Images slowly begin to emerge out of the blackness. It takes a moment for Jude to realize that they are people from his funeral. There are rows of mourners as seen from Jude's point of view. He seems to be floating among them. He could hear snippets of conversations. It all seems strangely odd and disjointed. Time seems unfixed, malleable. He can see a minister standing beside the grave.
"As we say farewell to our friend Jude Jacob, we are reminded of his eternal kindness, his generosity, his sassiness, his buoyancy of spirit..."
Jude tunes him out. Jude can see Connor's associates from the bank, who are among the mourners, along with his art pals.
"All that we treasure: our friends, our very close loved ones, our body, our mind, are but on loan to us. In the end, we must surrender them all. We are all travelers on the same road which leads to the same end." The minister continues.
Jude notices a woman in a beautiful black dress comforting one of the mourners. The woman looks up at him, smiles, and waves. Jude is surprised. He looks behind him, but no one is there. As he turns back, the woman is walking away. She appears just like any normal person until she approaches a large, marble headstone and passes right through it. Jude is very shocked.
"As our loved one enters eternal life, let us remember that love is eternal, that although we will miss him, our love will light the void and dispel the darkness." The minister continues.
Suddenly, Jude spots him.
"Connor."
Jude notices that Connor does not respond. Adam, Connor's father, leans over to him, consoling him. Tears form in Connor's eyes, and Jude's heart breaks. A hand reaches out to give him tissue. Connor looks up. It is Noah. He gives him his hand. He squeezes it with affection.
"...and into Your hands we commend his spirit. May he rest in peace. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen." The minister concludes.
The casket is lowered into the ground. Connor approaches the grave. He is a little unsteady. Adam gently takes his elbow. A shovel is placed in her hands by Noah. With great emotional effort he lifts a shovelful of dirt and tosses it onto the casket. It lands with finality. Jude shudders.
As people are leaving the cemetery, Connor can hear them talking.
"What time you going back to work?"
"What's the buzz on Digital?"
"It's sad…"
"He was so young..."
"How's your new Honda?"
"Going away this weekend?"
Connor simply shakes his head, both in anger and in sadness.
Jude is desperately alone. Down the hill, people are getting back into their cars. Jude can see Connor being let into a limousine. He stands there staring at his own casket, grieving. Then, after a moment, he turns away. Separating from his body, from his own grave site, he runs after Connor.
