Heart without a beat
Times in Brighton where tough, the happy memories that Lemon and Maria should have shared were lost, the only thing he could think of was that one moment when he lost her. Throughout the entire two weeks nothing they did put a smile on the doctors' face, despite Leaves many failed attempts. They went to the beach and skipped along the sands, well Leaves skipped Lemon did not, they slid down the helta skelta and Leaves laughed all of the way when Lemon never smiled once. It all seemed hopeless like the doctor would not smile or laugh or enjoy himself ever again now she is gone. Those two weeks in Brighton where torture, with happy couples everywhere Lemon could not wait to get home, away from it all. In Brighton however Lemon did managed to arrange Marias funeral, it was hard to find a church however that would bury only a memory and a name. Leaves did try to help with it all but his only suggestions where a little childish, like to have a headstone in the shape of a Lemon.
Back in London the funeral was only hours away and Lemon was sat in his room in 221B Baker street, all dressed in his suit and tie with his shoes perfectly polished and shining. 'I have more news on those cases we have being following Lemon' stated Leaves, as despite all that had happened the pair were still tracking a few strange movements, like the deaths in the brewery and most recently the attack on the train that killed Maria. 'So was there anything suspicious about that baker we questioned, oh what about that bullet we found any news on that and', 'wait my friend' interrupted Leaves, 'oh but on that note the baker was innocent, and the bullet came from a gun belonging to the butcher I feel we no longer need to pursue this line any further', Leaves concluded, 'Tell me then, what news have you got' questioned Lemon who was starting to feel his time was getting wasted. Leaves who was starting to feel pressured to quickly deliver this news just started to shout it out to the waiting Doctor, 'We have been delivered a note, its anonymous and says the end will come, spooky isn't it my friend'. As Leaves looked up from the note he realised he was alone and when he glanced over to the clock he soon remembered why.
The church stood tall on the top of a hill, with a graveyard at the back, the sun was yet to come out from behind the clouds, on this saddening day. As Lemon arrived the only thing he could do was stare at the doors leading into the church, he stood there staring for a few minutes, unaware of time passing by. They were big oak doors, heavy looking with a few small cracks, but non the less the place still looked amazing, it was truly a spectacular way to finish your days. As others arrived Lemon was still stood there entranced by the church and the high expectations the Taylors would have; as being an upper class family, they had many views on how the day should turn out. Some of the guests that arrived included Marias family, including her brother Edward Taylor, Kennedy and others Lemon met during his time in the war like Fredrick and the young soldier Lundie, everyone that meant a lot to Maria, ready to see her on her journey to heaven.
As the carriage arrived everyone was already inside, sitting and waiting for the coffin to be brought in to the church. The organ played, the sound of footsteps where getting ever closer to the door, the sound of the men who were carrying her coffin, her memory. Hymns were sung, prayers were said and memories shared. All throughout those, there was not a dry eye in the church, not even from Leaves who was trying his best to comfort a distraught Lemon. Her father spoke a few words, a few about her childhood, while her mother couldn't say a word. The most touching speech however was Lemons speech the sonnet he wrote for the event, the sonnet went;
From light to dark or life to death
I'll love you truly never less,
That moment you took your last breath
Showed me worlds I'd never guess.
The times we shared where never dull
Those first few months like none I've known,
And now you're gone I sit and mull
I wonder life all on my own.
My love is gone and life I see
Is just as bad as books I read,
Lost and lonely please let me be
I'll join you soon or so I plead.
But sure I'll find one more to love
As pure and white as a fair dove.
After it Lemon was faced with silence, an eerie silence as not even the tears of others there were heard, the speech moved everyone. After a short pause, people once again to fidget with their pocket handkerchiefs, and shuffled in their seats while trying not to cry too much. Lemon then stood up and walked over to the coffin, despite holding no body his actions were no different. As he ran his hand along the outside of the coffin he muttered several words to the memory it holds. Once he was done he then moved to a bunch of flowers, and one by one he picked up the flowers and laid them on her coffin, leaving the flowers by him to last. They were her favourite flowers red roses, he took a note from the flowers and read it to her, 'My darling Maria, how sad our time was not infinite, as no amount of time is long enough with you, all my love John'. As he placed the flowers on her coffin the emotion got to him as he fell to his knees in front of her memory, truly distraught he rested his head on the coffin and made no attempt to move. After a few seconds Leaves stood up to comfort his friend, and as he picked him up of the floor the pair embraced each other, the sign of a true friendship. As the detective and doctor took their seats once more the service was nearly over, they finished with Marias favourites hymn, one she sung every morning to Lemon as he woke in their bed. Now all that was left was to listen to a few tunes from the organ, and to say yet again more prayers.
As the guests walked outside following the coffin, the sun appeared to have crept out from behind the clouds shining brightly on the grave dug for Marias coffin. The headstone was grand, paid for entirely by the Taylors, so grand in fact that it stood out from all the rest in the graveyard. As they all stood by the grave a few words of small talk were shared, like 'you meant everything to her, she loved you more than most', from Edward her brother, a tall handsome man who everyone would agree was the nicest Taylor. He then continued by apologizing for Lemons loss, and that he hoped Lemon would love another. Kennedy updated Lemon on business at the university and of hopeful new recruits to the army, while Fredrick merely complained about the war, of which he was still part of, and how many troops agree with him that they are fighting for nothing. Lundie however was a little more sympathetic, and focussed the topic of his conversation with Lemon of memories of Maria, from the only time he met her, at their wedding. In fact the only person that was not engaging in small talk was Leaves as he felt that his intellectual ability was far beyond it, some like Edward and Kennedy tried but soon left as one word answers was not enough to keep a conversation going for long.
When the coffin was ready to be lowered, one of the coffin bearer's gave a small cough, enough to gain the attention of those present. They all stood facing the grave, watching the coffin slowly fall, while listening to the Lord's Prayer. It took only a single minute for the coffin to be lowered into the grave, and that marked the end of the service, the funeral. Everyone stayed for a few moments to honour her, most said there final few words, others just stood and stared. Slowly people began to leave, each stopping by Lemon to give there condolence's, before straightening their jackets and walking over to the local free house, which was only a ten minute walk away, everyone was going there it was planned in advance by Kennedy, as a way to end the day. By the time Lemon had decided he had to leave, everyone was long gone and men had arrived to fill the grave in; reality had once again hit him, the whole event was not a dream and when he woke Maria would not be waiting for him.
'Lemon, my friend, how are you, a silly question to ask of course considering the circumstances but everyone has seemed to ask you today', spoke Leaves as acentric as ever, and surely enough when Lemon turned round his lifelong friend was there, 'you have been a long time, but I decided to wait, it's not like I'm fond of those drinking games and pitiful drunk conversations', Leaves continued still looking at his friend. Without saying another word the pair, walked out of the graveyard, without laughter or smiles, but today wasn't a day for that. Lemon couldn't imagine life being any worse for him, but he was yet to know what was to come, as Leaves was playing with the note he found, trying to puzzle out the writing etched onto it, today wasn't the day to tell Lemon, but that day would soon come.