Chapter One – Our Secret Is Buried
"Paige, everything's going to be fine." His voice was overflowing with concern, and holding back my tears was slowly searing into my heart. I felt his head rest on my upper back; glancing to him, he smiled slightly, an attempt at reassurance surely. But I shook my head, the corners of my lips turned downward in a saddened frown. "You'll find someone else, I know you will."
Gulping, my arms crossed over my chest tightly, and I quickly stood. My entire body was trembling. I cast my eyes away, shaking my head, biting back tears.
"Don't ever say that, Marco." I hissed to him, practically scowling. Turning on my heel, I left the funeral home, walking outside into the chill spring morning. My tears rolled down my flushed cheeks, and I ignored the people trying to make me feel better. They could never understand. No one knew how much she meant to me; no one knew how much I love her, how much I need her in my life.
Pulling at the clasp from the cheap chain around my neck, I heard its metallic plastic snap. In my sullen silence, I slipped the diamond ring on my left ring finger. Alex was my everything; she'll always be my everything.
After much consideration, I had decided to have Alex buried, and no cremated. So, I doled out the necessary cash after the ceremony. Quite honestly, I didn't want to be here or anywhere right now: I just wanted to wake up in bed, glance over to Alex, and pinch myself for thinking her dead. And, to my dismay, I had to go back to work on Monday. That gave me today, Friday, and the weekend to pull myself together. Great.
Perhaps I should cancel our dinner reservations for Saturday night. Weakly, I shrugged, and mentally scolded myself. Marco was right – I'll find someone new, someone else to be happy with; whether a guy or a girl, I know Alex would want me to be happy.
"Paige!"
The voice attached to my name felt like a slap in the face; no, it's just Spinner. Plastering a fake smile on my flushed face, I turned around, as he caught me in a loose embrace.
"I'm really sorry about all of this."
"Thanks Spin."
Comfortingly, he patted my back: Inwardly, I hid a smile. Now was not the time for me to emotionally entangle myself with anyone, on a friend level, family level, or any romantic level at all. This just wasn't a good time for me. Hell, I can't even crack a genuine smile.