Recollection

"Autumn?"

I heard Jake's voice fill my eardrums.

I looked over to see him fill the doorway to the bedroom.

"Yeah?" I creaked.

"You about ready?"

"Yeah I guess I am."

I put the last picture I had of Ashley and Hunter together onto the bed. I put a hand to my growing stomach while tears spilled from my eyes.

Ashley and Jinxx both made it through, but spent the last month and a half laid up in beds in a Manchester hospital. They had flown home later than Hunter and I.

That flight was the hardest ever, knowing my son was in a small coffin in the belly of the plane instead of being in my arms.

I put off Hunter's funeral until they arrived home and today was the day!

"I never expected this to happen." I wavered.

"No one did, Aut. No one!" Jake came over to embrace me.

He helped me up from the bed and we descended the stairs.

A stretch limo was waiting out front to take us to the church where the funeral was to be held.
We arrived to a huge crowd that had assembled. Word had spread from overseas about the accident and Black Veil Brides' fans had pulled together and were here in attendance to offer condolences and support in this hard time. Everyone's family flew in from all parts of the U.S. - Ohio, Missouri, Iowa, Idaho and Hawaii.

Ashley and I sat silently on a pew, side by side but not touching.

I couldn't bear it. I was afraid if I touched him, I'd lose him too.

No words could fathom how much this hurt. My little boy was front and center in a closed casket. Just six months old and his life had ended due to some irresponsible taxi driver in a hurry for his next fare.

I didn't remember much about what the priest had said, but I surely remembered the sweet words that came from each of the guys. Ashley was wrought and torn describing how much it meant to him to have a little boy and now how painful it was to realize he was gone from his life.

I echoed his exact sentiments when he said that nothing would ever be the same again!

The guys were Hunter's pallbearers. Ash and Andy up front on either side, Jake and Jinxx in the middle and CC brought up the rear.

Ashley's Aunt Maureen held my hand while we followed them out with the casket.

They loaded it into an awaiting Hearst that would bring the little boy, who brought joy to many lives, to his final resting place under an angel shaped stone that read:

Ashley Hunter Purcell-Purdy
A little boy loved greatly
November 26, 2012 - May 26, 2013

Notes