Haley had arrived early at the church. Alone and beautifully dressed, she entered and made her way down the winding aisle. The black box placed in the front center seemed so huge and she was afraid to look inside. But she did and there was Peyton looking content and peaceful almost like she was taking a nap. Fighting back tears, Haley slowly backed away and took a seat in the third pew. Quickly the church filled with mourners. It was as if the entire town had showed up, a reminder of how much the young girl had been loved. Then the preacher took his position at the pulpit. The organist began a depressing tune and the side doors opened allowing the family to enter to view the body for the last time. Mr. Sawyer openly wept. He was followed by grandparents, and a host of uncles, aunts, and cousins. And then there was Nathan. He walked in somberly followed by Dan and Deb with the Sawyer family. Dressed in a black suit with sunglasses unsuccessfully trying to hide red rimmed eyes, he stood over the coffin staring down into it. He stroked her hands and placed a single red rose on her chest.
"Yet, we are filled with a strange ambivalence. It is an ambivalence born of the Christian confidence that we shall see our loved one again. For we believe the promise of our Lord, 'Because I live, Ye shall live also'. Therefore, we seek comfort and consolation in God's divine word", Rev. Brown began amidst the few audible sniffles and sobs.
Haley lost in her own emotion, kept shifting her gaze over towards Nathan. She truly did feel bad for Peyton untimely passing but she was also concerned about Nathan. The poor thing was obviously distraught as his mother, Deb, hugged him for comfort.
"...To the beloved family and friends of this departed young person we find ourselves gathered, humanly speaking, prematurely to say fair well to someone we loved, laughed, labored and lived our lives with. For us this happy relationship has ended much too soon. We understand what Tennyson was feeling when he cried out, 'And O for the touch of a vanished hand and the sound of a voice that is stilled.' 5 Yet, our Christian faith assures us that death shall not have the last word. Christ is alive and we have hope beyond the grave. Consequently, we look for hope even beyond the grave and we are confident of victory over death..."
The words seemed to fade in and out and Haley's mind reeled. She looked from the casket over to a crying Nathan and back to the coffin over and over again. So much pain...so unfair.
The rest of the day was a blur. On an otherwise beautiful and glorious day in North Carolina, a family laid to rest their only child, a 23 year old daughter. The casket containing the body of Peyton Sawyer was committed to the earth. Onlookers cried and held hands. The parents grasped on to each other for comfort. Haley cried quietly to herself. And an emotionally drained Nathan stood stoic, his eyes focused on the box which was disappearing into the ground. Like a tall, grand tree planted firmly by a body of water, he stood. Long after others went home, long after the undertaker had finished his work. The sky was beginning to turn a dark pink and he was still there unable to leave that spot. Unable to leave Peyton.
"You want some breakfast, Nate?" Deb Scott asked her son as he entered the house.
It had been days since the funeral and the young man was still consumed with grief.
"That's okay, Mom. I'm not hungry anyway."
"You have to eat", she said in a worried, motherly tone. "You really don't look well and I don't want you to make yourself sick."
"I'm fine. I just came to see Dad actually."
Nathan made his way into the study where his father sat behind his computer. It had been a terse relationship for father and son over the years. Through all the drama and angst, Peyton had always been there and she and Dan had always gotten along remarkably well.
"Hey, Dad", he said, kneeling by the chair as he took out something from his back pocket. "I brought this ribbon for you. It belonged to Peyton. It was tied on her hair and her dad gave it to me, you know, as something to remember her by. She's gone, Dad and now nothing will ever be the same again. I love her and I miss her already. But this was hers and I want you to have it. Keep it close to you at all times."
Dan Scott sat speechless. It was always unpredictable to say the least whenever he and Nathan were in the same room. He never knew if there would be a civil moment or if World War III was going to break out. But after years of arguments and problems and uncertainty, now it came down to a boy and his dad.Tears formed in his eyes as his youngest son placed the ribbon on his stomach before burying his face in his father's chest. Their relationship had always been rocky but all Dan could do now was comfort his sobbing son.