So today's the day. The time to put me deep in the ground. Surrounded by four wooden walls and earth. I never thought the day would come this early. Then again I never thought I would die. Not the way I did anyway. I always thought I would die in a car crash from drinking over the limit. That or die like a superhero. I guess in the end I did die like a superhero. That races, violent man threatened my brother. He blamed him for his father's death and said my brother would pay for what he protective big brother in me thought 'no harms my little brother'. So I went after him. I went after the guy who would be my killer.
The gathering at the church, outside was a bigger turnout than I'd expected. There were so many faces I didn't recognise. Of course, they were probably one night stands I had, but I didn't think they'd be at my funeral. The were also faces I knew. The faces of friends and colleagues. A smile appeared on my face when I saw Lofty. I was grateful he could come. When he mentioned Taylor something tugged at my heart and I wondered if Taylor knew about what had happened. Then again why would she? The last time I saw her was when she showed up unannounced with a baby, claiming I was the father and then vanished. I looked around the cemetery and saw everyone. I saw Charlie with Duffy, Robyn, Lofty, Noel and Iain. I saw Lily and Jez, Max and Alicia. Yet, as I looked at the faces of the people I called my family, I noticed there was one face I didn't see. Someone who was my family. The last person in my family. And that was my brother, Ethan.
A part of me felt angry. I was dead and he wasn't even at my funeral. Soon the hearse arrived carrying my coffin. Everyone followed the hearse as it went to the front of the church. An hour later, a taxi drew up outside. The door opened and Ethan got out of the back. Well, he stumbled out. I could tell by the state he was in that he was drunk. Really drunk. I sighed sadly. This new behaviour wasn't like Ethan. Ethan didn't get drunk. Ethan was never late. The longer I thought about his recent behaviour, I realised his behaviour ha been strange. Even when I was alive I noticed he had been acting oddly. Like at Charlie's stag do and wedding reception. I noticed he was drinking more than normal. I tried to figure out what had caused my brother to change. Then realisation hit me. My heart sank to the pit of my stomach. What if this was the start? Was Ethan beginning to show the early symptoms of Huntington's? Fear tugged at my heart as I remembered apart from Lily, I was the only one who knew. If this was the start of the disease, Ethan would need all the support he could get. Which meant he had to tell their friends.
I was now in the church. As I stood behind my coffin I looked out and could see all my friends trying to hold in their tears. Eventually, Ethan came in. Although, I could see he was still slightly intoxicated, he managed to step up to the podium without falling over. A small smile and a slight chuckle escaped my mouth as I saw the objects Ethan pulled out of the bag. Trust Ethan to tell embarrassing stories about me.
Then the mood changed and I could ell Ethan was struggling to get through his eulogy. My heart tightened around mu chest as I saw him trying to hold his composure. But, it was no use. The tears fell and I could see he couldn't carry on. Sensing he was struggling to continue, I saw Charlie get up from where he was seated and took over from Ethan. I smiled sadly at him. I was grateful. for Charlie for taking over but, also knew it was going to be hard for him too. Over the past few years, Charlie and I sort of developed a father-son relationship. The kind of relationship I never actually had with my adoptive father, but always wanted. He supported me through all the stuff with Emilie. He was the one I went to when I couldn't tell Ethan about our adoption. He was the one who told me to be the big brother Ethan needed. As Charlie spoke to everyone, I saw the tears glisten as he read the words, well Ethan's words out loud. Sitting beside the coffin was Ethan. It broke my heart to see him so hurt and unable to cope with my death. Seeing him cry pulled at my heart and all I wanted to do was wrap my arms around him. All I wanted to do was tell everything was going to be alright. I was here and was going to always be with him. Yet I couldn't. I was gone. But, not forever.