Sophia's eyes snapped open at the sound of the doorbell. Groaning, she peeled the cover off of her and trudged to the door, all the while cursing inwardly at whoever decided to wake her five in the morning.
"I'm coming!" she yelled grumpily when the bell rang again. Sophia tore the door open, ready to spit fire at the uninvited guest.
"What do you wa--" her words died on her lips as her gaze landed on two uniformed cops. Instantly her body went rigid and she self-consciously patted down her bed hair.
"Are you Miss Sophia Banks?" the cop with a heavy moustache questioned her. Sophia nodded, letting her eyes wandered down his name tag. Hudson.
"I believe Mr. Dylan Mayer is your fiancé?" Again, Sophia nodded.
"What's wrong, officer? Did Dylan get himself in trouble again?" she asked suspiciously. Officer Hudson cleared his throat but his expression remained masked.
"I'm here to inform you that Mr. Mayer was involved in a recent road mishap at approximately 4.40 a.m today," he spoke in an even tone. Sophia's heart palpitated when the news reached her ears but she simply thought her mind was playing tricks on her.
"But he's okay, isn't he?" she retorted, "He's recovering in a hospital right now?"
The two officers shared a look that caused Sophia's blood to turn cold. She could feel her mouth drying but she refused to acknowledge it.
"I am so sorry Miss Banks but unfortunately Mr. Mayer succumbed to his injuries while being treated at Maine Medical Centre."
Sophia's ears were ringing. She stared blankly at the two remorseful cops, unable to comprehend their news.
"What? No," she laughed in disbelief, "Come on, our wedding's this evening."
Their expressions remain unchanged but now with a hint of sympathy in their eyes. Sophia felt wetness on her cheeks and was surprised to find tears running freely down her face. She gritted her teeth furiously.
"No! You're lying!" shouted Sophia, "he can't be--we're getting married! You're lying!"
Natasha was slumbering in the one of the suite's room when she was awakened by the commotion. Throwing on a dressing gown, she rushed out of her room to inspect. That was how she found her daughter, yelling at two policemen. Her initial thought was that they were accusing Sophia of a felony so Natasha squared her shoulders, ready to testify anything. Then she noticed the tears rushing down her pale cheeks and the sobs wrecking through her body.
"Sweetheart," Natasha spoke gently, "What's wrong?"
Sophia's head whipped towards her mother's voice, her eyes red but hard. "Mom, these two fools told me that Dylan is--that Dylan's gone. How stupid is that?!"
Natasha frowned as she turned towards the policemen. "What is she talking about?" she inquired hesitantly. Officer Hudson, now sporting an annoyed look, answered hurriedly.
"Mr. Mayer has died from his injuries in a car crash."
"No! You're lying!" Sophia yelled. Natasha felt her heart crumble. Everything in her mind flew right through the window. The only thing she could think of was, my baby, my poor baby.
Natasha shook herself out of the stupor before quickly gathering her daughter in her arms. Her hands trembled as she smoothen Sophia's hair in a comforting manner.
"Shh, it's going to be okay, honey. It's going to be okay."
It won't. But those are the only words a mother knows to say during moments like this so Natasha was content in lying, even as their whole world dissolved around them. Motherhood does not come with a handbook so all Natasha could do was hold her daughter in her arms as she clung to her like she was clinging to her sanity.
The two policemen left the mother and daughter alone and head back to their jobs, not fully aware of how much their news impacted them. The hotel suite, reserved for the wedding, was filled with the sounds of the bride's sorrow.
************************************************************************************
Hunter Kinsley was never fond of funerals. He remembered vaguely the funeral of his grandfather he was forced to attend when he was six years old. Decked out in a suit and tie, little Hunter had to sit under the summer sun and waited for each family member to burst into tears while giving their speeches at the podium. Not to mention all the glum mood surrounding him. Hunter definitely hated funerals.
Now was no exception. Hunter tried to imagine he was some place else, perhaps in the Bahamas where the temperature wasn't three degree Celsius. But even the sweetest distraction won't divert him from the truth that he was at his best friend's funeral. Hunter was only 22 yet here he was watching his best friend's coffin. Nothing could possibly hurt this bad, he thought, even speaking of his name felt like a sucker punch to the gut.
As much as he loved his best friend, Hunter really didn't want to be sitting on a frozen bench in the middle of January. He didn't want to hear the preacher talked about life and death nor did he want to see people he cared for crying. Yet here he was, listening patiently to the speeches while his best friend's fiancé rested her head on his shoulder. Even she, the first one to receive the news, had no more tears to cry.
Hunter shifted a little, turning his head to look at Sophia. He immediately felt a pang at his heart at the sight of her blotchy nose and red eyes. She was supposed to be wearing a white wedding dress right now, instead of a black evening gown. She was supposed to be dancing her first husband and wife dance, instead of mourning over his death.
Everything's out of place and Hunter doesn't know if it will ever get back to normal. One thing's for sure though, that The Avenue was history. Without Dylan--there, right in the gut--the band was not the same anymore.
It was finally the time for the usual mournful funeral song to be sung. Everybody present stood up, except for the remaining four. Luke, Zach, Hunter and Sophia sat next to each other with arms linked together, as if to prevent them from falling apart. Truth is, they already did.
Hunter nudged Sophia a little with his shoulder. "You up for singing?" he asked gently, his voice sounding alien even to his ears.
Sophia simply shook her head and continued gazing at nowhere. They sat and listened as the congregation finished their song. Soon, the yard was left with none but those four.
"I'm pregnant," she spoke, her head never leaving the spot on Hunter's shoulder.
Hunter sighed heavily before wrapping his arms around her. He wouldn't lie and say that everything was going to be okay because it won't, so they sat in silence instead.
Luke, Zach, Hunter and Sophia held each other as they watched the coffin of their beloved friend, brother and fiancé lowered to the ground. All was lost except for memories of Dylan Mayer.
Labels: It's Just You and Me Honey