ELEGY FOR A FRIEND
Part 1
"This shouldn't be happening," Natalie thought for probably the hundredth time in the past five days. She shouldn't be attending a memorial service for a man she'd known not quite a year. But in that time, he'd become more than just her colleague, he'd become her friend.
But here she was sitting in the uncomfortable seats with Connor on one side and Eva on the other. Even now she half expected to see Miles walk in and take his seat. But she knew that could never happen. He was gone from them forever. And it was his memorial service they were attending.
A hand lightly touched her shoulder. She turned to see Connor studying her, concern in his eyes. "Are you all right?" he gently asked.
"Yeah," she replied and her eyes closed briefly as she thought how Miles would have made a reply like that. Opening her eyes she looked past Connor to where Frank was sitting with his wife.
The room was beginning to fill with people. Some she knew from the NIH and others strangers to her. Persons that Miles probably worked with and knew before he joined the NIH. As she watched them finding seats, she reached into her pocket for her handkerchief and wondered if she had any more tears left to cry. She'd shed so many already for her friend, for his life cut short.
A/N My other stories will eventually be updated. Right now there are more to each posted on the Yahoo group "MedicalInvestigationFiles".