CHAPTER 28 (FRIDAY)

The visitation at the funeral home was hard. Your father and I came together, still feeling sad and awkward. We talked a bit about what happened the night before during lunch at school.

FLASHBACK SEQUENCE

Miranda: I'm sorry about what happened last night. I didn't mean for it to happen.

Gordo: Shrugs. No, it's okay.

Miranda: No, it's not. I feel as if I've cheated on both of my best friends.

Gordo: I, uh, I guess things are gonna be a little crazy right now.

Miranda: Yeah. Still, I'm sorry if I hurt you.

Gordo: No, you didn't. Lizzie did.

Miranda: I hate myself for this, but I'm angry. Begins crying. I'm angry that Lizzie killed herself!

Gordo: Miranda, I just don't get it! Why did she do it? She seemed so happy Tuesday.

Miranda: That seems like a long time ago.

Gordo: Yeah.

The pair looks at each other and stares intently. Before either of them realize what was happening, the pair embrace in a deep kiss. The pair break apart and look at each other in shock and desire.

Gordo: Now, I'm the fool.

Miranda: No you're not. Neither of us are fools. I guess we need each other right now. Let's not make this a big issue right now.

Gordo: Yeah.

SEQUENCE ENDS

I wore the dress Lizzie and I picked out for me for the Homecoming dance and your father wore the tie that she gave him for the dance. I felt somewhat awkward walking in with him; we looked like a couple. I'm sure that wasn't lost on the McGuires. Jo was sitting beside Lizzie's casket. She looked so tired, so worn out. Sam stayed close by. Matt was over in a corner, away from the casket. Lanny and Melina were with him. Your father and I walked over to Sam and Jo. "Miranda, Gordo. Thanks for coming," Jo greets, "How are you?" I give her a hug, "I'm okay." "Good." Your father holds his hand out to shake Jo's hand, but she pulls him in an embrace, "Oh, Gordo, I'm so sorry." He kisses her on the cheek and nods. Then, we pay our respects to Sam. He doesn't say much; I don't think he could.

It was hard walking away from the casket. Your father and I stood away from the crowd and studied the scene before us. The casket was white with silver handles and trim. A pink flower spray sat on top of the casket. It had four ribbons coming from the spray, each with a different word: Daughter, Sister, Granddaughter, Friend. There were all kinds of flowers surrounding the casket. Beside it, at the front of the receiving line, was a picture of Lizzie. It was of when she was on stage in Rome. She looked so alive and free in that picture. I wish I could have heard her then. Your father said she was amazing. I've seen the video, but I wish I could've seen her in person.

We walked over to Matt and his friends and expressed our sympathies to him. He shocked both of us by wrapping his arms around your father and crying his eyes out. I think it was good for him. I don't know if he had cried much before this; he seemed so lost when we stopped by the house the day before.

We left the funeral home and went to the park. It would have been a perfect night, if Lizzie had still been alive. The weather was just right and the sky was clear. Lizzie loved starry nights, and she would have loved this one. It was almost as if the stars were grieving along with us. That sounds corny, but that's how I felt about it at the time. To this day, starry nights hold a special significance to me.