Page 36 of Everything She Feared

“But, in many ways Anna’s death lights a path for us, a path to find meaning in our lives. Our pain reinforces the truth in our hearts of how strongly we are connected to each other. And now, our bond to Anna takes on a new spiritual form, a glorious transcendent understanding that she will always be a part of us...”

Reverend Santos continued for several minutes before concluding.

Then, one by one, others came to the podium to give eulogies.

Paige Kendall and Charlotte Cook, two of Anna’s school friends, stood together, offering their memories.

“Anna was always there to fix you when your day sucked,” Paige said.

“Yeah,we need ice creamwas her solution to everything,” Charlotte said, causing a ripple of laughter.

“Anna was the best of us,” Paige said.

“She really was,” Charlotte said as they consoled each other.

One of Anna’s teacher’s spoke next. Then the principal of her school, then Anna’s aunt Dolores, from Reno, who’d taught her how to play poker.

“It wasn’t long before she was cleaning up. She was so good, so good.”

The eulogies concluded with Chuck, Lynora and Jon, her little brother. At the podium together, supporting each other, they worked through tears to say what they needed to say.

“I was honored to be your dad,” Chuck said.

“You were a perfect daughter,” Lynora said. “I was blessed to be your mom.”

Then Jon, now fourteen, moved to the microphone.

“She was so good at being a big sister that the angels asked God if they could have her to be their sister.”

The program neared the end when Anna’s friend, Will Naya, from her music class, played the piano and sang another of Anna’s favorite songs, “Someone Saved My Life Tonight.”

As he played, Sara brushed her tears and turned to Katie, putting her arm around her, giving her a sad smile, then shutting her eyes and praying.

Sara prayed with all her heart.

I cannot think what I’m thinking because it isn’t true. I have to stay strong, like Mom said.

Sara clasped Katie’s hand.

Because Katie’s a good girl.

People congregated in the building’s expansive entrance hall.

At times Sara sensed a few mourners were looking at her and Katie, but she could never catch them staring.It’s like they know.Or maybe Sara was only imagining it, with her nerves in overdrive.

Navigating through the gathering, Sara and Katie passed near a group of teenage girls, their whispers spilling over their circle.

“I can’t believe Tanner came!”

“After breaking her heart? No way!”

“Maybe he still loves her?”

Funeral home staff gently guided everyone into a long line that flowed to Anna’s family, close to the reception room where a buffet had been prepared. Sara and Katie soon found themselves in the line, sandwiched ahead of some teenage girls and behind two tall teenage boys in suits.

“Hi, Tanner,” one of the girls whispered.

One of the boys, his tie a little crooked, turned and saw the girl. “Hi, Aubrey,” he said. Turning back, Tanner glanced at Sara, then Katie, nodded politely, then did a double take, registering what Katie was wearing.

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