When someone in your family passes away, it's one of the most heart wrenching things you will ever experience in your life. Vero was beginning to learn that. She stood outside the funeral home, watching the men bring her grandmother's casket to the hearse and her family get in their respective cars. She really just didn't want to be here anymore. She didn't want to process down the street in a huge parade of cars. She didn't want to go to the church and sit there among her weeping family. She didn't want to go to the cemetery. All of that made it too real for her.

She felt a hand on her shoulder and looked over at her mother, giving her a sympathetic look. Sympathy was the last thing she wanted right now. They were all going through the same thing. Why bother with sympathy? It wasn't helping much.

She took one last glance at the casket before following her mother and brother to the car. It was a slow and painful ride to the church with only the sound of the windshield wipers going and the clicking of the buttons on her brother's DS.

When she got out of the car, she didn't bother to run for shelter from the rain like everyone else. She made her way slowly, not caring how wet she got. She reminisced about when her grandma had told her that rain is musical. If you listen closely, the rain plays you a song. She never forgot that.

By the time she had reached the church, her mascara was running not only from the rain but from the tears that had begun from the memory. Her mother held her close and walked down the aisle behind the casket with the rest of her family following behind them. Vero looked around at all the people standing in the pews, there to pay their respects. She managed a half smile when she saw Andy and the BVB boys standing there with slight grimaces on their faces.

Andy reached out his hand for her to hold briefly as she went by. His touch calmed her frantic emotions and helped get her through almost the entire funeral mass.

When they all got to the cemetery, Vero knew she was in the homestretch and that everything was almost over. A family friend came by and wrapped an arm around Vero's shoulder. She crumbled at the touch and she couldn't help but break down again. She hated to cry in front of people and she was especially embarrassed that Andy was witnessing it all.

After the whole shebang was over, they all went back to Vero's grandmother's house to have a little remembrance party. It was nice seeing all her extended family and cousins from other parts of the country. She was happy to see everyone smiling, laughing at jokes and just having a good time despite the circumstances.

"Hey, how are you holding up?" Andy plopped down onto the couch next to Vero.

She shrugged. "Fine, I suppose."

Andy put his arm around her and nudged her closer to his side. He leaned over and kissed her forehead and she rested her head on his shoulder. "I know what you're going through." He said. "If you ever want to talk about it, let me know."

Vero just nodded her head against his shoulder and sighed. She was emotionally drained from today and all she really wanted to do now was go to sleep and pretend the past week hadn't happened.

Notes

Thank you so much to

-BVBmisfit99
-goforth115

for commenting on the last chapter (: