One Last Gift
The sound of uncertain feet had long since died away as the few mourners scattered.
"This wasn't supposed to happen." A warm breeze whipped the whisper away, mocking in its tenderness. "You were supposed to be immortal."
The crucifix on the silver chain caught the sun's light in tantalizing shimmers as shaking hands draped it around the stone marker.
"You can't put that there, you know."
Will stiffened at the unexpected intrusion. "Why?"
"Didn't die well. Not even buried in consecrated ground."
"He died better than you'll ever know, and he was a good man. He should have been buried at sea. He earned that much, at least."
The gravedigger shrugged and moved on, casting another skeptical look at the cross.
The man didn't understand. It wasn't the crucifix that mattered.
It was the thought behind it.
And the silver.
One last gift.
"I'll miss you, brother."
