The Death of Mae

Her death only came as a shock, because the memory of infidelity and unfinished affairs remained behind Bernard's eyes. After three years he continued to dwell on their time together and perfect the intimate moments they had regrettably not shared. Mae's passing, therefore, vanquished the hope of an accidental reunion Bernard hid in his thoughts.
Allowing his head to rest against the wall, Bernard circled then underlined a word in his mind. Chance; he had missed his chance and the ugliness of that thought surpassed the coldness of her death in his mind. Though he mourned for his regrets, Bernard did not allow himself to acknowledge his place in Mae's life since their seperation. Hearing about her death through a friend rather than from her family should have signaled his position in her heart, but he took no notice.
Now, standing infront of a mirror, he adjusted his tie for the funeral. He concentrated on what the service was going to entail, but he also imagined that her parents will probably lean on him for support. He always was their favorite he thought, stifling back a grin. The burial was in the Sadence cementary in the neighboring town. It was only a fifteen minute ride, but Bernard locked his front and started his car out of anticipation an hour before the service was supposed to start.
Arriving at the cementary, Bernard parked his car at the entrance gate and walked the hundred yard stretch to where he spotted a congregation of people dressed in black. Taking his place amongst the crowd, Bernard began to sense a strange unwelcoming feeling, but shrugged it off as the priest stepped forward.
Listening to the priest eulogize Mae, Bernard was awed as to the life she had lived and the things he had not known about her. Volunteer work, job opportunities, friends and acquiantances all were included in the story of her short life. Changing his gaze from the priest, Bernard fixed his attention on Mae's parents and older brother. Her father had gained alot of weight since he had last seen him and his hair was almost entirley grey. Her brother was standing with his arm around his mother, consoling her as she seemed to shed a single tear for every word in the eulogy.
After the prayers had been recited, the casket was lowered into the fresh dug plot. During the lowering, he caught eyes with Mae's brother Adam, who quickly averted his attention back to his sister. The crowd slowly dispersed as each person stopped to give their sympathy to the grieving family. Bernard stood as the far end of the grave site and waited to be approached and showered with affection from her family.
After watching Mae's parents and brother speak to the priest then gather their belongings, Bernard was struck with an awful thought. They did not remember him. Me, he thought, the guy who was at their house every weekend for two years and they do not remember who I am.
After that thought passed, Bernard turned and stared down into the grave. Bernard found, staring blankly into the grave, that he had suffered two deaths that day; one of an old friend and the lose of the delusion that after three years, she still had not moved on either.
Bernard stayed staring at the gravestone for what seemed like an hour, mouring both of his loses. Soon after deciding to leave, he felt a hand on his shoulder. Turning around, Bernard was greeted by a mildly heavyset man with greying hair. They caught eyes for a moment then the man spoke. "Did you know her?" he asked trying to console the tears running down Bernards face. "No, I didn't," Bernard said as he turned from the man and walked towards his, wondering why he had come to this strangers funeral.
(2005)