There was a huge turnout for Phil's funeral. Apart from their families, several WWE, TNA, & ROH stars were amongst the crowd. Phil's closest friends: Nuufolau Seanoa, Scotty Goldman, & Nelson Erazo all paid their respects to their fallen friend. Each one gave Matt a show of respect for his loss as well. The funeral was beautiful. Matt couldn't have been more pleased at how beautiful the service was. It was exactly what Phil deserved. At the grave site, a flock of white doves were released into the sky; a show of Phil's spirit flying towards the Heavens.
**********
Matt slowly walked through his & Phil's home. Each step he took was more painful than the last. Everything in it reminded him of Phil. From their pictures spread across the house, to Phil's favorite spot on the couch, to the huge, autographed Rancid poster that Phil had gotten from the band a year before. The further Matt walked through the house the more his chest began to pain him. This was just too much to bear.
When he finally reached their bedroom, Matt lost it. He fell to his knees & cried his eyes out. He reached out for the photo of Phil the sat on the table next to his side of the bed. He cradled it tightly to his chest as he kissed it over & over, whispering how much he loved & missed his Phil. He was sobbing so much that he began to choke on his saliva, coughing violently to stop himself.
He backed up, tilting his head to lean against the wall. He slowly calmed himself down before stripping of his clothes to take a shower. He stayed under the water until the water ran cold, not caring about the chills that slid down to his feet. It wasn't until he heard Jeff calling his name that he snapped out of it.
"You OK, bro?"
"Yea, I'm fine. When did you get here?"
"Just pulled up about five minutes ago. This water is cold as fuck, Matt. You best get out of here before you catch a cold."
"I don't really care about that, Jeff."
"Well I do; now get out so I can help you get dried off."
Matt followed his brother's instructions. After he was dressed in some pajama pants, & a tshirt, he laid on the bed that he & Phil once shared. Jeff flipped on the tv so that there was some sound in the room as he climbed in the bed next to his brother. Jeff held him close as he sobbed softly into his chest, understanding how Matt felt about returning here. They laid there for a long time before Matt had finally quieted down.
Jeff stroked his brother's hair as he looked down at him. He smiled at how calm & peaceful Matt finally looked; but the smile quickly turned to a frown when he realized that Matt's chest wasn't moving in the motion to show that he was breathing. He leaned down, placing his ear to Matt's face, no sound. He sat up quickly, grabbing Matt by the shoulder, shaking him violently. He called out Matt's name several times but got no answer.
He quickly hopped off the bed & called 911, followed by his father. When the ambulance arrived, the EMT's quickly loaded Matt into the vehicle; rushing him to the nearest hospital. As Jeff & his father sat in the waiting room: Phil's parents, Shannon, & Gregory showed up. They all asked Jeff how Matt was doing but he had no answer.
"I don't know what's going on, man. All I know is that we were laying in the bed & he was crying a bit. Then after that he had calmed down. I thought that he was asleep until I realized that his chest wasn't moving," Jeff explained.
Just as Jeff spoke, the doctor & a nurse came into the waiting room; the same ones who tended to Phil. The look on their faces told them that the news wasn't good.
"I regret to inform you that Mr. Hardy has passed. Unfortunately he suffered from heart failure. We tried everything that we could to revive him, but unfortunately we could not get his heart to start beating again. I know that this is tough being that you all just lost another, ... I'm sorry."
Everyone just looked around at each other in tears. Matt was completely healthy, so his sudden death was the ultimate surprise. Everyone questioned how Matt could suffer from heart failure as fast as he did. No one could fathom how that was possible. But Jeff figured, to himself, that he knew the answer. In his heart he knew exactly why Matt was gone.
**********
Matt's funeral had the same turnout just as Phil had not too long before. After the service, everyone gathered at the grave site as Matt's body was laid to rest next to Phil's. After the burial, everyone gathered back at Jeff's place to eat. As the radio played softly in the background, Phil's mother said the blessing over the food, Jeff stood to speak.
"I want to make a toast to my brother, Matt. I'd also like to do the same for Phil. Those two were probably the most beautiful couple I'd ever seen in my life. They made each other laugh & smile. There even were times when they made each other angry, hurt, & cry; but no matter what, they always worked things out. I believe that's why they complimented each other so well; the ability to deal with each others personalities & flaws, & not just giving up on one another.
"After a couple failed relationships, & you all know about that, I was extremely happy that Matt found Phil. Despite some negativity around them, ... & you all know about that, too, Phil always stayed true to Matt. Just as he stayed true to Phil. That's the kind of love that can't be touched & broken. It was pure.
"I didn't want to say this before because I didn't feel that it was the right time. But I honestly believe that Matt's death was meant to be," that lined caused everyone to look at Jeff as if he were going insane.
"Now I know that sounds crazy, but I believe it. Matt would have had a hard life trying to live without Phil. The pain would have just been too unbearable for him. I know because I know my brother. I believe that God took him so that he wouldn't have to deal with that pain. I think God took him so that he could spend eternity with Phil. ... It may read 'heart failure' on paper, but I know better. I know the true cause of Matt's death was simply a broken heart, & God found a way to fix it."
Jeff looked up as he continued with tears in his eyes, "so Matt, Phil, I hope that you two are eternally happy with each other. I love you both so much. & one day we all shall see each other again."
There wasn't a dry eye at the table as they all softly clapped as Jeff sat down. Although it sounded strange to them, it kind of made sense to them at the same time. Just as everyone stopped clapping & things went quiet, a familiar song came on the radio, causing everyone to turn & stare at it.
Love of mine some day you will die
But I'll be close behind
I'll follow you into the dark....
End.