Chapter 11: Dearly Departed
~~~
One month later.
The picked up as if on cue, blowing through the crowd and bringing a chill to the already sombre event. Clark stood among them, standing out like a great Oak in a fledgling forest. Though his shoulders broad, they slumped as a sense of failure overcame him. Friendly hands were placed on his shoulders in support but they didn't comfort him as all too eerily, the familiar words were spoken again.
"We ask you take her into your kingdom and allow her to continue to watch over her friends and family. May she find peace forever in your care. In sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, we commend to Almighty God the soul of our sister departed; we commit her body to the ground; earth to earth; ashes to ashes; dust to dust. The Lord bless her and keep her, the Lord make her face to shine upon Him and be gracious unto her and give her peace. Amen."
~~~
Earlier that day.
Clark cleared his throat and took a deep breath before starting.
"Of all the people I've had the pleasure of knowing in this world, there are none I respected more than her. Though her life was wrought with challenges and obstacles, she nevertheless persevered. I've never met anyone more determined to reach her goals than she. But not only was she an incredible reporter and the best editor the Torch has ever had, above all, she was a great friend. Trusting, honest, and always lending an ear or shoulder when needed. She treated everyone well, whether or not they returned the favour. And no matter how tough things got, you could always count on her to have a smile on her face. I hear everyone saying, 'what a tragedy - she was so young,' but in Smallville of all places, she experienced and witnessed so many things, that despite leaving us so early, her life was anything but empty. My father always said that at the end of the day, the measure of your character isn't how much money you make, or how much success you have, but how many friends you have. Now I, along with most of you, have stood here in the bitter wind for the better part of the afternoon listening to speaker after speaker come up to the podium and speak about her with such sadness and such fondness. So I say, yes, it was a horrible tragedy. And yes, she was young. But it's not how long she lived that matters, it's that she truly lived. She lived each day like it was her last, with brilliance, with passion, with courage. Today I say goodbye to my friend, the dearly departed Chloe Sullivan, but before I go, I want to remind you that we should all be so lucky if we lived one day like she lived each and all of hers. Thank you."
~~~
"Morning," Lana stated flatly as she groomed her horse. "How did you know I'd be here at this hour?"
"I figured you would be able sleep. You and I have a lot in common," replied Clark. "It's not your fault you know."
"Yeah right, it's not my fault Tina came back. And it's not my fault Tina abducted Chloe and killed her in a horrific fire. It's not my fault Whiney ran away with her either."
"It's not."
"Well it's not yours either. You can't save everyone, Clark."
"I guess it doesn't really matter. I just wish I could get my hands on Tina."
"So there's still no word from the cops?"
"Nope. It's pretty hard to find someone who can change form at will. I suppose I could journey cross-country scanning everyone with my x-ray vision, but I don't think that's a realistic option."
"I'm more concerned about what happens when she comes back next time."
"I'll be ready then. And if she's still got that necklace, you could kick her ass right?"
"Damn straight. You know I think we should make a codeword in case Tina comes back, so we know for sure that I'm me and you're you."
"Hmm, that's a good idea. How about. man of steel?"
Lana rolled her eyes before patting Heisman one last time on the head and walking over and putting her arms around him. They stood like that embracing for a good minute.
"Are you okay, Clark?"
"Yeah, I will be. You?"
"Yeah."
"So, what can two guilt-ridden people do to find some kind of normalcy in their lives?"
"Well I was thinking along the lines of making out with the stable-boy."
"That works for me," Clark replied with a smile.
~~~
'Dear Clark, I know I'm probably the last person you ever want to speak to, but I can't keep this burden on me any longer. Lana doesn't want me write you, and you probably hate me, but I just feel the need to apologize. For so long you thought that you and Lana were meant to be together, but that's just not the case. I know it's hard for you to understand why we did what we did, but it had to be done. Lana and I are in love and we knew our love could never flourish in Smallville. Not with you, or Pete, or Nell, or my Dad, judging us for our choice to be together. And we couldn't stand the thought of seeing you hurt either. So we started a new life together and even though I have to share Lana with Whitney, it's actually pretty fun sometimes, if you know what I mean. Just know, that I'm really sorry, and not to worry. We'll keep Lana very happy.
Hopefully still your friend, with love,
Chloe Sullivan'
"Hey Chloe, what are you writing?" asked Whitney from the doorway.
"Um, just a diary entry."
"Well hurry up, we've got to get going."
"Alright tell Lana I'll be just a minute."
When he left the room, Chloe carefully slipped the letter into an envelope, stamped it, and sealed it. She made a mental note to drop it off at the next post office they came across.
