"The Weight of Goodbye"
The sun hung low in the sky, casting a muted light over the small, peaceful cemetery where the funeral was taking place. Dark clouds loomed overhead, as though the world itself was mourning. Rows of chairs were set up beneath a canopy, shielding the mourners from a light drizzle that had begun earlier. The air was thick with sorrow, and the sound of soft weeping filled the air as everyone gathered to say their final goodbyes.
Snickers stood at the front, next to the row of caskets. His eyes were swollen from days of crying, and his body felt heavy, weighed down by the grief that had overtaken him. He had lost so much in such a short time—his mother, Vikki Dachshund; his younger brother, John; his sister-in-law, Michaela; his beloved teacher, Calypso; and his classmate, Pretzel. It was almost too much to bear.
Beside him, Bluey stood quietly, her hand gently resting on Snickers' shoulder. She, too, had tears in her eyes. Mackenzie was beside her, offering silent support, but his own face betrayed the deep sadness he felt for the loss of Calypso and Pretzel. The funeral was not just a goodbye to Snickers' family, but to people who had been a part of all their lives growing up.
Rusty and Coco were seated nearby, holding hands. Rusty's eyes never left the caskets, and Coco clung to him, her heart breaking all over again as she remembered the tragic crash that had taken so many lives. Indy, Honey, and Chloe sat together, their expressions somber. The memories of their childhood, with Calypso as their guiding teacher, rushed through their minds.
Winton, Adam, Joe, and Dan, childhood friends and classmates, stood quietly to the side, their heads bowed in respect. Mia and Captain, who had four kids now—two of them twins—had come to pay their respects to Calypso, a teacher who had helped shape their early years.
George Lee, standing alone, looked lost. His eyes were bloodshot from crying. He had lost not only his sister, Michaela, but also his connection to the family he had been a part of for so long. He glanced at Snickers, sharing in his pain. The two of them exchanged a brief, sorrowful look, knowing there were no words to ease this kind of heartbreak.
The priest stepped forward to offer a few final words, his voice soft and filled with compassion. "Today, we gather not only to mourn, but to remember. Vikki Dachshund, John Dachshund, Michaela Lee, Calypso Shepherd, and Pretzel Chihuahua. They were loved, cherished, and they touched so many lives. Though they are no longer with us, their memories will live on in our hearts."
One by one, the mourners approached the caskets to say their goodbyes. Snickers' legs felt like lead as he took slow steps forward. He looked at his mother's casket first, his heart breaking anew as he whispered, "I love you, Mum. I wish I had more time with you." Tears streamed down his face as he moved to his brother's casket next. "John... I never told you enough how proud I was of you." He swallowed hard, his throat tightening with emotion. "I miss you already."
He stopped by Michaela's casket, his voice barely a whisper. "You were the sister I never had. I'm sorry, Michaela. I'm sorry I wasn't there." And then Calypso's casket. His teacher had been such a significant part of his life, guiding him through his childhood with patience and care. "Thank you for everything, Calypso. You made me who I am today."
Finally, he stood in front of Pretzel's casket. His classmate, his friend. They had shared so much growing up. "Goodbye, Pretzel," Snickers choked out. "I'll never forget you."
Bluey and Mackenzie approached next, their tears mixing with the soft rain. "Thank you, Calypso," Bluey said quietly, her voice trembling. "You were the best teacher anyone could ask for."
One by one, the others said their goodbyes. Rusty, his voice thick with emotion, whispered a final farewell to his fallen classmates and teacher. Coco sobbed quietly, her hand never leaving Rusty's. George knelt by Michaela's grave, laying a single flower on the casket. "I love you, sis," he said through his tears, his voice breaking. "I'll never forget you."
As the caskets were lowered into the ground, the rain began to pick up again. The finality of it all settled over the group like a heavy blanket. Gravestones, freshly engraved with their names, stood at the head of each grave. The words on the stones seemed so permanent, so final:
Vikki Dachshund
John Dachshund
Michaela Lee
Calypso Shepherd
Pretzel Chihuahua
The reality hit Snickers like a punch to the gut. His family was gone. His teacher, his classmate—gone. He was alone now, truly alone.
After the funeral, the mourners slowly dispersed, offering their condolences to Snickers as they left. But Snickers lingered, standing in front of the freshly buried graves, staring at the stones with unblinking eyes. The rain soaked through his fur, but he didn't care.
He was the last one there.
When he finally returned home, it was quiet. Too quiet. The house felt cold and empty without his mother bustling about or his brother's laughter filling the rooms. Snickers walked through the house, each room a painful reminder of the life he had lost.
As he sat down in his mother's favorite chair, his hands trembled. "Mum… John… Michaela… Calypso… Pretzel…" He muttered their names softly, over and over, as though saying them out loud would somehow bring them back.
But it didn't.
Snickers was truly alone now, and the weight of that loneliness settled over him like a heavy, suffocating blanket.