Goodbye.

A short story by May Chorazyczewski
Contributor

I stand and approach the little wooden stand, papers shaking in my death grip.
Haha, death grip.
I look over the crowd through my blurry eyes as I look into the faces of your family. Your parents are tear-stained messes, and your brothers aren’t any better.
This isn’t easy for anyone.
I then look over and catch the eyes of your boyfriend; he’s sitting with your brothers and mouths, “You can do this.”
But can I?
Can I read out your eulogy?
We planned these elaborate schemes when we were younger—ways to spend the rest of our lives.
The three of us.
But now you’re gone.
A trio, now down to a duo, linked with friendship and shared grief.
I take a breath and step forward.
“When we were little, we met in classes, but right away, we became best friends. And things only grew from there. We…We were like a family.”
As soon as that last sound leaves my lips, I cry into my hands. My sobs are interrupted by arms wrapping around me.
“You’re okay, Sera,” his voice rings in my ears.
I nod my head up and down like a bobblehead as he attempts to escort me off the stage.
“No.” I whisper, “I need to finish… For her.”

He nods, and I approach the wooden stand once more.
“Our family was perfect. You were perfect. You had everything. We had everything when we had you. Goodbye…sister.”
I turn and take his hand as he escorts me off the stage. Your mother runs up and hugs me so close.
I had never known a mother’s touch could feel so good.
The rest of the service seems to pass in a blur, and suddenly I’m outside. Holding your boyfriend’s hand as we stand at your freshly dug gravesite. You are buried as he and your family cry.
Gone to become one of thousands in this graveyard.
We go back inside to retrieve our things and then to make the trip home. It’s so stuffy here. But it’s all worth it when he comes up to me.
“Hey Sera… I don’t want to be alone right now. Do you mind if-”
“Say no more,” I reply. “I was feeling the same way. I’ll head over to your place once I’m done saying my final goodbyes… In private, y’know?”
“Yeah, no problem. See you soon.”
I turn on my heels and return to the graveyard. Looking at your gravesite. Marked by a wooden pole with your name. Is that all that you’ve become now? A name on a wooden stake?
Good.
You never appreciated the life you had. You had everything and flaunted it while I had nothing.
A horrible abusive family.
And a shitty hopeless love life.
But now, a simple trip down the stairs allowed our places to shift.
I’m at the top now.
“See you in hell,” I say as I turn and make my way toward my new life.