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“Hi,” I say, walking up to him.
“Hi.” He looks up at me with a smile. “You look beautiful.”
He’s wearing a black button-up, long sleeve shirt with a black tie, dress pants, and shoes. “You look great, too,” I compliment him.
He reaches his hand out. I accept, and we intertwine our fingers. “Thank you for coming.”
“Like I said, I’m here for you. What is your mom’s name?” he asks.
“Carly,” I say.
We walk over to the huge tent where my mom and Scarlett stand talking to people around us.
“Oh, honey,” my mom says. I gently pull my hand away from Eric’s and give my mom a hug. Her dark purple dress matches her dark purple heels, and her long brunette hair rests over one shoulder.
“Who’s this?” she asks, looking at Eric.
Before I can introduce him, he beats me to it.
“Hi, I’m Eric. Hailey’s friend.” He extends his arm out, offering to shake her hand, and she accepts.
“Hi, call me Carly. Hailey, you didn’t tell me you were dating someone.”
“Oh, we’re just getting to know one another.”
“Mhm, I see.” She smiles knowingly.
“I’m going to find a seat. Scar, want to come with us?” I ask.
“Yes.”
We find a spot close to the closed casket. I sit just a few steps from the open grave. My fingers trace the edges of my dress, a nervous habit that surfaces whenever emotions overwhelm me. The world seems muted.
Sinking into the chair, memories of Ray flood my mind. His laughter, his guidance, his unwavering support—they all rush back, making my chest tighten with gratitude and sorrow. The soft whispers of leaves and distant voices of the attendees merge with the officiant’s somber words.
The casket is adorned with flowers and the weight of finality. The eulogies paint a vivid picture of a man who touched many lives, but my mind lingers on our personal moments—the way he taught me to drive a car, his patient reassurance after heartbreaks, his presence that filled rooms with warmth.
I clench my hands in my lap, my eyes fixed on the ground. A rush of emotions floods me—the pain of loss, the depth of gratitude, the ache of an uncertain future. I swallow hard, focusing on the chair beneath me, as if it could keep me steady.
Eric grabs my hand, squeezing it gently and leaning toward my ear. “Deep breaths, sweetheart.”
As I stand and approach the casket, a breeze dances through the air. I close my eyes briefly, letting the wind brush against my cheeks like a gentle caress. My heart remains heavy, but there’s comfort in knowing that others share in this grief and that I’m not alone in my sadness.
Scarlett offers a small smile, her hand resting on my arm.
“Thank you for being here with Hailey,” Scarlett says to Eric.
“It’s the least I could do,” he replies.
“I miss you so much, Dad,” I murmur, my fingers tracing the engraving on the casket. Tears trickle down my cheeks, the ache in my chest almost unbearable.
The rest of the day passes in a blur—hugs, shared memories, the company of friends and family. As the sun sets, casting a warm golden hue over the cemetery, I find myself sitting beside Ray’s final resting place, the silence a space for reflection.
“I don’t know how to do life without you,” I admit to Ray, though it’s more to myself than anything.
“You don’t have to do it alone,” Eric says softly, breaking me out of my thoughts. “You have people who care about you, who want to help carry the weight.”
He sits next to me and pulls me into a hug. I lean into his touch, finding comfort in his words.
