This is the nineteenth part in a series, so if you have not already done so, you might want to read Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V, Part VI, Part VII, Part VIII, Part IX, Part X, Part XI, Part XII, Part XIII, Part XIV, Part XV, Part XVI, Part XVII, and Part XVIII before continuing.
“It’s a nice turnout,” I say, looking over all the mourners.
“Mine was bigger,” says Addie.
“As if.”
She snorts and admits, “OK, yours is bigger, but only because you literally went down in a blaze of glory.”
That take on my death is so unexpected, it makes me laugh. “I did, didn’t I?”
“You just had to outdo me.”
“Always.”
“Oh my god!”
“What?”
“My parents are here.”
“What?!”
She points and I follow the line of her finger to the couple that just walked into the funeral parlor.
We watch in awe as they write their names in the guest book and make their way to my parents. If I were still the type to breathe, I would have held my breath while waiting to see what they would do.
Defying all my expectations, our moms hug and our dads shake hands and pat each other’s shoulders.
“What is happening?” said Addie.
“Are we haunting the living or did we end up in some sort of alternate dimension?”
“I have no idea.”
I look around at the other guests, but nothing else seems out of the ordinary. Madison, Sophie, and Ashley are all there. Even Jake showed.
Eventually, Addie says, “I guess they’re the only other ones here who know what they’re going through.”
“And they don’t know you killed me.”
“I did not kill you.”
“You’re not gonna tell me that was an earthquake, are you?”
“OK, I might have played a small role.”
I snort.
“But it’s no more than the role you played in my demise.”
“Fair enough.”
“So, why haven’t I moved on?”
“I was gonna ask you that. If I was your unfinished business, why are you are still here now that I’m … finished?”
“I don’t know. Maybe because you haven’t moved on? Are we stuck together?”
“Oh, God I hope not.”
“Maybe I can only move on once you move on. What’s your unfinished business? Why are you still here?”
I look back at the room full of my black-clad friends, family, and frenemies, but I don’t find any answers there.
I look back at Addie and say, “I think you are.”
She huffs an exaggerated sigh. “Well, that’s just great.”
The end.