Chapter 24: The morning of the funeral

~Darry's POV~

Today was the day destined for me to bury my youngest brother, oh how I wish it wasn't so. I wished with all my heart that I could once more hear the sound of Ponyboy's voice laughing as me and Soda tickled him away. I would give anything in the world for me just to be able to hold Ponyboy in my arms once more. I realize now that he's not here I must have seemed awful distant to him, I realize that I couldn't remember the last time I had told him that I loved him. What kind of big brother does that? Not the very good kind, let me tell you I regretted not being able to help Ponyboy, not really doing anything to help him with the problems he was facing with whoever had killed our parents. Speaking of no more clues as to who done it either. It was hard knowing that whoever had a taken our parents away from us wouldn't be punished.

Sighing I stood to me feet and walked to the closet it was time to get ready to bury my heart and soul. Finally time to say goodbye, although my heart didn't want to. I struggled to keep the tears at bay as I slid into the suit. I wondered briefly how much more lose I would be able to take before something happened to me. I couldn't see myself making it through today, and if I did it would be a miracle to say the least.

I drew in a quivering breath; it was time to go tell Soda to get ready to go; though I didn't want to, the sigh of Soda grieving made my own heart break again even though it felt like it was already broken into a million pieces. Stepping out of my room and into the hallway, I marched slowly and silently to what used to be Ponyboy's and Soda's room. I knocked on the door before just walking in to find Soda curled up into a ball around Ponyboy's pillow.

"It's time to get dressed we have to be at the funeral home in 30 minutes" I say as I gently sit down on the edge of the bed. Placing my hand upon Soda's shoulder I could feel his body quivering from his sobs.

"I don't want to do this Darry" Soda said " I won't be able to make it through the service."

"I don't know how I will make it either" I said softly "but we have to this is the last time we get to tell Ponyboy goodbye."

"We shouldn't have to tell him goodbye" Soda muttered but sat up and put his feet on the floor. "he's too young to be going wherever it is that he's going to"

"There is no denying the truth in that" I say "but think about how it would make Ponyboy feel if he could know that you didn't want to come see him off." I said staring at a wrinkle in the sheet.

"He wouldn't want me to not go especially since I'll never get to see him again." Soda said getting off the bed and crossing the floor and heading of the bedroom.

"I'm gonna go take a shower before we leave"

"That's fine" I mutter as I grab Ponyboy's pillow and pull it to my face. Inhaling what was left of my little brothers scent.

Soda's POV

As I ran the water for my shower, I realized Darry was right today would be the last chance I got to say goodbye. I wouldn't waste a minute of it, because my baby brother meant the world to me and I would see him off no matter how much it hurt. Standing under the water, I let my tears wash down my face. I knew the day ahead of me would be really hard. I couldn't imagine living the rest of my life without seeing my brother. It didn't make sense that he had died in the first place considering he was just a little kid. I loved that kid with all of my heart and I would make sure somehow that he knew how much I loved him, wherever he was. He would know.

When I was done showering I headed back to my room and slid into my suit. Hopefully it would be the last suit I wore for a long while. When I exited the room I headed into the family room where I noticed that all of the gang was already there. Steve standing by the door approached me.

"I am so sorry we couldn't do anything for him" Steve said, while gently squeezing my shoulder.

"There was nothing you could do" I mumbled quietly.