~~~
~~~
One month later.
The picked up as if on cue, blowing through the crowd and bringing a chill to the already sombre event. Clark stood among them, standing out like a great Oak in a fledgling forest. Though his shoulders broad, they slumped as a sense of failure overcame him. Friendly hands were placed on his shoulders in support but they didn't comfort him as all too eerily, the familiar words were spoken again.
"We ask you take her into your kingdom and allow her to continue to watch over her friends and family. May she find peace forever in your care. In sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, we commend to Almighty God the soul of our sister departed; we commit her body to the ground; earth to earth; ashes to ashes; dust to dust. The Lord bless her and keep her, the Lord make her face to shine upon Him and be gracious unto her and give her peace. Amen."
~~~
Earlier that day.
Clark cleared his throat and took a deep breath before starting.
"Of all the people I've had the pleasure of knowing in this world, there are none I respected more than her. Though her life was wrought with challenges and obstacles, she nevertheless persevered. I've never met anyone more determined to reach her goals than she. But not only was she an incredible reporter and the best editor the Torch has ever had, above all, she was a great friend. Trusting, honest, and always lending an ear or shoulder when needed. She treated everyone well, whether or not they returned the favour. And no matter how tough things got, you could always count on her to have a smile on her face. I hear everyone saying, 'what a tragedy - she was so young,' but in Smallville of all places, she experienced and witnessed so many things, that despite leaving us so early, her life was anything but empty. My father always said that at the end of the day, the measure of your character isn't how much money you make, or how much success you have, but how many friends you have. Now I, along with most of you, have stood here in the bitter wind for the better part of the afternoon listening to speaker after speaker come up to the podium and speak about her with such sadness and such fondness. So I say, yes, it was a horrible tragedy. And yes, she was young. But it's not how long she lived that matters, it's that she truly lived. She lived each day like it was her last, with brilliance, with passion, with courage. Today I say goodbye to my friend, the dearly departed Chloe Sullivan, but before I go, I want to remind you that we should all be so lucky if we lived one day like she lived each and all of hers. Thank you."
~~~
"Morning," Lana stated flatly as she groomed her horse. "How did you know I'd be here at this hour?"
"I figured you would be able sleep. You and I have a lot in common," replied Clark. "It's not your fault you know."
"Yeah right, it's not my fault Tina came back. And it's not my fault Tina abducted Chloe and killed her in a horrific fire. It's not my fault Whiney ran away with her either."
"It's not."
"Well it's not yours either. You can't save everyone, Clark."
"I guess it doesn't really matter. I just wish I could get my hands on Tina."
"So there's still no word from the cops?"
"Nope. It's pretty hard to find someone who can change form at will. I suppose I could journey cross-country scanning everyone with my x-ray vision, but I don't think that's a realistic option."
"I'm more concerned about what happens when she comes back next time."
"I'll be ready then. And if she's still got that necklace, you could kick her ass right?"
"Damn straight. You know I think we should make a codeword in case Tina comes back, so we know for sure that I'm me and you're you."
"Hmm, that's a good idea. How about. man of steel?"
Lana rolled her eyes before patting Heisman one last time on the head and walking over and putting her arms around him. They stood like that embracing for a good minute.
"Are you okay, Clark?"
"Yeah, I will be. You?"
"Yeah."
"So, what can two guilt-ridden people do to find some kind of normalcy in their lives?"
"Well I was thinking along the lines of making out with the stable-boy."
"That works for me," Clark replied with a smile.
~~~
'Dear Clark, I know I'm probably the last person you ever want to speak to, but I can't keep this burden on me any longer. Lana doesn't want me write you, and you probably hate me, but I just feel the need to apologize. For so long you thought that you and Lana were meant to be together, but that's just not the case. I know it's hard for you to understand why we did what we did, but it had to be done. Lana and I are in love and we knew our love could never flourish in Smallville. Not with you, or Pete, or Nell, or my Dad, judging us for our choice to be together. And we couldn't stand the thought of seeing you hurt either. So we started a new life together and even though I have to share Lana with Whitney, it's actually pretty fun sometimes, if you know what I mean. Just know, that I'm really sorry, and not to worry. We'll keep Lana very happy.
Hopefully still your friend, with love,
Chloe Sullivan'
"Hey Chloe, what are you writing?" asked Whitney from the doorway.
"Um, just a diary entry."
"Well hurry up, we've got to get going."
"Alright tell Lana I'll be just a minute."
When he left the room, Chloe carefully slipped the letter into an envelope, stamped it, and sealed it. She made a mental note to drop it off at the next post office they came across.
~~~