Black dresses were the chosen attire for the day. Fiona arrived back at Imogen's house bright and early after a night of troubled dreams and sleep. Imogen had been on her mind as of late, which also confused Fiona to no end. When she knocked on the front door of Imogen's house, Natalie answered with a thankful smile, she was already in her black dress, well, rather skirt and blouse. "Morning." Fiona greeted politely with a small smile. Natalie let her in the house and shut the door behind her.
"Thanks for coming." Natalie replied.
"It's really nothing." Fiona smiled lightly.
"Coffee?" Natalie asked as should stood with a solemn look on her face. Fiona shook her head slightly, she just wanted to get this day over with as soon as possible. This would not be a good day for Imogen. The atmosphere in the air felt melancholy, and dreary. The sooner it was over with, the better. Fiona had no idea how she was going to make Imogen feel better after this day, or even if she could.
"Imogen up yet?" Fiona asked, a question she'd been wanting to ask since Natalie opened the door.
She nodded, "I think she's still up in her room getting ready." Natalie said. "I think she's been waiting for you to come." She added.
"May I?" Fiona asked as she gestured up the stairs, wanting so badly to make sure Imogen was okay right now. A gut feeling inside of her told her that she wasn't... But you had to always have some kind of hope. Hope had to be the only thing they had right now.
"Of course." Natalie replied and Fiona made her way upstairs to Imogen's room. She knocked on the door lightly, waiting for Imogen to answer it. She waited a few seconds and got no reply, so she knocked again, this time a little louder. She desperately wanted all of Imogen's hurt and sadness to go away, but Fiona knew that the grieving process took a very long time, and even when you thought someone was okay, sometimes they really weren't okay.
"Immy?" Fiona called out with another knock, "It's me, Fiona. Can I come in?" The fashionista asked, and still got no answer. She took the no response as a yes, and opened the door softly, making her way in. He blue eyes found Imogen immediately, who was sitting with her back facing Fiona on the edge of the bed. "Imogen?" Fiona questioned. "Are you alright?" She asked again, and then heard a sniffle from Imogen.
"I don't think I can do this, Fiona..." Imogen finally spoke. "I'm not strong enough to see my dad... Like that." She said as she couldn't meet the older girl's gaze. In that moment, Fiona's heart broke, and he understood where Imogen was coming from. Of course she wouldn't be able to face it. That was her dad, the person she loved more than anything in this whole cruel world. Seeing him in death would only cause her more pain.
"You can do it." Fiona encouraged. "Your dad would want you there, don't you think?" She tried to add on, giving Imogen a little hope. "Immy, you've got to-" She started to say but was interrupted by Imogen.
"I know that's what he would want..." She said, referring to her dad, "But I just don't think it's worth all the emotional trauma. Dad wouldn't want a funeral anyone. He would want people to be happy, and know that he is in a better place now... Not wearing all black, crying over his dead body... It's sick..." Imogen rambled. "I know I'm his only daughter but I don't even think I want to go... This is awful." She continued to say, and Fiona was baffled. She didn't know Imogen felt this way about funerals at all. She stopped talking for a moment and Fiona tried to conjure up something to say, but could find nothing. It was like words couldn't form on her lips at all. "Are you alright, Fions?" Imogen asked as she finally looked up to the fashionista.
Fiona nodded, and she could only think of one thing to say, "But you'll be okay..." She started, "Because you have me. I'm here for you Immy." She said genuinely, and Imogen nodded. She was right about that. Fiona was here for her, because Fiona cared for her. "So, are you ready?" She asked. "The sooner you get this over with, the better." She added with a forced smile. Imogen stood up and crossed the room, pulling Fiona in for a tight hug, or rather embrace. Fiona was taken aback, but hugged the younger girl back immediately.
"Thank you, Fiona." Imogen whispered, and you could tell there were tears forming in her eyes. "I guess I'm just not ready to say goodbye yet." She added as she rested her chin on Fiona's shoulder.
Fiona shook her head, "It's not a goodbye, more like a see you later."
After that little exchange between the two, they went to the funeral home with Natalie and sat through the unbearable funeral. Imogen was crying her eyes out, and her heart too, while Fiona was just counting the minutes until it was over. People were crying, poems were read... It was a closed casket, which she knew was for Imogen's sake. Who knew how she would act if she actually saw her father there, laying dead. Funerals were always awful. Nobody ever wanted to say goodbye to someone they loved deeply. She knew one thing though, the damage from this on Imogen would be irreversible, and she didn't know if she could fix the girl ever again. It was going to be a tough challenge, but Fiona was persistent, and she and Imogen would make it through this, or die trying.