Chapter nine: Eulogy for a hero
Ryan, Seth, Kirsten, Summer, Marissa, Trey, and Ashley sat in the church along with Sandy's family and friends. The priest finished his speech, then asked Kirsten to come up and speak. Slowly, she walked up to the podium, layed down a sheet of paper, and cleared her throat.
"I met Sandy when I was in college...that was 33 years ago. I remember the first day I met him, I was talking to one of my friends, and wasn't looking, and I walked right into him. I cut my knee, but I always said that was my favorite scar. I always looked up to Sandy, whenever things got out of control...he would always promise to make things better,and he always did. We both made mistakes, but no matter how big or small, there was nothing that could ever make us walk away. Sanford E. Cohen was the most beautiful, smart, amazing, caring person I've ever known." She said while crying, and sniffling "Sandy gave me more than I could ever ask for. He gave me more love than I've ever received before, he gave me my son...but most of all, he gave me something to live for. I used to wake up everyday, excited just to be with him. He cared for me so much...and I love him now, and forever. Sandy...I love you, I miss you...and I will see you again...I promise" As she said that she started crying heavily. Seth, and Ryan ran up to the podium and helped her back to her seat.
"Seth, go ahead man, you talk now" Ryan said sitting next Kirsten and wrapping his arms around her and trying to make her stop crying. "It's ok Kirsten...it's ok. That was beautiful, Sandy would be proud" Ryan said smiling, and rubbing her shoulders.
"Thank you Ryan...thanks" Kirsten said between deep, gasping breaths."
Seth walked up to the podium, and settled down. "There are no words that I can ever say that can come close to justifying how much my father meant to me...so I'll do the best I can. My father taught me everything I needed to know...and somethings I really didn't need to know" Seth joked, refering to the time Sandy gave him "The talk". " No matter how bad a situation got, he would always help me through it, in anyway he could. Looking back on it, he said some things that at the time, seemed kind of stupid, but he always had the best intentions. About eleven years ago, I took off on my boat, and I just left a note. When he found me, he begged me to come home, and I shoved it back in his face. He would never admit it, but that day, I think I broke my father's heart, and I would give all I have just to go back to that day, and say what I should have said. But I can't go back, and I have to live with the choices I made while he was around, and I can except that. I just hope my father knows, wherever he is right now that I wouldn't be the man I am today if it wasn't for his guidance. Wherever you are right now, I know you hear me when I say that I love you, and you meant the world to me. Sleep easy father...I love you."
By the time he was done, Seth had found salty tears falling onto his lips. He wiped them away, and sat next to Summer, who hugged him. "Your turn man." Seth said to Ryan as he settled down.
Ryan walked up to the podium, and stared at all the eyes focused on him. He never liked to be the center of attention, but he figured it would be worth it if he could say something nice. The last face he saw before looking at the speech he prepared was Marissa, who had a small smile on her face, that helped him get over his fright of the attention.
"Alot of you don't know who I am...but believe me when I say that Sandy Cohen changed my life. I came to Newport because Sandy took me in, he took me away from alot of hardships that I had in Chino...and I never truly thanked him for that. From day one, Sandy treated me like family, and welcomed me into a life I could have never asked for. He always taught me things that I needed to know, and he enriched my life. Without I would be dead, or in jail right now. Sandy was more of a father to me than my biological father, and I can say with pride that Sandy was the best father a guy could ever ask for. He would support me no matter what, even if he knew what I was doing was wrong, he would stand beside me." As he said that last sentence, his voice cracked and he shed a few tears. "Sorry...Sandford E. Cohen is the best man I've ever known, and is the best man I will ever know...I love him as a friend...a father...and a guiding light. I miss you Sandy, and I hope you are in peace, and I hope you know you made me what I am, you made me a good person. That's what you were, a good person, and I'll always hold you in my heart. I hope all pain, and worry is gone for you, and I hope you are happy...Be in peace...be in peace."
With that, he walked away from the podium and sat at his seat. Kirsten kissed him on the cheek and said "That was beautiful Ryan...it was beautiful." Ryan hugged her tightly, then sat silently, except for the sniffling he used to fight back the hot sting of tears.
As the group left the church, Ryan never looked up from the ground, until he said in a deep cracking voice "You guys go ahead, I'll be at the house in a while...I just need to think." As he said that, he walked away from the rest of them. "I'm gonna go with him...I'll drive him back." Marissa said after a few seconds. She then ran after Ryan who had walked far away from them. She found him sitting on a bench in a park. She sat next to him
"Hey...you ok?" She asked him while looking into his blue eyes. She found herself many times being lost in his eyes, they were so deep, and vast, just like the ocean.
"Yeah, it's just really emotional right now. I don't usually break down like this...but I miss him." Ryan said while pushing some of her light brown hair away from her eyes.
" I know...but it will get better. We'll make it through it...we'll be fine." She said as she put her arm around his shoulders. "I promise, if we end up miserable and sad, you never have to talk to me again." She said with a small smile on her face. Ryan loved her smile, it was so contagious, and beautiful he had to smile back.
"Why would I want that, I spent eight years not talking to you, I don't want to have to be without you again." The words came out alot more personally than he had planned. He tried to correct it by saying " I mean it would suck not to talk to y..." He was cut off by a kiss from Marissa. His eyes went wide open, then closed as they continued the embrace for several seconds. They pulled away from eachother leaving Ryan stunned.
"So...I still got it huh?" She said giggling playfully
"You never lost it" Ryan said as he kissed her again.
"We should be getting back...I'm sure kirsten needs us right now." Marissa said unintentionally killing the mood.
"Yeah...sure."
As they walked backed to the car, they held hands. Ryan felt like a teenager again, she always did that to him, he hoped it would never go away.
Sorry it's been so long since my last update, I hope this chapter satisfies everyone. Please review!
