Existence 02 - Predestined

scream out in fury. I’d had enough time to think about it and I knew there must be a reason Dank didn’t tell me. But I just wasn’t ready to hear that reason yet.
    My attention drifted to Leif as he walked inside and hugged Wyatt’s mother then shook Wyatt’s dad’s hand before taking a seat among the other students who’d come today. Which was just about everyone. He just walked among them like he was one of them. Like he cared about Wyatt’s death. It made me angry to think of how disrespectful his presence felt. Wyatt had thought Leif was his friend. He’d trusted Leif. All along Wyatt had never been more than a tool for Leif. A way to get close to me. Shifting my attention away from Leif before I completely got myself worked up I scanned the room.
    The funeral didn’t start for another thirty minutes. By that time the place would be standing room only. My gaze drifted over everyone I recognized from school. Some I knew, others I didn’t. It’s odd how when one of us dies we all come together as one. Even if we don’t know each other or if we hate each other we come together for that one day.
    I searched for my mother. She’d flown back home as soon as she’d heard and would be leaving again tomorrow. I’d assured her I wouldn’t be leaving Miranda’s for a few days so there was no need for her to stay home and miss the last two days of the convention for me. She was sitting beside Miranda’s mother and father. I was glad she was here. Seeing her gave me some much needed strength.
    The doors opened and in stepped someone I hadn’t expected to be here today. Jay Potts had been my boyfriend from ninth grade up until the end of school last year when he’d decided to go off to college and his parents moved away as well. We’d broken things off because long distance relationships never worked. Seeing Jay saunter down the aisle I felt tears well up in my eyes. The four of us, Miranda, Wyatt, Jay and I had been a group from freshman year until the end of our junior year. So many of my high school memories of Wyatt were ones Jay was also a part of. His dark brown eyes found mine and he gave me a sad smile.
    “Jay’s here,” Miranda whispered as she lifted her head and watched as he spoke with Wyatt’s parents.
    “I know.” It seemed fitting that he was here at the end. Wyatt would have loved to see him.
    “I’m glad,” Miranda replied through her sniffles.
    “Me too. Just seems right,” I agreed.
    Miranda laid her head over on my shoulder and we sat there huddled together while the preacher spoke and then the casket was closed and carried to the gravesite already prepared for Wyatt.
    “I can’t watch them lower him into the ground,” the anxiety in Miranda’s voice mixed with the trembling in her body told me it probably was a good idea for this to be as far as she went. I led her over to the steps on the far side of the funeral home so that we couldn’t see the gravesite.
    “Let’s just sit here until they’re finished.” I coaxed
    “Okay,” she agreed and sank down on the cold cement beside me.
    “That was awful, Pagan.”
    “Yeah, it was.”
    “Do you think his soul was around long enough to see it?”
    I knew it wasn’t but I didn’t think that was the answer she wanted to hear.
    “I don’t know. Maybe. I guess anything is possible.”
    She nodded and twisted the handkerchief in her hands. I stared out over the cemetery and noticed a few lost souls hovering over gravesites. Those were the ones who’d seen their own funeral. They’d not wanted to go. I was glad Wyatt hadn’t put up a fight. It was easier knowing he was going to have another life soon.
    “Why’re you mad at Dank?”
    Miranda’s question surprised me. I didn’t think she’d have noticed my separation from Dank the past two days. She’d spent most of her time crying and sleeping.
    “I never said I was mad at Dank,” I replied.
    “But you are. You don’t have to say it.”
    Sighing, I rested my chin in the palms of my hands and leaned forward pressing my elbows into my knees.
    “Just a little relationship drama. Not something worth talking about right now.”
    Miranda nodded and reached over for my hand.
    “I love you, Pagan,” she declared in a raspy voice.
    “I love you, too.”

    Dank
    Pagan and Miranda sat hip to hip holding hands as they stared out over the cemetery in front of them. I stood off to the side hidden from Pagan’s sight and watched them. I knew she wouldn’t want me