The next week or so was spent in almost complete isolation. I ignored Demyx as much as I could; even being in the same room as him made me feel quilts for turning him down, leading him on. As much as I ignored him by day, he would always crawl into bed behind me, crying, sometimes bleeding either by his own hand or someone else's. Every morning I would wake up, and he would be gone. Granted our spending time apart gave me excellent and ample time to write my speech for the funeral. Good timing too, given that it was a mere nine days say. As the date loomed closer, I slowly reintroduced myself to him. As expected, he wasn't doing well: cuts littered his body, bruises blistered his arms and face. I nursed him back to health, but some people can't be helped.
._.
The day of the funeral arrived. Demyx stayed I my bed longer than usual, curled into my back and crying floods. As much as I knew we had to get to the ceremony, I knew moving him would be as cruel as killing him. So, I let him lay there, hugging me and crying. When the golden hour came, I nudged him from the sleep he submitted to and dressed him in the suit his uncle and I picked for him. We met Roxas downstairs, piled into my brother's car, and headed to the ceremony.
._.
"Dearly beloved, we gather here today, to celebrate the life of Zexion Justice Kaiser." The minister started. His coffin was closed a mere three feet in front of Demyx and I, suspended on four tight strings. Demyx was leaning on my shoulder, silent tears streaming down his face. The thirty odd people around us were in various stages of grief: crying, stony faced, some even happy. And all I could do was sit there and rub Demyx's shoulder, whispering to him it was alright.
Speeches started. His parents, some relatives, Axel and my brother together. Next up: me. I peeled Demyx off of me and moved to the podium at Zexion's feet. I coughed, unfolded my paper, and began to read. "Hi. For those of you that don't know me, I'm Sora Kirkpatrick. The first time I met Zexion, I knew he was a good man, with a good heart. He was the guy you knew was going places. The guy who knew just what to do in any situation. The guy who knew, no matter what hit you, you could get through it. But, you know, sometimes life happens. Sometimes you fall short. For him, life fell short." I looked at everyone lining his coffin, eyes glazed over with tears. I sighed. "Zexion was a great man, there's no doubt about that. And he's going to be missed. Missed by all of us. Missed most, though, by Demyx. You're up, buddy."
The look of fear was in his eyes again as he stood. I moved to the side, hugged him, and headed to my seat. "No. Stay with me. Please." I nodded, standing beside him.
"I... I don't know what to say. Zexion... He was my life. He was my everything. He was the glue that held me together. I remember making that diorama about the civil war. I remember the Lego people. Hell, I still have them. I sill have that scar on my knee. I... I haven't picked up Sasha since you left." He sniffed, tears flowing down his face in a steady stream. "I miss you, Zexy. I miss you so much. I love you, more than anything, and I know you'll always be with me. Bye, Zexy. I love you. Forever." He turned to me and nodded.
The rest of the ceremony was miserable. Demyx cried the whole time, I myself shedding my fair share of tears. Zexion was lowered into the ground, roses were dropped on him, and he was buried in the ground. Tears stained to his face, Demyx told me he needed some air, some time alone.
I regret letting him go alone.
He'd been gone nearly two hours before I heard anything. Roxas ran over to me, whispered in my ear, and dragged me to his car. I was in complete shock. Weeks after Zexion's death, Demyx had told me about the dream he had. I never thought it would ever happen.
I ran up the stairs, taking them two at a time, and burst brought the roof door. Demyx was standing on the edge, his hands in his back pockets, face to the setting sun.
"Demyx! Don't leave me!" I screamed, running to him.
He turned, faced me, and smiled. "I'm thinking straight. I'm going home." He gave me one last kiss, leaned back, and slipped from view.
My name is Sora Kirkpatrick, and this is the story of how I lost my best friend.