Author's note: The links for the lyrics of all songs mentioned from now on in the story will be posted in my profile sometime in the next few days, 'kay?
"And so, as we say our final farewell to Saylinda, we must not forget that she now walks with our Father in Heaven, and that she is undoubtedly happier. So weep not for her, that her spirit is with the Father." After almost an hour, the preacher was winding down. No one was truly listening much anymore. The preacher continued. "And now, Saylinda's boyfriend Roger would like to say a few words in remembrance." Roger stood, walking to the front of the church. He cleared his throat. "I know," he began, " that a lot of you here today didn't really know Saylinda that well. But the fact that you still came proves what I knew about her. She was more than just some girl we passed in the hallway or on the street every day. She was the best friend of everyone she met. She was such an inspiration to all of us, and I know none of us will ever forget her." He paused, taking a deep breath, but his voice still cracked as he continued. "Saylinda was a huge fan of music. She performed all the time with my band, and she was a die-hard fan of the classics. Her favorite songs were Def Leppard's 'Pour Some Sugar On Me'; Jimi Hendrix's 'Purple Haze'; and Willie Nelson's 'Highwayman.' The church won't actually let us play Zeppelin or Hendrix in remembrance of her, so as a final tribute to Saylinda, I give you Willie Nelson's 'Highwayman.'" Roger sat back down as the song started, blinking back tears. Maureen stood, somberly, and started down the aisle of the church to close the casket. The lid closed with a dry click, and Roger stood again, this time along with Mark, Benny and Collins. They lifted the casket wordlessly, carrying it silently to the waiting hearse.
After the burial, Saylinda's family held a small wake. Roger decided not to go. Instead, he, Mark, Collins and Maureen went to the Life Café, to hold a memorial party of their own. They toasted Saylinda with Cokes and soda water, and sat around till almost one in the morning, sharing their fond memories of Saylinda. The owner finally, grudgingly, kicked them out at one, telling them he was closing up, and they needed to leave. The spirits boosted, they decided to continue the memorial elsewhere, but Maureen and Collins both took off at one-thirty, so Roger and Mark started towards Mark's house. Roger dropped Mark off at two, promising to call later that day and see about going somewhere ("Maybe the two of us, Maureen, Collins and Benny could go to Coney Island later") and headed in the direction of his house. He didn't get home till almost three am, and was not prepared for what was about to happened there.