"We are gathered here today..."
The reverend's words sounded drowned out and far away to Meredith. She couldn't concentrate on what was taking place. Glancing to her right, Matt sat hunched, his face drawn and eye's red rimmed; a deep contrast to his pallor. This seemed even worse than how he'd looked when Elena died.
She felt a hand clasp hers and turned to see Alaric. Meredith didn't speak or force a smile, instead her eyes wandered again.
She spotted the McCullough family in the swarm of Fells Church residents. Her own family was here as well. Even Caroline was among the crowd. She wasn't quite sure where Stefan was, but she knew he was here. Aunt Judith, along with Robert were in the back; Margaret was nowhere in sight. She sensed Elena's presence, though she could not see her.
A dark head caught her attention, and Meredith recognized it as Damon's.
_He showed up?_
Before any further thoughts could process, people were rising to walk to the casket. One by one, the pews were emptying from the back, up. Finally, their row was to stand.
Meredith took a shaky breath and walked towards the coffin.
Meredith began to sob as she looked upon Bonnie's face. Her skin was pale, more so than usual. Her hair was curled softly, the long red spirals lying gently on the white satin pillow. Her hands were clasped together over her chest, holding a single, white rose. The light bounced off the diamond of her engagement ring, and Meredith could look no longer.
Alaric held her to him, his arms wrapped around her protectively.
"She always said she was going to be young and beautiful in her coffin," Meredith reminded Alaric, whimpering quietly. "I suppose her grandmother was right."
Meredith watched silently as Matt approached the casket. Her heart broke as she saw his face as he looked down at Bonnie. He reached his trembling hand out towards her, gently stroking her cheek, grabbing hold of a single curl.
Meredith wanted to go to Matt as he slid down to the floor, but Alaric held her strongly.
Matt's broken sobs echoed throughout the church, catching the attention of all present. Everyone remained absolutely stricken as he stood up. Matt leaned down, kissing Bonnie's cold lips for the very last time. He whispered "I love you" into her ear and turned away.
As he passed, Meredith placed a hand on his shoulder, but he pulled away, walking down the aisle of pews alone.
The reverend's words sounded drowned out and far away to Meredith. She couldn't concentrate on what was taking place. Glancing to her right, Matt sat hunched, his face drawn and eye's red rimmed; a deep contrast to his pallor. This seemed even worse than how he'd looked when Elena died.
She felt a hand clasp hers and turned to see Alaric. Meredith didn't speak or force a smile, instead her eyes wandered again.
She spotted the McCullough family in the swarm of Fells Church residents. Her own family was here as well. Even Caroline was among the crowd. She wasn't quite sure where Stefan was, but she knew he was here. Aunt Judith, along with Robert were in the back; Margaret was nowhere in sight. She sensed Elena's presence, though she could not see her.
A dark head caught her attention, and Meredith recognized it as Damon's.
_He showed up?_
Before any further thoughts could process, people were rising to walk to the casket. One by one, the pews were emptying from the back, up. Finally, their row was to stand.
Meredith took a shaky breath and walked towards the coffin.
Meredith began to sob as she looked upon Bonnie's face. Her skin was pale, more so than usual. Her hair was curled softly, the long red spirals lying gently on the white satin pillow. Her hands were clasped together over her chest, holding a single, white rose. The light bounced off the diamond of her engagement ring, and Meredith could look no longer.
Alaric held her to him, his arms wrapped around her protectively.
"She always said she was going to be young and beautiful in her coffin," Meredith reminded Alaric, whimpering quietly. "I suppose her grandmother was right."
Meredith watched silently as Matt approached the casket. Her heart broke as she saw his face as he looked down at Bonnie. He reached his trembling hand out towards her, gently stroking her cheek, grabbing hold of a single curl.
Meredith wanted to go to Matt as he slid down to the floor, but Alaric held her strongly.
Matt's broken sobs echoed throughout the church, catching the attention of all present. Everyone remained absolutely stricken as he stood up. Matt leaned down, kissing Bonnie's cold lips for the very last time. He whispered "I love you" into her ear and turned away.
As he passed, Meredith placed a hand on his shoulder, but he pulled away, walking down the aisle of pews alone.