• Chapter One
    "It is always a sad day," Father Hamilton started, "When I see such a young person pass."
    I sniffed.
    "It is even sadder, for I knew young Blake myself. He came to church every Sunday, and was a good boy. This might be the hardest funeral that I have ever held."
    Then he went on. I didn't hear much of his words. I didn't pay much attention throughout the entire ceremony. I didn't sing along to Amazing Grace, but I was the first out as we all began to go to the burial sight.
    Blake's mom, Angie, walked beside me. I heard her sniffles, and they somewhat matched mine.
    "You know, Marisa," Angie said, "Blake really loved you."
    "I know," I replied, "He used to tell me all the time. It was the last thing he said to me."
    We were silent as we walked behind the dead lifeless body of my boyfriend.
    My memory flicked back to only forty minutes ago, when I had for the very final time kissed Blake, though he would never know it. I had cried so hard afterward, and I hadn't wanted to leave him. Angie had pulled me away from the casket.
    His dirty blond hair had been just as it had the last time I had seen him, two days before he was in a car accident with his best friend, Bobby, and his brother, Joe. The two of them had been lucky, and had escaped with just a few broken bones.
    His skin had been so pale, so cold, that I had shivered when my lips touched his cheek. A news reporter had taken our picture, and said that he was sure we had been an adorable couple.
    Of course we had been an adorable couple. We had been voted most likely to stay together in our sophomore year. We never used to fight, and we always held hands. We had been together since sixth grade, when I had moved her.
    Father Hamilton walked up behind me and squeezed my shoulder. I had always liked Father Hamilton, and he had always been kind toward me.
    "I am so sorry about this loss, you two," he said to Angie and myself.
    I nodded, unable to speak words anymore.
    Only a few of the very many who had come to the funeral actually stayed the entire day. And I was the only one outside of Blake's large family that stayed while they placed the casket into the ground.
    His family placed bouquets of flowers around the single tombstone that read, 'Here lies Blake Jacob Marshal, beloved son and friend'.
    Even when they all had left, I still stood in front of Blake's tombstone. Finally, as it started to get dark, I took out the single red rose that I had hidden in my bag. It was still in perfect condition.
    I placed it in the tiny vase that was on a ledge on the stone.
    "Goodbye, Blake," I said through tears.
    I turned and started back down the road to my house.