Submission 193

Dear Rhys

What was it like? To experience time stop?
Your funeral wasn't weird enough.
They didn't play the song you told me you wanted. But I guessed that you'd picked many different songs over the years, and it wasn't for me to tell your parents what to do.
They used that photo you made your profile picture a few weeks before on your order of service. I know you chose that photo. It's there forever now. The face you chose to immortalise. I had it sat on my desk for a while but ended up getting angry at it too often.
Your grandmother clasped my hand when I told her who I was.
Your sister said she felt proud.
Your mum said she'd never get over this.
I watched your dad break down crying right at the end of the night. I didn't cry myself until I saw this. Someone told me I was brave. I told them you had prepared me.
When it came to the first anniversary of your death, I parked my car outside your flat and walked along the cycle path to the sea. To see the world through your eyes, or maybe for you to see the world through mine. Like maybe time could warp on a particular spot. I've stopped believing I'll bump into your ghost in the woods.
We'd need to get to know each other again. This has changed me, and it's certainly changed you.
You'd find this all so interesting. I want to tell you what it's like. Time carrying on.