A steady stream of tears run down Lizzie's face as she quietly cries to herself. With her eyes closed and her head down, she is almost oblivious to her surroundings. Lizzie can't ignore it any longer as the sobs and whispers of other people start to seep through. Lizzie finally looks up as a cool breeze hits her face. She seems a little confused, perhaps trying not to accept what she is seeing. This cant' be happening. This can't be happening.
Lizzie was at the cemetery among a large group of friends and relatives for the funeral of the late David Zephyr Gordon. The heatwave was gone and was now replaced by thick dark clouds and cold weather. Lizzie looked over to the center of the crowd where a coffin was a positioned to be lowered into the ground. Reality seemed to have set in for her. She kept trying to convince herself that this wasn't real, that Gordo was just fine. She lost all hope of that now. The pain she felt was far worse than anything she could have ever imagined. Although she could see other people were also in grief, Lizzie knew that no one felt as bad as she did at that moment. Lizzie's mother was at her side, weeping along with everybody else. For Lizzie, the cries she hears gradually seem to be getting louder. It wasn't that people were actually crying louder, it was as though Lizzie's hearing was becoming more sensitive. Louder, and louder they get, until suddenly, after a quick gasp for air, her hearing normalizes.
As Lizzie looks around, she is overwhelmed with emotions she can't handle all at once. Lizzie had lost on of her best friend in the world, someone she's known her whole life. How will she be able to go on without him. She also felt great guilt, for she blamed herself for his death. She hated herself for being so stupid. I never should have taken the car out for a ride. I should have just listened to Gordo when he said not to go.
After a few more minutes of heavy crying, Lizzie was once again able to look up. As she looked around her, she was finally able to recognize the other people there. Through her watery eyes she saw Gordo's grandma Ruth weeping next to Gordo's parents, Howard and Roberta Gordon. They must hate me. I'm responsible for the death of their only son.
Lizzie continued scanning the area. She saw two of her friends, Ethan Kraft and Kate Sanders together holding hands with their heads down. Gordo wasn't exactly good friends with either one of them, but they still cared enough to come. To the right of them, Lizzie saw Larry Tudgeman. Larry was probably Gordo's best guy friend. They had gotten over their middle school rivalry and teamed up to become the smartest duo in high school. She also saw Parker McKenzie bawling in sorrow next to Jenny Woods. It didn't surprise Lizzie one bit Parker was so upset. She knew Parker had a crush on Gordo. Parker tried many times to get Gordo's attention, but he only had eyes for Lizzie. Other people Lizzie noticed around were family friend Digby Sellers, their high school principal Ms. Ungermyer, Gordo's one time girlfriend Brooke Baker, Matt, Melina, Lanny, Miranda,... Miranda! Oh my God, I've totally forgotten about Miranda, thought Lizzie. Lizzie hadn't spoken to her since the tragedy. Miranda was very much in sorrow as she poured her eyes out next to her parents. Gordo was like a brother to Miranda. Would she ever forgive me for what I have done?
Miranda noticed Lizzie staring at her so she decided to go over to her. She walked over very slowly with two roses in hand. Lizzie didn't know what to expect. Miranda stopped right in front of Lizzie and they both remained silent. Miranda leaned over and put her arms around Lizzie to give her a hug. Lizzie then did the same. They both started crying together all over again.
Lizzie and Miranda separated themselves from the group so that they can have a private conversation.
"I can't believe Gordo's actually gone", said Lizzie as she's wipes away a tear. "I always thought he'd be right here"
"I know", said Miranda, "I'm sure he's up in heaven watching over us."
"It's all my fault," whispered Lizzie, "it's all my fault".
"It's not your fault Lizzie," Miranda answered back, "it's nobody's fault"
"Yes, it is." snapped Lizzie, "Gordo's gone and it's all my fault."
"Don't say that Lizzie," remarked Miranda as she looked Lizzie right in the eye. "Sometimes life's just unfair, for no reason at all."
"I'm going to miss him so much," said Lizzie, "I don't know how I'll ever be able to go on without him"
"I'm going to miss him too" said Miranda in a soft calm voice, "We're all going to miss him. Just promise me one thing. Don't blame yourself."
