Rory and Mike both attended Harvard University. They gotten married the previous summer and found an apartment near campus. Since Emily and Richard Gilmore approved of Rory's choice of husband, they did not disown her, nor did Mike's parents. Mike had gotten part of his trust fund on his eighteenth birthday and could afford to support his newly wedded bride. They lived together in cohesion with peace that suited their personality. They kept up with their grades and still spent quality time together. When Mike and Rory were twenty-three years old, the unexpected day had come. Emily and Richard Gilmore had invested in a risky business and had lost all their money. They needed a lot of money that even Rory couldn't help. A million or two was just a penny compared to the loss that the Gilmore's were in. But they were safe for now. Along came another bad news. Her mother, Lorelai, was sick as well. They didn't know the problems to her health. They predicted as a joke, to lightened the mood that she drank too much coffee. All the while the problems in Rory's life stacked, Mike was there for her mentally and physically. But a month later, Mike never came home.
Where is Mike? I mean, usually if Mike's ever late, he'll call. I wonder if he's ok. I've been waiting for 5 hours!!! This dinner is getting cold. Maybe I should just eat first, I am hungry. Rory waited another half an hour with no call from Mike. She was getting extremely worried. When she was about to go put the food away, there was a phone call. Maybe it's Mike. Oh will I ever yell at him for making me worried.
"Hello?"
"Hello, is this the McKnightly's residence?" Someone on the other side asked.
"Yes, this is Rory McKnightly. May I ask who this is?" She asked. She had this funny feeling at the bottom pit of the stomach.
"This is Officer Cain. I am here to inform you that your husband, Michael McKnightly, was in an accident..." Rory cut him off.
"Accident? Is he all right? What hospital is he in? I'll be right over." Rory was scared. With all the bad happenings around her, she needed Mike more than ever, with him hurt, she was losing focus.
"I'm afraid, that...he didn't make it. I'm very sorry. You have the Boston Police Force's condolences..."
"I don't need your condolences! I want my husband!" Rory sobbed.
He continued, "Please come to Boston General Hospital to verify your husband's body, please. His body is severely damaged and therefore we need an immediate family member to verify."
"I'll...I'll be right over." Rory hung up and was in a daze. Mike. It couldn't be. I have to call everyone. Mike... Rory let her guard down a minute and let herself have a good minute cry. She picked up the phone and called her mother and father- in- laws and her family. She then rushed to the hospital. She didn't want to see Mike alone just yet. So she waited another five hours at the hospital for her family. They flew in last minute on standby. When they rushed in running, she ran to their arms in comfort and support. The McKnightly's arrived soon after and did the same thing, they hugged and cried with Rory. Lorelai, Emily and Richard, the McKnightly's all entered a cold room and saw a body underneath a blue sheet. The attendant reveiled the body, it was Mike's all right. It was damaged with blood, bruises and cuts all over. It was hideous. Some chunks of his hair had falled on, his body badly damaged what looked like from fire.
"What happened to him?" Rory finally asked. Her voice cracking from emotions.
"It was icy on the roads and I think he was driving too fast and couldn't control the car, and skidded off the road. There is very low alcohol in his body system, and for a man his size, it shouldn't have affected his judgment that bad. I'm sorry for your terrible loss, but I need you to sign these forms that you verified his body." The man handed her a clip board and led her to his office where she signed the death certificate of Michael Thomas McKnightly. She sobbed, her back hunched. She had thought that breaking up with Tristan was so hard, and this loss that she felt was just as great, and maybe even greater.
The family left the hospital, it was seven in the morning and they were mentally and physically exhausted. They went to Mike and Rory's home to rest up and decided on funeral arrangement. She didn't want to think about it, to accept his death, even though she saw his body. It hurt her that she didn't have the opportunity to say goodbye, or hug him, kissed him or say I love you, once more. She laid in the bed that she and Mike had shared for five wonderful years. She wanted to mourn without everyone around, she wanted to be by herself. Cocooned in the warmth and smell of Mike that lingered in their bedroom. Rory had slept till 12 in the afternoon. She took a shower got changed to make arrangement for Mike's death. She did all this systematically, and just going through the motions.
Rory went outside her haven, her bedroom to tell her family to return home and thank you all for coming. She wanted to do this by herself. She wanted a funeral that she had prepared, as a final goodbye to her husband. Almost like a retribution of all the years Mike had supported her and loved her. She did love Mike, but she had a feeling that she didn't love him enough.
