Page 37 of Glad You Exist

The only time I see her actually acknowledge someone is when her dad walks in.

With his new girlfriend.

I grit my teeth to prevent from audibly growling.

I don’t know what happened between Uncle Will and Aunt Cat but bringing his girlfriend to his ex-wife’s funeral seems like a pretty shitty thing to do.

“What should we do?” Kim whispers from beside me.

Kyle nudges me, “I think you should go to her once we’re outside.”

I shake my head. Originally, I had planned to give her and her family space to grieve, but after seeing her in the state she’s in right now, I know I need to go to her sooner than that.

Kyle and I offered to help carry the casket outside but my mom made arrangements for people from the funeral parlor to do it so Aunt Cat’s family and friends can focus on saying their goodbyes.

I check my watch.

In an hour, the procession will start, and Liz would lose her only chance to say goodbye to her mom. To see her face one last time. I need to go to her soon.

I needed to go to her now.

It only takes me four steps to get there. I kneel beside her and take her hand.

She startles at the contact. As soon as our gazes lock, the mask she has put on shatters and her beautiful brown eyes glisten with tears, her pain swimming in them.

I huff a breath, clutching at my own self-control and stiffly nod towards the casket.

She bites her lip but gives me permission to take her to her mom.

I move my hand to the small of her back and gently nudge her until she’s close enough to see her mom. I have to close my eyes at the sight of Aunt Cat.

This kind, caring, funny, beautiful woman who cared for us like she was our own mother, who instilled so much of herself into the girl of my dreams and loved my mom like they were sisters, is gone.Forever.

A gut-wrenching whimper comes out of Liz and my eyes fly open just in time to see her launch herself on top of the casket and start bawling.

Every piece of me breaks as I finally let my tears fall.

I feel a hand on my shoulder and Dan comes into my periphery.

I step aside so he can be with his sister.

I meet Summer, Kim and Kyle at the bottom steps. Kim reaches for my hand and squeezes it while with the other, she holds on to Kyle, who has an arm wrapped around his sister.

After a few moments, Uncle Will strides up the small steps. He wraps his arms around Dan’s and Liz’s shoulders. The knife inside me twists as we listen to them say their final goodbyes.

* * *

“I’m not having a party, Mom.”

Mom glares at me from across the room.

I abandon all pretense of studying and throw my textbooks on the floor.

I don’t bother hiding the scowl spreading across my face either.Fuck it.

I’m pissed that she even thinks I want to celebrate anything, even my eighteenth birthday, at a time like this. Aunt Cat’s funeral was just a few weeks ago.

“Your cousins are already coming Brad.”

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