I wasn't going alone to the showing, thankfully.

    Of course, my parents were there and my best friend Martin went with me to support us. I was so glad he was there. Even though I hated him seeing me wearing an all-black dress, a veil, and my red and black hair up in a bun, he was still a wonderful friend. He was there for me when I needed to talk and I was there for him during his parents' divorce when we were kids. I always gave him advice and my parents would always overhear us talking and they would tell me that I was wise beyond my years. And maybe I was.

    A lot of relatives showed up. And I mean, a lot. Cousins I didn't even know existed came up to me and hugged me as they apologized for my loss. I didn't say much and I just hugged every relative that offered hugs, which was almost every single one of them. I couldn't believe that we could all fit into the funeral home to be honest. My parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, first and second cousins that I actually knew, Martin, and I all stood at the casket. Everyone was going up to it and leaning over as they whispered, typically prayers. Charlie's casket was a sleek brown and had red roses all over it. He was lying inside, dressed in his tuxedo that he wanted to wear to Prom at our high school but never got the chance to because of his cancer and because he was in the hospital that night, and looking like he would awaken at any moment. A part of me wanted him to so that I could walk up to him and lightly punch him for playing that kind of joke on me. But I knew better than that. But God, did I miss him.

    Once everyone got the chance to go up to him, I took Martin by the hand and went up to Charlie. Whomever had dressed him had given him a brown wig so he actually looked nineteen.
"He looks wonderful." I said to Martin as I heard the sob of an aunt from somewhere in the far end of the room that we rented out for the day. I glanced over and saw that my aunt from my dad's side was wiping her eyes with a tissue next to the projector that faced the far wall and was showing a baby picture of Charlie playing with toys in the bathtub. I remembered this picture because Mom had shown it to me and said that this was my brother before I was born.
"He does." Martin agreed, pulling me back into reality. I glanced at my best friend. He was wearing a suit similar to Charlie and it made me want to cry. The only difference between him and Charlie was that Martin had blond hair and was a little bit shorter, with him being five eleven and Charlie being six two. "They did a wonderful job."
I nodded and gripped my brother's hand. It was no longer warm like it was when I last held it.
"God, I miss you so much." I whispered to my brother. "I just want you to come back."
I knew it was a bad idea to cry since my makeup would run down my face but I didn't care. I felt like someone had gripped my heart, tore it out, and stomped on it until it shattered into a million pieces. Martin put his arm around me as I cried and watched as a fallen tear dived onto Charlie's suit. I stood up and hugged my best friend and he hugged me back.
"It's okay." He soothed. "It'll be okay."
"I need some fresh air." I broke out of his embrace. "Tell everyone where I've gone."
"Okay." He put his hand on my shoulder. "I'm here for you if you need me."
"Thanks." I managed a smile as I looked back at him while walking out of the room. My black heels caused me to stumble and I had to regain my balance. I flashed a thumbs up at my friend to let him know I was okay.