The funeral had begun. Rows upon rows of people sat, paying their respects to the dead.

The dead...

It's funny how as soon as someone's heart stops, they are no longer a person. Some people dress death up in pretty bows, no longer referring to them by name, claiming that we must be respectful. But what for? If you didn't respect the person in life, why suddenly give them what you had deprived them of?

Only one person even cared for the deceased...me. And now he's gone.

Donaveux Redon Eros. That was his name. A name that will now be confiscated in memory and stone, when just days before I had lovingly called it to a living, breathing man. We had been happy, my cousin and I. We were the last of our family, and though we missed the rest, we braved on.

As I walk up to the coffin I can feel the stares. This I can understand. I am wearing a knee length, long sleeved red dress. My family has an, interesting, take on funerals. When someone dies, we want to celebrate their life and be happy that they are moving on to their next great adventure, no matter how much it hurts those still here. Donaveux had once told me that if he ever died, that I should wear red. That if I was going to do anything to honor him, I should wear his favorite color.

As I lightly set my hand on top of the coffin's lid, I imagine his messy black hair, brilliant smile, and blue eyes trapped inside. The wind whistles by and I can hear his voice in it. Telling me to keep trying, keep dreaming, keep believing. Why Veux, why did you leave me?

Suddenly, a snicker disguised as a sob broke the tension. I half turn towards the noise to behold a woman in her fifties, laughing into her bejewled hand. My cold gaze quickly silenced her. However, this reaction didn't surprise me. These people, this entire town, hated Donaveux. Hated my family. I'm not even sure why, I was never informed because I was "too young."

I take my seat as the service starts, but I completely zone out. All I can think about is how I'm the last of the Eros family. How my biggest supporter and best friend was dead. How I was alone.

After what seemed like moments, people begin to stand up and leave. But I stayed. I stayed and watched my cousin be lowered into the ground.

I got into my car and drove back to our, my, home and walked in. As soon as the door had shut behind me, the wall that held all of my emotions back crumbled. And as I sunk to the floor, my cousin's murder replayed in my mind. Over, and over, and over again...