"I want to thank you all for coming last night on last minute. All that love and support you have shown me meant a lot. Without you, I don't know what I would have done." Rory stated.
Even spoke how it was their pleasure under the circumstances to help her and that they wanted to be there. "However, I feel as that I should be doing the funeral preparation by myself. I would like you to resume your lives and return home. I need this time to..." She didn't need to finish her sentence. They understood her and did not feel insulted. They said their condolences and packed up and left to their respectable homes.
Rory went to find a casket, a tombstone, funeral house, the food afterwards and the invitations. She called a local caterer to make enough for about hundred people. She got a simple tombstone that wrote, A wonderful man who gave it his all. You will be missed. RIP. 1985-2008. Rory went to the funeral house to book the place for next week. She got a casket that was simple and yet utterly at peace for some strange reason, that was like Mike. She got it cared, Michael Thomas McKnightly on it. She went to make invitations that wrote, Unfortunately it is announced that Michael Thomas McKnightly, was pronounced dead on March 16, 2008. On behalf of him, I invite you to his funeral at 98 Lyrine Ave. on March 23, 2008. Please call, Lorelai McKnightly at 505)452-9332 for R.S.V.P. She had sent one for McKnightly's parents and close relatives, Lorelai, Christopher, Emily and Richard. She then went through their phone books and sent invitations to their closes friends that they had made over the years. She sent one to Paris, Madeline and Louise. She remembered Tristan. Old wounds heal. He was Mike's best friend in high school. I'm a grown woman, I can handle it. Yeah, like you handled at the wedding. What if he brings a date like he did to your wedding. He brought Louise and you were jealous. I wonder how he is. So she sent one to Tristan Jarlan Dugrey. When all invitations were in the mail, soon there after she got calls of condolences as well as replies for the following week for the funeral. Tristan's secretary called saying Tristan was sorry and that he couldn't call personally, but he will be there in Boston that day for the funeral. When McKnightly's called, they asked if they can say an eulogy. She said yes, of course. Then it hit her, she didn't have an eulogy for her dead husband. She took out a pen and wrote her eulogy, and it poured out from the depth of her soul. A part goodbye, sorry and reminiscing of their happy times and who Mike really was to her.
In New York, Tristan was in his office looking at the official envelope for the funeral of his good friend, Mike. He's dead. The next thought was, Rory. There wasn't a day he didn't think of Rory and the good times they had shared. It was beautiful and sad at the same time. I wonder how she is. She must be devastated. It hurt so much to see Rory marrying Mike, his good friend, but it hurt more that she was in pain of his death. They're still together after all these years. I wonder what became of them. They must have been happy. All this money made from being a lawyer, and I don't have a shred of happiness. I lost all that after my father took everything from me - Rory. Underneath he took out a chain with Rory's ring that she gave back to him after their breakup and his ring that engraved, Rory. He kept it near his heart, to remember the happy times when he smile genuinely. Tristan had dated occasionally after the marriage of Rory and Mike, but his heart wasn't into it, and their dates knew it. They had fun, but they were only friends and no more than that. They had suspected that the prominent lawyer, mysterious Tristan Dugrey was hiding some secret, hurt by old love, or in love with another. They never pushed and took whatever Tristan gave them, time. After all these years, I'm still in love with Rory. He had carried a picture of her from high school days in his wallet and in his room. No one knew how much he was still hurting after five years. After marriage of his old love to his best friend, after five years in time, and after giving each other space between states. The pain was so raw, he wished there was a way for him to be with her. Now you can. Win her back from Mike. He's always been a considerate guy. He wouldn't want Rory to be alone and hurt for another 70 years. He got more than 5 wonderful, happy times with her. It's mine now. Rest In Peace, Mike. I'll take care of her. I promise. He made a mission. He would let Rory grieve properly. He didn't want Rory bull-dozed in another relationship, and no ghost in their relationship. Be her friend and woo her slowly. Make her remember their happy times and make her fall in love with him again. He called always practice in Boston where she lived. He had to become her friend first. But Tristan plan never got to the right start.
Wow, longer chapter than the last ones. I hope you liked this one, please give me R/R. Thanx guys!!!