Miranda hands one rose to Lizzie without saying a word. They both painfully walk to the hole where the coffin has already been lowered and they throw the flowers inside.
Lizzie was at the cemetery among a large group of friends and relatives for the funeral of the late David Zephyr Gordon. The heatwave was gone and was now replaced by thick dark clouds and cold weather. Lizzie looked over to the center of the crowd where a coffin was a positioned to be lowered into the ground. Reality seemed to have set in for her. She kept trying to convince herself that this wasn't real, that Gordo was just fine. She lost all hope of that now. The pain she felt was far worse than anything she could have ever imagined. Although she could see other people were also in grief, Lizzie knew that no one felt as bad as she did at that moment. Lizzie's mother was at her side, weeping along with everybody else. For Lizzie, the cries she hears gradually seem to be getting louder. It wasn't that people were actually crying louder, it was as though Lizzie's hearing was becoming more sensitive. Louder, and louder they get, until suddenly, after a quick gasp for air, her hearing normalizes.
As Lizzie looks around, she is overwhelmed with emotions she can't handle all at once. Lizzie had lost on of her best friend in the world, someone she's known her whole life. How will she be able to go on without him. She also felt great guilt, for she blamed herself for his death. She hated herself for being so stupid. I never should have taken the car out for a ride. I should have just listened to Gordo when he said not to go.
After a few more minutes of heavy crying, Lizzie was once again able to look up. As she looked around her, she was finally able to recognize the other people there. Through her watery eyes she saw Gordo's grandma Ruth weeping next to Gordo's parents, Howard and Roberta Gordon. They must hate me. I'm responsible for the death of their only son.
Lizzie continued scanning the area. She saw two of her friends, Ethan Kraft and Kate Sanders together holding hands with their heads down. Gordo wasn't exactly good friends with either one of them, but they still cared enough to come. To the right of them, Lizzie saw Larry Tudgeman. Larry was probably Gordo's best guy friend. They had gotten over their middle school rivalry and teamed up to become the smartest duo in high school. She also saw Parker McKenzie bawling in sorrow next to Jenny Woods. It didn't surprise Lizzie one bit Parker was so upset. She knew Parker had a crush on Gordo. Parker tried many times to get Gordo's attention, but he only had eyes for Lizzie. Other people Lizzie noticed around were family friend Digby Sellers, their high school principal Ms. Ungermyer, Gordo's one time girlfriend Brooke Baker, Matt, Melina, Lanny, Miranda,... Miranda! Oh my God, I've totally forgotten about Miranda, thought Lizzie. Lizzie hadn't spoken to her since the tragedy. Miranda was very much in sorrow as she poured her eyes out next to her parents. Gordo was like a brother to Miranda. Would she ever forgive me for what I have done?
Miranda noticed Lizzie staring at her so she decided to go over to her. She walked over very slowly with two roses in hand. Lizzie didn't know what to expect. Miranda stopped right in front of Lizzie and they both remained silent. Miranda leaned over and put her arms around Lizzie to give her a hug. Lizzie then did the same. They both started crying together all over again.
Lizzie and Miranda separated themselves from the group so that they can have a private conversation.
"I can't believe Gordo's actually gone", said Lizzie as she's wipes away a tear. "I always thought he'd be right here"
"I know", said Miranda, "I'm sure he's up in heaven watching over us."
"It's all my fault," whispered Lizzie, "it's all my fault".
"It's not your fault Lizzie," Miranda answered back, "it's nobody's fault"
"Yes, it is." snapped Lizzie, "Gordo's gone and it's all my fault."
"Don't say that Lizzie," remarked Miranda as she looked Lizzie right in the eye. "Sometimes life's just unfair, for no reason at all."
"I'm going to miss him so much," said Lizzie, "I don't know how I'll ever be able to go on without him"
"I'm going to miss him too" said Miranda in a soft calm voice, "We're all going to miss him. Just promise me one thing. Don't blame yourself."
Miranda hands one rose to Lizzie without saying a word. They both painfully walk to the hole where the coffin has already been lowered and they throw the flowers inside.