Torn

Chapter Seven

Torn; Chapter Seven

"Madison would like to come up and say a few words of good-bye. Please step forward," the pastor says. I wipe the tears from my face and leave my first row seat to stand at the podium.

"Hi, everyone. These past few days have been... quite hard. I think it has for everyone. Yes, my family, like any other, had days where we wanted to kill each other, but we loved one another unconditionally. Like my mother used to say," a tear slips from my eye, "a family who fights, loves." I looked out at the crowd of weeping people. "Another thing, forgive. The person who killed my family, should be forgiven. If you don't forgive, you won't succeed. Everyone will mourn, including me, but afterwards, you have to forgive and keep on living. It's hard, but we can make it." I smile as I finish my speech, knowing I said the right things. Everyone smiled at me as I made my way back to my seat.

"That finishes the funeral. Everyone may now go to the burial location." I get up, followed by Simon. Before leaving so they could carry out the caskets, I peek inside the three matching caskets one last time.

"I love you," I whisper. A tear hits the wood. I walk out of the room and out to the hurse, which I was being forced to ride in. Uncle Simon grabs my hand and squeezes it.

"You're very strong," he whispers as we begin moving. I smile at him. He returns it and releases my hand.

~~~~

"MADISON!" I hear someone yell. I turn around to see Taylor, my best friend.

"Hey," I reply softly as she nears me.

"Sorry about your family."

"It's okay." I walk away from the newly covered holes in the middle of the big cemetery.

"Well, do you want to come over Tuesday and go shopping?" It clicks in my mind that I didn't tell Taylor I was moving.

"Um... I can't."

"Why? Nobody is around to stop you!"

"I am moving... to London, England."

"WHAT?! WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME?!"

"How was I supposed to remember to tell you when my fucking parents just died!!"

"Well, I am sorry that I am not important enough to be told my best friend is MOVING!" She gets up and marches away. I bury my face in my dirty hands. I hear footsteps approaching. I glance up to see my best guy friend, River.

"Hey," I mumble. He sits beside me in the grass.

"Hey," he says back. I continue to cry as he wraps his muscular arms around me. "Mad, it's going to be alright. You'll make it. I promise. Plus, Taylor is just upset that you won't be around to hang out with us anymore."

"Yeah, I know. I am sorry I didn't tell y'all."

"You had a lot on your mind. No one blames you."

"Except Taylor."

"Forget about her. She is jealous because you will be in the same country as her FAVORITE band." I laugh at his joke. Taylor loves One Direction. Sometimes she is a bit stalker-ish, but we still love her.

"Yeah, must be that."

"Well, text me. My mom is calling me to go." We both look over at his mom, who is yelling for him to leave. I laugh at her facial expressions as she rounds up all eight of her kids.

"Love you," I whisper into his chest as we hugged for the last time. We weren't dating. We didn't want to, but by the way we acted, you'd think we were.

"Love you too. Text me sometime!" He waved as he ran to his mom. I returned the small gesture and walked to Uncle Simon's rented car, which he had went back to the funeral home to get.

"Let's go," I say and get in the car. We drive away from the cemetery, away from the comotion, and away from my family. I stare out the window as Temporary Home by Carrie Underwood begins to play on the radio. "DAMMIT!" I whirl towards the radio and start punching it. Uncle Simon abruptly stops and stares at me as I continue to beat the radio.

"MADISON!" he yells, grabbing my hands. I look into his eyes, barely being able to see from the tears.