****** 1 week later ******
(Poppy's POV)
I stood in front of the mirror looking at myself in my black pencil dress and tights. My blonde hair hung by my shoulders with the front pinned back, I hadn't bothered with make-up because I knew I'd probably end up crying it off no matter how hard I tried...I pulled Emily's silver locket around my neck and closed the clasp. It use to be mum's with a picture of me and Em in either side.
I'd planned the whole funeral with a little bit of help, Rachel was only just managing to hold it together if I'd asked her to do the funeral she'd have just fallen apart. Besides I'd raised Emily since she was a baby, for 12 years we been all each other had, so I knew everything about her. I'd dressed her in her favourite outfit and put her favourite headband in her dark hair yesterday at the funeral home. She had her arms on her chest with her favourite teddy in one arm and a picture of Rachel, her and me in her other hand...
Em was a girly girl so I chose a white coffin and had the pink silk put inside specially. When I was working, once I'd paid for everything we needed I'd put the rest of the money in a bank account for Em so that when she was old enough she'd have a good start in life and didn't have to do what I had, She'd never get to use that now and I knew I'd never bring myself to spend it, so I used it for the funeral...I figured her funeral, her money. It seemed right...No, not right, none of this was right but...suitable.
I wasn't ready to do this...I wasn't ready to let her go...To say goodbye. But, I forced myself to pick up my jacket and shoes and head downstairs. I couldn't wear converse or vans with this dress so I'd bought a pair of black shoes with a pointed toe and a little black bow on the top, they had a small heel but I could still walk in them and that's what mattered. I walked down and pulled my suit jacket on.
Rachel was stood at the bottom of the stairs with Adam, Rachel dressed in a black skirt, black jacket and black shirt with her long black suade heels that reached her knees. Her eyes already filling with tears. Adam was in a black suit, with a white shirt and a black tie. The hearse pulled up outside the house and so did a long black car behind her. The white coffin laid in the back with pink roses surrounding it. I went up to the car and pressed my hand to the glass just for a moment...
At the church there weren't many people, Em didn't really know a lot of people because we moved around so much, I felt horrible for that. Outside they greeted us, with kind words and condolences. Lara, Sam, Melissa, Phillip, Kim, Denzil Kelly and his mum Rose, Candeece and Bolton, Mr Mead, Miss Boston, Emily's friend Ruby and her mum and dad...Some more people in waterloo road uniform about Em's age that I didn't recognise. I was surprised to see Lindsay and Emily James. I went over to them.
"Listen its my sister's funeral so if you've come to cause trouble this isn't the place" I told Lindsay directly
"I haven't, we've come to pay our respects...I don't know what I'd do without my little sister" Lindsay replied
I nodded and went back over to stand with Rachel, we soon went in and the music started...Em loved glee so I chose 'I look to you' but the glee version. Bolton, Adam, Mr Mead and one of the undertakers carried her down the aisle. This was worse than I had imagined. It was placed at the front near her picture and the vicar began to talk. A couple of lines in he was interrupted by the noise of the door. I turned and to my horror saw Tom in handcuffs with two prison officers.
"I'll get rid of him" Adam said quietly
"No. He can stay...I don't want any kicking off to ruin this for Em" I told him
Bolton squeezed my hand softly. Then it was time for me to say something, I hadn't prepared a speech or anything I just wanted to say what I felt. As I walked up the few steps to the stand my entire body was shaking and I felt like I'd fall. But I made it to the stand, I looked to my left at the picture, Em looking so innocent.
"This is wrong...Em was a great sister, such a sweet and loving little girl...And she always looked out for me, if she hadn't of been then I wouldn't be where I am now with Rachel. She was the most selfless person I've ever met and she didn't deserve this..." Tears flowed down my face as I tried my best to hold it in. I walked over to the coffin and placed my hand on the top. "I love you so much Emster and I'll never forget you...I promise, you're with mum now. I know she wasn't great before, but maybe she'll do better this time? I'm so sorry I wasn't there to protect you...Sleep tight my angel"