The next day the majority of the campus was quiet as well as everything got cancelled. After school activities and practice. Many places across campus were open for grieving. Kayla, close friends with Roxanne and Hazel spent the day crying in her dorm.
And that's when Bobby came out to me.
"Bobby?" I was sympathetic. Bobby's eyes were so swollen even his glasses couldn't hide the evidence he was crying.
"We were lowkey about things for a few months last year...but we broke up. He was the only one that made me feel okay man, alright? Even now...he didn't care I was gay. He just wanted to be myself. I'm...sorry I didn't tell you sooner-" Bobby pulled his hood over his head.
I pulled Bobby in a hug. "I'm so sorry man...I'm really am..."
Bobby cried on my shoulder as I felt my heart sinker.
/
Being in the dorm didn't help seeing that the four of us used to share it. Wind's stuff was all here still...it only been half a day.
I can't believe he's gone.
I instantly cancelled practice for two weeks as the school had scheduled a candlelit ceremony for Wind on Friday. Before that my own Omegas marched through the campus having our own candlelit service; sadly chorusing our theme song. This went on until we circled back to the house and reentered in silence.
After three days before the candlelit ceremony Roxanne ran to the house hugging me tightly. And I finally cried in her shoulder. Days I kept it to myself. Days I couldn't accept him gone.
Days I couldn't let go.
/
At the ceremony Dr. Gray spoke first, wiping his forehead constantly.
"Today...is a tragic evening. A day I haven't had in several years running this school I had believed was a true haven. Today fellow teachers, staff, faculty, students...we remember the life of Wind Sanders. A sophomore who had dreams like many other colleagues. A wonder among us all. A star athlete. An inspiring Omega among his fellow brothers. An only son to his beloved mother and father. An overall...a wonderful, powerful student." He recited. "I cannot tell you how devastated I am to see one of my students pass away before my eyes...too young and too soon. But I don't have enough to say as many of you remember him through years here and beyond. So each one of his close colleagues and family may please step up to share a few words of remembrance of Wind Sanders."
One by one important friends close to him said marvelous words that described the guy perfectly. They didn't remember him as the drug dealer...in which he stopped last year and would occasionally get us the goods if we asked. He promised he wouldn't sell drugs anymore afterwards and he didn't.
"Wind reminded me the beauty of life. How there is so much havoc and corruption can be a light of hope." As Kayla tries to keep herself together. "He was a boyfriend I would never dream of having...and I'm so grateful I got to share many memories with him...as he has with his ex-boyfriend. He was a great guy overall and words cannot explain how much he meant to me..." As she sat down.
Roxanne got up to say a few words, breathing, "Wind was neutral to the drama within his circle but insisted on fixing everything his way. He was a true friend and should be remembered for that overall...despite the mistakes he has made. We should all be grieving because he left something for us to think about here...trust. My only regret is getting to know him a little better than I've seen from afar...take care Wind."
Bobby went to the mic, taking his glasses and telling the entire school of how he felt about Wind during time they dated. How he made him feel okay being gay and supported him even after they separated. Eventually Kayla ran up as he was stumbling through his speech and hugged him tightly as he cried in her shoulder.
His family spoke up, both devastated and loss for words. Many who were close to the family held them as they finally gone through their speech. Finally it was my turn. I held Wind's board in my hands as it was wrapped in the Omega banner.
"Wind came up to me and ask if he could join Team 99 even after the X-Games were over. I said 'Are you sure?' He was like 'Hell yeah, unless you're scared I'd beat ya'...and the first time I went too easy on him and he dusted me." I paused. "He eventually moved into the dorms with me, PJ and Bobby. And for the year he stayed with us it was an experience that was unimaginable. We got closer as the four of us helped establish the Omega fraternity and get fifty plus members." I said.
"Wind raced me again and I had beat him fair and square only for him to fall face first in the bushes. He gave me a thumbs up and I went ahead on my morning date." I said. "Wind was there when all sorta drama happened between the Gammas and the Omegas...but he was sure that he could fix it, but he didn't want to do it his way he wanted to do it the right way. Even at times he wanted to beat the hell out of certain people for messing with us. But he learned to forgive. That is what he taught me. He was an Omega I relied on for many things, and like a brother indeed. As a parting word I would like to present his board to his family, and that he will be missed dearly...goodbye Wind. You left too soon." As I wiped a tear and left the podium as my Omegas clapped my back as Roxanne hugged me.
Afterwards the majority of the student body laid a note or a flower in the center of the auditorium where his memorial. Even the Gammas went one by one placing a rose. Ruben bowed his head and walked back to his seat.
And with that, the memorial ended.
/
Weeks before the X-Games the house was mostly quiet as I had to figure out who could take Wind's place for the team.
No one would step up. I understood.
"I need to find a fourth member...no one will ever replace Wind...but that fourth spot will disqualify us." I told Roxanne...the only stable person I could talk to.
"Hazel. Ask Hazel." Roxy said. "There's nothing in the rules that say your fourth member can't be a girl. And she got back into skating."
"Maybe...it's that or bust." I sighed. "I knew something was going to happen...I didn't think it was going to be this." As I sulked back to the dorms.