shock and wasn't doing good at all. Almost fearful and full of pity, they walked away up towards their cars. Gary and Marcia meanwhile stayed.

The funeral director, along with his assistant stood by the hearse and collected the umbrellas they handed out. Other people parted in their own directions, trying to hurry to their cars before the rain got to them. Headlights were turned on, and they all began to drive away.

Gary looked over at Marcia, and both knew how bad Chuck was doing. He simply stared down at the casket, getting wet from the falling rain. His eyes dead. Marcia and Gary stepped forward holding the umbrella over him.

"Chuck…come on buddy, your gonna get soaked. Let's go back to our place for some nice coffee…few people might stop by."

It seemed no use, Chuck simply kept looking down at the casket. Finally Gary turned and nodded to Marcia to walk back to the car. Marcia slowly nodded, and sighed at her husband. Watching her go, he turned towards Chuck as rain began to pour down on them.

"Come on Chuck, Marcia is gonna put heat on in the car."

This car was what Gary had bought her last year for her birthday. A fancy little silver sports car that Chuck often joked about. Chuck bit down on his bottom lip, looking at the coffin, and pain flicked in his eyes. Looking up at Gary, his eyes seemed so empty and lost.

"Gary…"

His voice was shaking and low.

"Gary…I don't wanna leave her out here in the rain…"

Chuck's voice broke up as Gary reached over and hugged his friend. Chuck fought hard not to cry before Gary slowly began leading him up the hill to the car.

Later that afternoon, a few people had come back to Chuck's. On the way back there Chuck, who sat in the backseat staring out the window, cracked a dry and humorless joke about a funeral party. Gary and Marcia just looked at each other.

About fifteen or so people arrived. Lucy's parents were not there.

Most of them distant family of Chuck's, and a few friends of Lucy's and co-workers. Everyone in their own little way approached him that afternoon as everyone stood around softly talking in little clicks and eating all the food everyone had bought. People mostly sat around in the apartment eating, drinking coffee, and talking. Mostly about Lucy's photographs. Chuck sat on the sofa, drinking beer and not really saying much. A few people came over to him and told him yet again how very sorry they were about his wife. Most of the talk was the same. Over and over he had heard it.

"I'm sure she didn't suffer."

"She loved you so much, you two were meant for each other."

"She's with angels now."

"I'm so sorry Chuck, she was so beautiful."

Chuck simply nodded and thanked them softy.

Finally around six, everyone had left. Marcia was finishing cleaning up with Chuck in the kitchen. On what must have been his 10th beer, he stayed silent and put the last of the food away. Finally she turned towards him.

"You okay?"

Chuck shrugged.

"I've been better…"

Marcia sighed before Gary entered the kitchen.

"So I was thinking maybe you might like to crash at our place for awhile…"

Chuck shook his head.

"Gary your sweet but no…I just need some time alone, thank you though…"

Gary looked uncertain.

"Are you sure?"

Chuck nodded.

"I just need time alone and let it sink in, I'm hurting…but I'm fine really."

That's when Marcia and Gary walked over and put their arms around their friend. Chuck didn't so much emotion as he hugged them back. An hour or so later they finally left, after making him promises for what seemed like the third time he would call them in the morning. Feeling almost childlike, he saw his answer machine was full. Sighing, he crossed into the bedroom to change.

Getting into one of his sport's jerseys, and sweats he could smell the faint scent of her perfume. Feeling his heart ache, he ran his hands through his hair and went into the kitchen. Grabbing what he hoped was his last beer for the night he went into the living room and laid on the couch.

Sitting there he tried to watch the television before he clicked it off. Sitting there all alone, he looked around the living room and remembered all those times Lucy was with him. All those times she laid across the sofa with him watching basketball or some movie on TV. How they often had wine on this sofa and kissed each other. How last winter they set up their over sized Christmas tree just over near the window. So many great memories in this room with her.

He was used to that.

Having her with him.

He wished she was laying beside him. Wearing one of his jerseys and shorts. Her hair in a ponytail and her head rested on his shoulder. How he would look down at her beautiful face, clean of makeup and smile.

Now…

He was alone.

Putting his head in his hands he began to cry.