Saying Goodbye

"Saying Goodbye"
Short Fiction - Literary
by Kelli Pliner

I woke up to my alarm, knowing what today would be like. I got showered and dressed, placed a handful of kleenex in my purse. I knew I would need them. I grabbed my keys and went to my car.

The funeral home isn't far.

I backed my car out of the drive and turned onto the road. I drove down a few blocks and came to the funeral home, only to keep driving...went right on by.

I drove to school instead, seeing most of the cars were gone to the funeral, I kept driving down the road back toward the funeral home.

I came to the traffic light. It was red. I glanced down and saw that my gas tank was on "E". The light turned green and I turned into the gas station on the corner. Forty dollars later, I once again, got in my car, and headed toward the funeral home.

There were many more cars now. I didn't stop...I kept driving...and went around the block. I came back to the front and parked my car along the road.

Purse and kleenex in hand, I stepped out into the warm, humid air and proceeded to the building flocked with people. I opened the door, smiling sadly at the police officers standing outside (they were fellow officers of Grandpa Mike), and entered the building.

At the top of the stairs were some of the faces I knew only too well, standing in line with tear-stained faces. We solmenly greeted each other and entered the chapel.

Pictures of a small, red-headed little boy filled the walls, flowers adorned the entire front of the room. Then I saw it. I saw the one thing that made my heart begin to break and tears to flow freely down my face. Mason's sign-in paper from school. Each line was a wobbly, squiggly version of his name. He had come so far with his writing. It sat above pictures from school and daycare. All filled with Mason’s smiling face.

I kept following the line. I noticed Addie, Mason’s mother, sitting on the couch, looking numb. I had to tell her. I stepped out of line and knelt in front of her, tears streaming down my face.

Silently I prayed, Please, let me be able to tell her.

Her eyes filled with tears as she leaned forward to hug me. We hugged a long time.

I took her hand in mine and looked her in the eye.

Then I told her.

"You have to know...Mason was not afraid. The children and I talked about going to heaven and what that meant and all that happens. Mason was not ever afraid. He knew that Jesus would take him to heaven. He knew he would be there with Jesus, away from pain, suffering and saddness. Each time we talked about it, Mason would say, 'I love Jesus and I can't WAIT to get to heaven!' This Addie, is something I needed to tell you and something you needed to hear. To know that your son was braver and had more faith than so many of us. Take comfort in knowing that the faith given to Mason kept him strong and happy."

No other words were said as Addie hugged me one more time. Stilling holding her hand, I stood and she whispered, "Thank you for sharing with me." Tears began down my face again, I patted her hand and replied, "No Addie, thank you for sharing your son with me."