Broken

chapter 5

It is now the day of the funeral and I keep telling myself that I'll be fine if I go.

So here I am standing right in the back of the crowd of people trying not to burst into tears.

My mum is even here, I wonder who told her. She didn't even spare me a glance from the time the ceremony started. It's like she doesn't know me.

She doesn't even look sad, but why would she? She never loved my dad. I was the only one who did.

It is now time for the burial and everyone is looking at my dad one last time. I watch as the coffin is being lowered into the ground.

Everyone had white flowers to put on the coffin. I was the only one with a purple flower, dad loved the colour purple so I put a purple flower.

As the coffin is being lowered i feel as if a weight is being lifted off my shoulders, as if memories are being washed away.

Dad is finally at peace. No more problems for him, he's in peace.
After everyone leaves the graveyard I'm the only one who stayed back. I stand in front of the tombstone:

                   Callan Lodge
                      1986-2020

After some time of looking at the tombstone I feel a hand on my shoulder. I got scared.

I recognise who it was,"Oh god, you scared me" she smiles at me. "I'm so sorry for your loss Ev" Cecilia says sadly. "Thank you Cee" I tell her. I leap into her arms and sob.

Cecilia is my bestest friend from the time we were kids, we met in preschool and instantly became besties.

And even now, many years later our bond is still as strong. She has always been there for me when I needed her and here she is again to comfort me.

We pull away from the embrace and her blue eyes go over my face, "Ev you look horrible, are you staying up late?" She asks with worry seeping through her voice.

"I just couldn't sleep thinking about everything, but it's all fine now, he's in peace and I'm happy" I smile at her, she smiles back.

Cee is a tall, curvy girl, with blue eyes, just like Bolt. She has blond hair and cute freckles all over her nose.

"I hope you're not staying with your mother, she'll probably blame you for what happened" she rolls her eyes.

"Yeah I'm not staying there, I'm not going back ever, she didn't even look at me today, and when she did, she didn't care" "She doesn't deserve your affection Ev, you know that" "yeah I know" I look at my feet.

She looks behind me, what is she looking at?

I turn around and see Dominic strolling towards us.

"Hey, uh are you ready to come home?" He says, his voice is extra low today, I saw him crying earlier, it was a weird sight.

Cee looks at me like with a questioning look on her face, as if to tell her who he is. I ignore her looks.

"Yeah I'm ready" I tell him. He says " alright c'mon"
"Cee, this is Dominic, my dad's best friends, Dominic this is Cecilia, my best friend". "Hello Cecilia" he says. "Hi, so Ev are you staying with him?".

She looks at me, wiggling her perfectly shaped eyebrows. "Uh yeah, kinda. For a few days" I tell her, giving her a warning look.

Dominic clears his throat,
"Evelyn, you can talk properly to your friend, I'll wait for you in the car" I look at him "okay, I'll be there in a few minutes"

He chuckles and mumbles "ladies" he walks away.

I can't help but blush. Cee looks at me and begins, "Oh god Ev, he's so hot, if you don't get him I sure will, but I don't that because I can already see myself as the maid of honour to your wedding" she winks at me.

"Cee, he's twenty eight years old, I'm only seventeen" I laugh and playfully roll my eyes.

"So what" she smirks, "you said you were into older guys" " oh god Cee" I look at her like shes mad.

"I gotta go, Dominic is waiting for me" she laughs, "Go Ev, Enjoy your night" she winks again. This girl I swear." Love you too" she shouts from behind me as I walk. I shot her the finger and go to the car.

I get into the car with a smile on my face. "So I take it you enjoyed your talk with your friend?" My cheeks flush "Yea I did" he chuckles and takes off for his house.
"Uh so how long will I be staying with you?" I ask. "For as long as you need to".

"Alright.......Can we get food?" I ask hopefully. "Sure, what do you want?", "Uh McDonald's?" I suggest. "Perfect" he says and pulls into a McDonald's drive through. "What do you want to eat?". "Nuggies" I say like a baby, he laughs at me and orders the food.

I offered to pay but he refused. He said it's his treat. Well next time I'll be the one to pay.

The car comes to a halt, I notice this is not his house. It's an empty parking lot.

"Did you need to do some shopping?" I ask curiously. "We're here to eat silly, I come here alot to think".

My eyes shot up to his "Really? I always go to parking lots to take pictures" he laughs at that.

We get out of the car and sit on the hood as I continue "My car is at my mum's house, dad got it for me when I turned seventeen" I say thinking back to when dad gave me the keys.

"He always spoke about you, y'know" Dominic says, bringing me out of my thoughts. "Where were you born?" I ask him. I don't know much about him.

"I was born in Spain, my dad left my mum when I was born" he says with a disgusted tone, "she raised me all on her own, with some help from her mother, my grandma, she died when I was fourteen and five years later my mum died in a car crash, which was about 10 years ago. That's when I moved here" I listen to his story as we eat our food.

"When I moved here, my dad found me and wanted me to take over his business, I refused to do that, he disowned me when I was born and he expected me to take over his shitty company. He didn't support my career choice. He knew I wanted to be a doctor but refused to help me. That didn't stop me though. That's when your dad came in, I was in high school and he was out, he lent me the money for my studies, I will forever be in his debt. Whatever I am now is because of his support. He was like my bigger brother." He finishes.

I don't know what to say to him. His story is sad, maybe even sadder than mine.

I don't know what to do so I wrap my arms around him and give him a hug. He relaxes immediately.

"I guess we're all broken in some way" I say to him softly.