TRIGGER WARNING: Mention of suicide.
Due to mature subject matter, reader discretion is advised.
In memory of Dylan Anthony Boehm 2000-2021
Tuesday, August 10th, 2021
Red continued to water the flowers as he listened to his beloved Rose rehearseher song she was going to perform. They decided they would hold a memorial for a friend she went to school with back in high school. He was one of the few goodvehicles from her hometown of Longview.
This year had been hard on the fire engine. Attempting online school in a city called Vancouver just on the I-5 corridor. Failing out of not one, not 2, but 3 different schools. In February, she receivednews that a friend of hers had passed away. She was told he had taken his own life, but the truth was far worse. In the end, it's suspectedhe didn't allow himself air intake whilst he was pleasuring himself. While the local medical examiner ruled his death an accident, it still felt suspicious for a long time. She had to figure everything out on her own. Even worse, because of the virus, there was no memorial. No candlelight vigil. No nothing. In fact, they had him cremated quietly. No proper burial. At least now she will be able to let him fully Rest In Peace.
Later that evening, at theWheel Well Motel
Rose stood before a beautiful wreath of flowers that her beloved had put together.
Simple white lillies to represent mourning the loss of her dear friend, purple irises to represent the wisdom he left with us in this world, and some lillies of the valley for peace. It's perfect and beautiful. It's what her friend would have wanted.
Red approached his beloved Rose who was reminiscing over the wreath which contained a picture of her friend. In the picture was a small, dark green van. He looked very similar to Van but this friend of hers wore glasses, and looked a lot younger than Van. In this picture her dear friend had a smalland cute smile, yet a smile that held a lot of pain.
"Thanks Red, it's beautiful. It's what my friend would've wanted." Rose thanked Red for his arrangement.
Red moved next to his girlfriend and leaned into her as if to comfort her.
"He wanted to be a special doctor like Doc, but for us who feel pain no one can see. He had everything looking forward in his life, but...he never made the best choices. And...now he's gone..." Rose explained whilst beginning to tear up. She got emotional thinking about him.
He would've been 21 today. A big milestone for him, but life is far too short nowadays. The lord gives, and the lord takes away.
Sunset. The whole town had gathered at The Wheel Well Motel for the sunset memorial service.
"We are gathered here today to celebrate the life of a great friend of our beloved Rose. A friend that was taken from this earth far too soon. A friend who had his fare share of dents like you and I, but in the endhe could no longer fight. We all fight our own battles, but he stuck right beside Rosethrough the most difficult years of her life. I would now like to invite Rose to read a eulogy of her friend." Sheriff opened the service, himself holding back tears.
"Thanks Sheriff." Rose thanked the Sheriff as she took a deep breath, holding back tearsof her own. She knew her friend would want her to be brave and hold back tears, so she stood thereusing all the strength she could to hold back her tears.
"Every one of us has a destiny. His was to help those fight the emotional pain. The pain that many of us deal with. The pain that no one can see. The pain that a lot of people see as just an excuse. As you all may know I went to school with him and he was a great friend. He was there for me when others weren't. He was there to hug me on my bad days. He was there to calm me down from an anxiety attack I had when getting on the bus back to my own school. He carried my books for me from class to class when my frontright tire was in a sling for weeks back in middle school. He did the same when I hurt my back right tire and I was hobbling around on a boot when we were in high school. He made me laugh when I'd sneak on the bus just to go eat lunch with them becauseI wanted to escape the bullies of my own school for a little while. He was there and he was kind to everyone. Hewanted to leave his tire tracks when he left this world, he wanted to be the difference in this world. Instead, he passed on at the age of just 20, and he left his tire tracks on the hearts of many, including mine. "
As Rose finished her eulogy, Guido began softly playing the guitar line to the song she had dedicated to her lost friend. A screen rolled down and a slideshow of lots of pictures which she had put together began to play as she began to sing.
I stumbled across your picture today
I could barely breathe
the moment stopped me cold
and grabbed me like a thief
I dialed your number
but you wouldn't be there
I knew the whole time
but its still not fair
I just wanted to hear your voice
I just needed to hear your voice
what do I do with all
I need to say so much
I wanna tell you everyday
though it breaks my heart
I cry these tears in the dark
I write these letters to you
but they get lost in the blue
cause theres no address in the stars
As she continued to sing, everyone teared up, including Sarge. Remembering what his fallen friends in the military had left him behind with.
now I'm drivin through the pitch black dark
I'm screaming at the sky
oh cause it hurts so bad everybody tells me
oh all I need is time then the mornin rolls in
and it hits me again and that aint nothin but a lie
what do I do with all
I need to say so much
I wanna tell you everyday
though it breaks my heart
I cry these tears in the dark
I write these letters to you
but they get lost in the blue
cause theres no address in the stars
Red remembered the lessons his parents let him with. The lessons of love. The lessons of bravery. The lessons of courage.
without you here with me
I dont know what to do
I'd give anything just to talk to you
though it breaks my heart
oh it breaks my heart
all I can do is write these letters to you
but theres no address in the stars
As the song came to an end it was getting dark. Dark to the point where the stars were starting to appear.
"Thank you all for putting this all together and for coming together for this. This is something my grief would've wanted. I believe there's a reception and celebration of life down at Flo's. Again thank you all."
As everyone departed The Wheel Well Motel heading for Flo's, Red moved next to his beloved who finally let her tears run down her face. She was gazing at the stars.
"Thanks for everything honey. It went perfectly. I know he's looking down on us and is so happy. Wherever he is, it's time I let him rest." Rose thanked her beloved as he pressed his lips to her cheek and snuggled up next to her.
The two stood there for what felt like an eternity before later joining everyone else at Flo's.
