After the team meeting, the rest of the school day was a blur to Sunny. All that was on her mind...all that mattered to her was the funeral for her late lover. I'm so sick and tired of crying, and I'm not looking forward to the funeral. She sighed deeply and put her head in her hands. She made a sputtering noise. At least the school day's over. One less thing to worry about.
Sunny boarded her bus and closed her eyes, trying her hardest to keep her emotions under her control. Thinking quickly, she sent a text to both of her parents.
Would the both of you be able to greet me at the front door when I come inside, no questions asked? - Sent by Sunny Flare
Of course, honey. - Sent by Mother
We'll be waiting. - Sent by Father
Thank you. I don't say it enough, but I love the both of you so very much. - Sent by Sunny Flare
Sunny dared not look at her parents' responses, for fear of being pushed over the edge. She allowed herself a sniffle and a tear to fall as her house was within sight. She exited the bus, sprinted towards her house and opened the door, and collapsed into tears in the arms of her parents as her floodgates were opened.
After she had calmed down, she looked her parents in the eye. "Thank you both. I really needed that release."
Her parents smiled. "Any time." said her mother.
"Are you ready for tonight?" her father asked, his tone serious.
"No." said Sunny. "But I'm going to go anyway." She wiped a tear from her eye. "It's the very least I could for the man I not only loved, but sacrificed his life to save mine."
"Well said." said Glaze.
"Let's get changed into the proper attire." said Stellar.
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Stellar, Glaze and Sunny all gathered in the foyer, well-dressed for the occasion.
Sunny sighed. "I almost wish I had no emotions. Almost." Sunny said, staring at the floor.
"Just remember, sweetie, we're here for you." said her mother.
Sunny smiled. "I know. And I love the both of you very, very much for it."
"And we love you too, Sunny." Her father said.
They all hugged, then boarded the family car.
As Glaze started the car and backed out, Sunny stared out the window with a deep sigh.
"How are you holding up back there?" asked Stellar.
"Oh, I imagine I won't burst into tears until we get out of the car. Failing that, when I see his parents. Failing that, when I do my speech." Sunny made a sputtering noise. "Most likely I'll cry during all three of those events. Nothing like a good old-fashioned trifecta."
Stellar Tycoon snickered. "At least you still have your sense of humor."
"I was hardly kidding, father." Sunny said, her voice monotone. "I have no doubt I'll cry more than three times tonight. It's not like I've done that enough over the past week." she said bitterly, rolling her eyes.
Stellar frowned, then shot Glaze a quick glance. Glaze noticed, but simply shrugged. The family traveled the rest of the way to the funeral in silence.
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Once they arrived, they got out of the car. Glaze and Stellar looked at Sunny with sympathy. Sunny sighed deeply. "I'm fine. For now, at least. Everybody else is going to give me the same look all day, so I'm sure that'll break me."
Stellar and Glaze looked at each other, confused. "Do you want to cry?" asked her mother.
"Of course I want to cry!" Sunny snapped. "How could I not want to?! It's practically all I've been fucking doing lately!"
Glaze and Stellar's eyes widened in shock momentarily.
Sunny sighed. "I'm sorry. I know I've been grieving all this time, but that doesn't excuse my outburst." she said.
"We understand, dear." said her father, placing an arm on Sunny's shoulder. "You've had it rough all week."
"That's an understatement." said Sunny. "It's been a living nightmare. A living hell." Keep it together, Sunny. Keep it together. she told herself as she and her parents made their way to the funeral home. Once inside, Sunny scanned the crowd and saw numerous faces she didn't recognize.
Then, she heard a voice. "Sunny Flare?"
Sunny knew the owner of the voice all too well. Simply hearing it caused a lump to form in her throat. She turned around slowly and sure enough, there they were. Rutherford's parents.
Rutherford's father, Glistening Sparks, was who the voice belonged to. Sparks was a fairly lanky man with beige skin and blue eyes, with fading silver hair on his head. He gave Sunny a warm, sympathetic smile.
Rutherford's mother, Steadfast Solace, was a sort of contrast to her husband. She was slightly overweight, with mustard yellow skin. Her hair was a hue of gold, and her green eyes were puffy from crying. This had shocked Sunny, since in all the time she had known Rutherford's parents this was her first time seeing her cry. Steadfast had always been a jovial person.
But this is her son's funeral after all...and my boyfriend's. Sunny thought, feeling the tears coming at the sight of the two. She hadn't seen either of them since about two weeks before the accident. They were almost always busy with some sort of business. Sunny didn't know what sort of business though, she felt that asking them would be prying into their private lives.
Sunny Flare and Rutherford's parents simply stared at each other for what felt like an eternity. Sunny slowly walked toward then, even though she wanted to run to them oh so desperately. She didn't want to cause any more of a scene than she knew she would when she'd reach them. She started sniffling almost immediately once she began walking in their direction, barely able to keep her emotions in check as she wondered what must be going through Sparks and Solace's heads right now. She stopped just a few inches short of the two.
"Hello." was all she could bring herself to say before collapsing into their arms and bursting into tears, bawling uncontrollably.